Butler more impressive than Utah?

[Moliere]

I wasn't around to see Utah's march to 2nd place glory since I was out of the country spreading the good word. Therefore I have no sense of the craziness that must have inhabited the hill during that time.

Butler has been highly ranked all year (and even a bit last year) so it's not incredibly surprising they are in the championship game but it still leave me scratching my head and wondering how they beat Syracuse and Kansas State.

I am wondering though if Butler's march to glory (2nd or possibly 1st place) is more impressive than what Utah did back in the late 90s?

[Fiyero]

I wondered the same question yesterday, but noted that Butler keeps winning close games, while Utah dominated #1 seed (and defending champion) Arizona by 25, then dominated #1 overall seed North Carolina much more than the final score indicated. (Jumped out to a 15-2 lead, then led by 15-20 all but the final few minutes). And then took a 10-point halftime lead against Kentucky.

At the same time though, Utah was a 3 seed who lost their 2 seed when they threw the first round game in the WAC tourney. Utah also finished the regular season poll ranked #4, while Butler was ranked #11, so perhaps they weren't all that different.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

If Butler wins on Monday they are more impressive.

[Moliere]

I wondered the same question yesterday, but noted that Butler keeps winning close games, while Utah dominated #1 seed (and defending champion) Arizona by 25, then dominated #1 overall seed North Carolina much more than the final score indicated. (Jumped out to a 15-2 lead, then led by 15-20 all but the final few minutes). And then took a 10-point halftime lead against Kentucky.

At the same time though, Utah was a 3 seed who lost their 2 seed when they threw the first round game in the WAC tourney. Utah also finished the regular season poll ranked #4, while Butler was ranked #11, so perhaps they weren't all that different.

Your second paragraph is more what I was getting at. Utah had a higher seed, and even though they were not from a "power" conference they were expected to do something in the tournament.

Butler is from the Horizon conference, which I knew existed but I couldn't name one other team from that conference. They were good and people knew that, but I think no one expected them to go to the championship game. I'm going to say their run is more impressive from an underdog perspective.

I also enjoyed the run by George Mason a couple years ago when they went to the final four. It's nice to see some mid-majors representing past the 2nd round.

[Fiyero]

1991 UNLV in the Big Sky conference is the standard. Here's to hoping that Butler beats Duke by 30.

[il Padrino Ute]

I wasn't around to see Utah's march to 2nd place glory since I was out of the country spreading the good word. Therefore I have no sense of the craziness that must have inhabited the hill during that time.

Butler has been highly ranked all year (and even a bit last year) so it's not incredibly surprising they are in the championship game but it still leave me scratching my head and wondering how they beat Syracuse and Kansas State.

I am wondering though if Butler's march to glory (2nd or possibly 1st place) is more impressive than what Utah did back in the late 90s?

I tend to agree with you about Butler's run being more impressive. The U was a higher seed in '98 and expected to win games during the tournament. The surprising thing wasn't so much that Utah beat two #1 seeds, but that the U kicked their asses as Fiyero pointed out.

Butler wasn't expected to win games once it got to the Sweet Sixteen, but they defied conventional wisdom that Cinderella's coach will be waiting to take her home after the 3rd round or in some cases, the 4th round because the better teams start to prove why they are seeded where they are.

If any team has had a more impressive run than Butler at any time in recent history, I would say that it was the run by James Mason a couple of years ago.

[il Padrino Ute]

1991 UNLV in the Big Sky conference is the standard. Here's to hoping that Butler beats Duke by 30.

I think you mean Big West Conference.

[Coach McGuirk]

1991 UNLV in the Big Sky conference is the standard. Here's to hoping that Butler beats Duke by 30.

I think you mean Big West Conference.

Either way that is just a crazy statement, as UNLV won the tourney in 90, so any run in 91' was no surprise.

[YOhio]

If any team has had a more impressive run than Butler at any time in recent history, I would say that it was the run by James Mason a couple of years ago.

I think you mean George Mason.

[il Padrino Ute]

I think you mean George Mason.

Yes, George Mason. Thanks for the correction.

[CardiacCoug]

If any team has had a more impressive run than Butler at any time in recent history, I would say that it was the run by James Mason a couple of years ago.

Agreed. James Mason had a pretty amazing run until Sean Connery beat him out for the role of James Bond in Dr. No in 1962. Much more impressive than Butler's run this season.

[il Padrino Ute]

Agreed. James Mason had a pretty amazing run until Sean Connery beat him out for the role of James Bond in Dr. No in 1962. Much more impressive than Butler's run this season.

Mason just ran out of gas for the role of Bond. He never quite fully required from North by Northwest and Journey to the Center of the Earth.

[BoylenOver]

What seed did Utah beat in the 2nd round? Butler beat a 13.

I still think Utah was more impressive in '98. Beat the defending champs in the Elite 8 and beat a UNC team with two NBA All-Stars.

If Butler beats Duke, obviously their run is more impressive.

[Mr. Crimson]

1991 UNLV in the Big Sky conference is the standard. Here's to hoping that Butler beats Duke by 30.

What UNLV did was not impressive because that team was so bought and paid for.

Utah's trouncing of Arizona was a stunning win as Zona was the defending champion and had everyone back. However that isn't an attack on Butler, and if they close the deal on Monday night, that will be much more impressive.

[ERCougar]

What UNLV did was not impressive because that team was so bought and paid for.

Did anyone see the ESPN bit on that team this morning. I laughed out loud as Tark pointed out that despite heavy investigations, the NCAA never found a major violation.

Right. So UNLV just volunteered out of the goodness of their heart to be placed on probation for three years.