MBB NCAA Final: Connecticut 53, Butler 41

[dairedevil]

This is one plug-ugly game. Unless something changes - and soon, it will be the game remembered for how bad it was. Great defense on both sides, but it's kind of like watching a pitcher's duel in baseball- c'mon, somebody make a basket! If Butler could hit a free throw and a layup or two, it would be another story.

[barjwr]

Except that in order to vacate a game you have to show up for it first.

And I thought the 2002 final was bad.

2006/Florida was pretty bad

[heyman25]

Is Butler this inept. At 22 -19 I thought they would start scoring. 6 points in ten minutes is very bad offense. 8 for 49. Butler is godawful.

[barjwr]

I'm afraid Butler just doesn't have the scoring to come back. I hope I'm wrong, but it looks like Calhoun will get 3. Blecch.

[sporthenry]

The funny thing is that the argument for the decline of the college game is the lack of upperclassmen in school. Granted, most of UCon's team are underclassmen, but Butler's team is quite experienced, and 4 of the 5 AP All-Americans are upperclassmen (3 are seniors).

I agree that the game in general (and this game in particular) is worse, but I'm not really sure why.

The decline is attributed to the best players leaving early. Butler has 1 nba player? The mid majors have experience but the point is that they don't have the talent. UNC probably has the next best chance to have experienced NBA talent next year.

[johnb]

it's painful to watch uconn win a championship

[ChrisP]

This is not looking good for Butler at all. They cannot hit ANYTHING! Like 2 for 22 in the 2nd half! Ugh, I hate UCONN!

[uh_no]

Every shot is contested because there are only 2 players in this game that can get there own shot against a decent defense, they are both on UCONN and one just now decided to show up.

lamb sat out a good part of the first half, and that shut kemba down...along with oriakhi being out

[barjwr]

it's painful to watch uconn win a championship

I would go as far as saying that it's painful to watch UCon win anything

[dcdrumsinc]

dear coach k.

please recruit really tall guys with long arms like this dumb uconn team...

[AZLA]

At the conclusion, I think every student at every college in American should riot to protest how poor this game is!

[barjwr]

first points in the paint for Butler at 6:08 left in the second half

[A-Tex Devil]

Butler dude just shoved UCONN dude out of bounds there. Pretty bad no call.

[barjwr]

At the conclusion, I think every student at every college in American should riot to protest how poor this game is!

did you go to maryland?

[diveonthefloor]

Does the NCAA have a disincentive to actually consider sanctioning this UConn team if it is presented with true violations?

[AZLA]

I think the University of Phoenix can play better basketball than Butler right now

[uh_no]

Butler dude just shoved UCONN dude out of bounds there. Pretty bad no call.

the refs can't let the players be the only ones who are terrible tonight! :P

as bad as it looks, uconn is shooting 50% in the half...pretty clear how big an impact losing oriakhi and lamb in the first half can change things

[ForeverBlowingBubbles]

Doubt it!

[sporthenry]

I at least enjoy Kellog saying it how it is. Nantz is trying to give the defenses credit but this isn't good defense.

[gam7]

dear coach k.

please recruit really tall guys with long arms like this dumb uconn team...

We did recruit Roscoe Smith.