Why I'm for Butler

[xubrew]

I am sick of the Big Six conferences. I refuse to use the term BCS, because this is basketball. I hate that they get the same distinction in basketball as they do in football. The SEC West, by itself, ranks below the Ivy League. In fact I'd go so far to say that no one in the SEC West this year would have finished higher than third in they Ivy League...yet it has the distinction of being part of a "major" conference.

More than anything, I hate that the status quo excepts the line of thinking that teams from outside the Big Six can't win the National Championship. That's why I'm rooting for Butler tonight. That's why I was rooting for them last year as well. That's why I rooted for Memphis in 2008 in a game that now technically didn't happen.

I don't have a strong rooting interest in those teams. However, I pull for them in the NCAAs, no matter who it is, if for no other reason I don't want anyone to be able to say that it can't happen. It can. It will. It may happen tonight. I hope it does.

Prior to 2006 George Mason run, the belief was that in modern day basketball no team outside the Big Six could make the Final Four (and I'm not counting the years C-USA had Louisville, Cincinnati, Marquette, et al). Now at least people accept that this can happen. Gonzaga got close in 1999, but I guess that was considered a fluke. Saint Joe's and Xavier got close in 2004, but despite both teams nearly missing it, the national media and the status quo still took the approach that a non-major conference team couldn't get there, and were very dismissive of it.

In 2008, Memphis (sort of), Xavier and Davidson all made the Elite Eight. I don't recall a year where three non-major conference teams made it that far. Obviously, I was pulling for Xavier the hardest, but after we lost I became the biggest Davidson fan in the world. They almost made it. They lost at the buzzer to a team that won it all, and yet all anyone had to say was that non-major teams couldn't do it.

I know many people here don't like Butler. I'm not particularly fond of them, but I do respect them. They've built themselves up and played their way into the national title game twice despite not being in a major conference. My appreciation for them kicking down the door to the belief that non-major teams can't win it all far outweighs any rooting interest I may have against them.

It's the third time in four years a non Big Six team has played for the title, yet most will continue to insist it is impossible until it happens. I think it would be great for college basketball in general if it did happen. Then, if nothing else, media, coaches, etc, wouldn't be able to tell people that you can't win a national title if you don't go to a major conference school. That's why I'm for Butler. I'd be for any non-major conference school. It just happens to be that Butler is the team that's playing in the game.

[BBC 08]

I'm all for a non-Big Six team winning the NC. I just wish it was anyone other than Butler (also, dayton because f*** them).

[xnatic03]

I am sick of the Big Six conferences. I refuse to use the term BCS, because this is basketball. I hate that they get the same distinction in basketball as they do in football. The SEC West, by itself, ranks below the Ivy League. In fact I'd go so far to say that no one in the SEC West this year would have finished higher than third in they Ivy League...yet it has the distinction of being part of a "major" conference.

More than anything, I hate that the status quo excepts the line of thinking that teams from outside the Big Six can't win the National Championship. That's why I'm rooting for Butler tonight. That's why I was rooting for them last year as well. That's why I rooted for Memphis in 2008 in a game that now technically didn't happen.

I don't have a strong rooting interest in those teams. However, I pull for them in the NCAAs, no matter who it is, if for no other reason I don't want anyone to be able to say that it can't happen. It can. It will. It may happen tonight. I hope it does.

Prior to 2006 George Mason run, the belief was that in modern day basketball no team outside the Big Six could make the Final Four (and I'm not counting the years C-USA had Louisville, Cincinnati, Marquette, et al). Now at least people accept that this can happen. Gonzaga got close in 1999, but I guess that was considered a fluke. Saint Joe's and Dayton got close in 2004, but despite both teams nearly missing it, the national media and the status quo still took the approach that a non-major conference team couldn't get there, and were very dismissive of it.

In 2008, Memphis (sort of), Xavier and Davidson all made the Elite Eight. I don't recall a year where three non-major conference teams made it that far. Obviously, I was pulling for Xavier the hardest, but after we lost I became the biggest Davidson fan in the world. They almost made it. They lost at the buzzer to a team that won it all, and yet all anyone had to say was that non-major teams couldn't do it.

I know many people here don't like Butler. I'm not particularly fond of them, but I do respect them. They've built themselves up and played their way into the national title game twice despite not being in a major conference. My appreciation for them kicking down the door to the belief that non-major teams can't win it all far outweighs any rooting interest I may have against them.

It's the third time in four years a non Big Six team has played for the title, yet most will continue to insist it is impossible until it happens. I think it would be great for college basketball in general if it did happen. Then, if nothing else, media, coaches, etc, wouldn't be able to tell people that you can't win a national title if you don't go to a major conference school. That's why I'm for Butler. I'd be for any non-major conference school. It just happens to be that Butler is the team that's playing in the game.


