So Close

I am sure most of you were tuned in Monday night to see the Butler Bulldogs nearly pull of the most stunning upset in the history of college basketball. Well it didn't happen and Duke won its 4th National Championship under coach Mike Krzyzewski. It was a wonderful game and I have to give a lot of credit to Butler as they were about as well coached of a team as I have seen all tournament. But the timely shot making of Singler, Scheyer, and Smith proved to be too much.

As many of you know I am a Duke fan so it was good evening for me, but watching those two styles play out there it was hard for me not to think that the Badgers could someday get that level under Bo Ryan. Butler style of play nearly mimics that of the Badgers, as they both put a premium on defense and getting quality shots without turning the ball over. At one point in the 2nd half I believe Butler went over 7 minutes without a field goal, yet they were within inches of winning the game at the end. That style has been proven to keep teams in ball games and give them a chance to win. The one difference I saw in Butlers team compared to Bucky, was the fact that they had a bonafide star in Gordon Heyward, and although Leuer played really well in the tournament he wasn't able to carry the team. Throw in the fact that Wisconsin rather easily beat Duke (I know the final score was close but the Badgers dominated that game for about 38 minutes) although not likely that we Bo's teams will be talented enough to ever get there it remains in the realm of possibility.

Though that will not be happening next year. Duke should return 2/3 of the big three along with the Plumlee's inside. They also bring in the Nations top point guard recruit Kyrie Irving, and Steph Curry's little brother Seth also becomes eligible next year. Throw in a couple of other solid recruits and the return of Andre Dawkin's (the guy that kept them in the Badger game) and I see Duke as the team to beat again next year. I guess coach K still knows what he is doing. All right haters time to chime in, you know who you are.