In an epic battle of David versus Goliath, the Butler Bulldogs fought their way to an anti-climactic two-point loss by missing not one game-winning shot, but two.
Dukies across the country are sipping wine coolers and playing drunken lacrosse in celebration of Duke's fourth championship, while Butler alumni everywhere are telling each other that they played in one of the best championship games ever. That would be a lie.
Despite losing by only two points to the top-seeded Blue Devils, this championship was never in doubt after Duke jumped out to a 6-1 lead three minutes into the game.
The only time that Butler threatened to pull off the upset was when they had possession of the ball and down only one with 13 seconds left in the game. That's when their "star" player, Gordon Hayward decided that he should take over after doing his best disappearing act for the first 39:43 of the biggest game of his life. Obviously he forced up a running fade-away from the baseline that had no shot at dropping (even though it was "on line" as everyone loves to point out) and the game was a wrap.
ESPN analysts and Butler enthusiasts all over the country will tell you that this was a classic game and maybe it was. But from the minute that Duke opened up as a seven-point favorite, the game was a no-brainer.
Some of us were just dumb enough to bet Duke and the points.
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