Joe Poz Article on Butler Duke...real good

[HawkeyeMike23]

Great point about the Butler "D." Butler's perimeter defense was amazing; their ability to get over screens and beat the Duke offensive players to the spot, and Butler had active hands without fouling, plus their guards boxed-out and went strong to the boards. Best perimeter defense that I have seen in a while.

Yeah, their point guard Nored isn't a big scorer, but he is a great perimeter defender and very good rebounder for his size. If Hayward returns they have a good shot at getting back to the final four next season.

 

[olivecourt]

DUKE was the team that slowed down the game, not Butler. Especially in the last five minutes, as they tried to milk the clock with only a 3-point lead. Coach K did a great job using timeouts, working the shot clock, and running set plays, trying to keep the crowd out of the game and keeping Butler from going on a run. Before the intentional slowdown, Butler's defense was stifling. When was the last time you saw a team like Duke have a shot clock violation? They had at least two last night and had to force 2-3 last second heaves to avoid more.

Butler scored 59 points, sure, but they only shot 33%. They had quality shots from everywhere on the floor, ofter early in the shot clock and especially in the first half, but just didn't convert nearly enough of them. Duke also blocked an amazing amount of shots, at least 8, I believe. There is absolutely no resemblance between Butler's play last night and Iowa's offense this year. I

 

[HawkeyeMike23]

DUKE was the team that slowed down the game, not Butler. Especially in the last five minutes, as they tried to milk the clock with only a 3-point lead. Coach K did a great job using timeouts, working the shot clock, and running set plays, trying to keep the crowd out of the game and keeping Butler from going on a run. Before the intentional slowdown, Butler's defense was stifling. When was the last time you saw a team like Duke have a shot clock violation? They had at least two last night and had to force 2-3 last second heaves to avoid more.

Butler scored 59 points, sure, but they only shot 33%. They had quality shots from everywhere on the floor, ofter early in the shot clock and especially in the first half, but just didn't convert nearly enough of them. Duke also blocked an amazing amount of shots, at least 8, I believe. There is absolutely no resemblance between Butler's play last night and Iowa's offense this year. I

Duke slowed it down at the end, but the game was played at a much quicker pace than Butler normally plays at. They average just over 50 shots a game on the year, and had 38 in the first half alone last night. Butler's offense is better than Iowa's mainly because guys like Hayward and Mack can break people down off the dribble and get to the rim. I noticed a lot of standing around like Iowa at times, and in the second half they struggled to get shots within their offense.

 

[nationalchamps]

Did this game top the 1992 Duke vs. Kentucky game?

Um, no. But if that last shot had fallen from half court I would think you'd have an argument. Duke went the length of the court with 2 seconds left and hit a buzzer beater in OT.

 

[HawkeyeMike23]

Um, no. But if that last shot had fallen from half court I would think you'd have an argument. Duke went the length of the court with 2 seconds left and hit a buzzer beater in OT.

Not even close, even if they make that shot this game doesn't belong in the same discussion as the Duke-Kentucky game. This was a close game and exiciting to watch, but the level of play was nowhere near that game. There were at least 5 games in this tournament better than last night's game.