Like every other sports writer and sports fan stated it was David v. Goliath last night in the championship... Duke v. Butler... experience v. not. But it didn't matter last night. Duke (Goliath) ended up winning last night but only by 2, in a game that most people thought was going to be a blowout over the Butler Bulldogs (David). Unlike the story, David did not conquer Goliath last night, but they put up one helluva a fight.
Last nights game is the reason why I watch college basketball. While I was definitely rooting for Butler (mostly b/c of my hatred for Duke) all I really wanted to see was a good game, and boy did we get one. The lead was never greater than 6 and Butler never gave up. I mean come on if that last minute hail mary shot by Hayward had gone in it probably would have become the greatest shot in NCAA history, yes Duke fans, it would have been better than Christian Laettner's shot in the East Regional in 1992. Yes that wasn't the championship BUT it's one of the greatest shots in NCAA History. Hayward put up the shot and everyone held their breath, but as it hit iron everyone let go with either a sigh of upset or a scream of joy. Either way you look at it, Butler fought until the very end.
Butler's Coach had said it perfectly during pre-game interviews:
"We don't need to be better than them 364 days out of the year, we don't need to be better 23 hours out of the day...we just need to be better than them for 40 minutes."
And man did they come close. It's like I said previously, it all comes down to one number, on measurement of time: 40 minutes. No one thought they would be able to hang with the dominant force of the Blue Devils for 40 minutes but they did, until the very last second. Everyone will be talking not only about this tournament, but specifically this game. It's probably one of the best games of the tournament ever. Not to mention it was a 5 seed vs. a 1 seed but it was a downright gritty game. Each team, each player played as if it was going to be their last. Everything was put on the table but Duke just had a little bit more in their corner. That game, and this tournament as a whole, shows that it's not about who's got the better shooters or the better all around players, but who can grit their teeth for 40 minutes to come out with a higher score.
Tonight is the women's championship. UConn v. Stanford. The UConn women are the most dominant force in women's basketball, and possibly in men's basketball as well. They don't lose, at least for 77 games. However their last loss... 2 years ago TODAY... to whom????? Stanford. They have already beaten Stanford this year but like last nights game, anything can happen. UConn is 6-0 in national championships but I know that they're not playing like it's theirs... they know it's going to be a tough game and they're just going out to play like they do every other game.
U-C-O-N-N UCONN UCONN UCONN!
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