KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / MONDAY, APRIL 5, 2010 / SPORTS
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5B
NCAA TOURNAMENT
Bulldogs topple Spartans to advance to championship
MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE
INDIANAPOLIS — Shortly before tipoff on Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium, Butler University's live Bulldog mascot, Butler Blue it took the court, was told to stay
"He just sat there like he owned it," said Michael Kaltenmark, his handler and a Butler development officer.
As Butler's players were introduced, they patted him on the head. And why not?
... and did, even with TV cameras in his face and 71,298 fans in the building.
"That's what we do at every home game," said Butler guard Ronald Nored, smiling and adding, "Sometimes he barks, sometimes he bites. You have to play through it."
In a bruising national semifinal game between the Bulldogs and Michigan State, Butler played through history and plenty else to
No. 5 Butler 52
No. 5 Michigan State 50
The victory was the 25th in a row for Butler, which became the smallest school to reach the national title game since Jacksonville in 1970 and is coached by 33-year-old Brad Stevens, the youngest man to take a team this far since Indiana's Branch McCracken in 1940.
advance to the national title game on Monday night with a 52-50 victory over the Spartans in a battle of 5th-seeded teams.
Despite being the first team to play in a Final Four in its hometown since UCLA in 1972, Butler (33-4) had to overcome making just one basket in the final 12 minutes, 17 seconds, misfiring on 34 of
49 in the game and being without two injured starters much of the night.
And it was staring at multiple scenarios for defeat in the final 30 seconds, between Michigan State (28-9) having the ball trailing by one and then having Nored at the line with 6.1 seconds left after making just three of 12 free throws in NCAA play.
"Thanks for reminding me." Nored said.
He could joke about it after he made both to give the Bulldogs a slight 52-49 cushion in the final seconds. But it wasn't over yet.
Even after Butler fouled Michigan State to prevent the Spartans from launching a three-pointer, suspense lingered.
Duke easily puts away W. Virginia, remaining as lone No.1 seed
After MSU's Korie Lucious made a free throw with 2 seconds left, he intentionally missed the second. But there, again, was Butler's omnipresent Gordon Hayward, who had 19 points and claimed his ninth rebound to put it away.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
INDIANAPOLIS — After tossing a big, wet blanket on one feelgood story, Duke gets to go after another.
They don't call 'em the Devils for nothing.
Still, Butler is a No. 5 seed.
Jon Scheyer scored 23 points Saturday night to lift Duke, the team so many folks love to hate, to a 78-57 victory over West Virginia and set up a meeting against tiny Butler — a classic matchup of big vs. little, with the national title on the line.
"I think they're one of the best teams in the country," Duke coach Mike Krzyezwski said of his upcoming opponent, which has won 25 straight. "I think a Cinderella would be more if somebody had eight or nine losses and pulled some upsets."
No. 1 Duke 78
No. 2 West Virginia 57
Their trip, however, wasn't totally predictable or expected. Duke had gone six long years since its last appearance and hasn't been to the final since winning it all nine years ago — a veritable century by Tobacco Road standards. Now, this group of Blue Devils has a chance to give Coach K his fourth national championship.
And in a tournament turned upside down, the Blue Devils (34-5) were the only No.1 seed to make it to the Final Four.
"It's everything," senior center Brian Zoubek said. "This is the culmination of four years for me.
To have a shot at the championship my senior year, after everything we've been through, is a dream come true."
This was a wire-to-wire pullaway against the West Virginia team coached by alum Bob Huggins, who led the Mountaineers (31-7) on a 10-game winning streak that included the Big East tournament title and ended with a trip to the Final Four.
It was an inspiring journey, the first for West Virginia in 51 years, back when Jerry West wore the old gold and blue.
Huggins returned to West Virginia to bring an elusive title back home to a state that loves its flaeshship school like few others.
"I've watched a lot of tape, I haven't seen them play that well." Huggins said. "And we didn't play very well. And, you know, that happens."
2010 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
No. 5 Butler vs.
No. 1Duke
**WHEN:** 8:21 tonight
**WHERE:** Lucas Oil Stadium,
Indianapolis
**WATCH:** CBS,
Sunflower channels 5 and 13
MLB
Royals face Tigers in season opener game
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — With two of baseball's top pitchers facing teams they often dominate, hits and runs may be hard to find Monday afternoon in Kansas City.
Opposing him will be Zack Greinke, who won the 2009 Cy Young Award as the best pitcher in the American League.
Opening the season for Detroit will be right-hander Justin Verlander, who won 19 games last year and led the majors with 269 strikeouts.
"I'm sure the national media will be focused on other games rather than the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals," said Trey Hillman, beginning his third year as KC's manager. "But I'm not sure you can come up with any better opening day matchup than Greinke vs. Verlander. It's going to be exciting."
The Royals, 65-97 last year, will unveil a new-look lineup they hope will shore up a defense that led the AL last year in errors (117) and losses at home (48).
The Tigers finished last year 86-77 and in a very foul mood, losing a three-game lead with four games remaining and slipping out of the playoffs.
Don's Auto
Frisbee Fun
Howard Ting/KANSAN
Ryan Renolds, a senior from Lawrence, scores a point for the Jayhaw Zontals against Washburn University on Saturday's club Friise game on Shenk Field in West Campus. The Jayhawes have practiced many hours for a series of games this weekend against regional universities.
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