Brew, I respect the hell out of you, and I agree with you....however, please don't ever make this mistake again. Wow.....

[xubrew]

Brew, I respect the hell out of you, and I agree with you....however, please don't ever make this mistake again. Wow.....

I caught that too, and was hoping no one else would until I changed it. It has been fixed.

Nothign to see here....Move along.

[X-band '01]

Brew, I respect the hell out of you, and I agree with you....however, please don't ever make this mistake again. Wow.....

which mistake - saying that dayton was close to making a run in 2004 or using the caps key?

it's too bad that we don't have lower case numbers like we do lower case letters.

[xnatic03]

He fixed the mistake. It initially said "St. Joes and Dayton both came close in 2004". He substituted Dayton for Xavier in the field. Blasphemy!
He realized it quickly and fixed it though. Brew knows more about this stuff in one breath than I do over my entire existence, so I cannot be too hard on him.

[bobbiemcgee]

I practically grew up on the Butler campus. Many, many sports activities there and the student union was a great place to hang out. Went to many sectionals, regionals, hs finals @ the old barn as well as IU, ND, etc.etc. back in the day. Worked @ Hinkle and sold popcorn @ the outdoor theatre every year. Nickel a bag I got to keep.
So I don't harbor any bad feelings about their program since they always treated me well. Campus security could have been pricks but were always decent.

Happy we beat 'em this yr., but for now, Go Bulldogs!!

[xubrew]

Trivia question...has Xavier ever beaten the team that ended up winning the national championship?? I don't know if we have or haven't. I just can't think of a time when we did.

[PMI]

Brew, I'm with you on most of those points, but I'd take a hell of a lot more away from Butler losing tonight and Xavier winning the national championship next year. You are right about the media's dismissal of non Big Six teams and it's very frustrating. Butler should be viewed as what they are: one of the top two teams in the tournament right now, not some Cinderella. But I still hate them and won't be pulling for them.

Interesting note, the Sportscenter anchor just said that if Butler pulled off tonight's win as an 8 seed, it wouldn't be as big of an upset as the 85 Villanova team. Maybe tides are turning? Probably not.

[Juice]

Why I'm for this happening underneath Reliant Stadium...
http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/pictures/sinkhole1.jpg

Because I despise both teams

[dc_x]

I'm cheering for Butler. It would be a great win for the non-Big 6 teams. It would dispell the myth that national championships can only be won by teams from the Big 6 conferences.

A win for Butler is good for Xavier.

I hope Butler can keep Stevens after this year and beyond. I just read that Shaka Smart said "no thanks" to NC State. That's also good news.

[PMI]

Just like people make too big a deal about being in big conferences, I think some posters are making too big a deal about being outside the big conferences. I don't buy that Butler winning a championship helps Xavier in any way, except for the fact that we would be playing the defending champs next year. I agree that there is a myth among many that non BCS teams can't win the title, but I sure as shit don't want Butler knocking the door down. Plus, I think anyone with a brain realizes that even though they came up 3 inches short last year, Butler has been good enough to be national champions the past two tournaments. I just want Xavier to win championships, not Butler or VCU or Arkansas Pine Bluff. I don't subscribe to any alliance with other non BCS teams like Memphis or Gonzaga. I wish people would stop putting the emphasis on freaking conference affiliation (or lack thereof) and look at PROGRAMS. If UConn wins we'll hear about how the 9th place Big East team won it all, but will we be reminded that the 4th place CAA team was in the Final Four this year? I just wish people would drop all the conference crap. Two big time programs are playing and I hate one a little more than the other. Go Connecticut.

[XULucho27]

I hate Butler, but after much debate, I've concluded that I'd rather see a win for the program that does thing the "right way."

I hate Butler, but I hate cheaters like Calhoun much, much, more. They are bad for the sport. Stevens has done things, seemingly, in the same fashion we've done here at X and I admire that. I still hate Butler, though.

[pizza delivery]

I get rooting against teams you hate, like the Steelers in the SB, but in no way do I look at Butler like I do the Steelers. I just don't get it. One shot clock malfunction 2 years ago that wouldn't have even guaranteed a win and all the sudden Butler = Steelers for many. You have to give them credit is all I can see. It's an improbable ride they're on. They can't even sell out their allotment of tickets for the FF. I mean, Butler fans don't even deserve it. It's not about them, it's about Stevens and the 5 guys on the floor. It's really great to see.

[PMI]

I can't even remember when I starting disliking Butler, but the clock game was certainly not the day. Obviously it added fuel to the fire. I've had my share of bad experiences with Butler fans which certainly has added to it too. Matt Howard is also a HUGE part of the reason (along with Gordon Hayward from last year.) I just don't like them. I kind of like the Steelers minus Ben Roethlesberger, but I see your point since there are a lot of Bengals fans on here. What can I say, the heart hates who it hates.

I agree that (at least as far as I know) they do things the right way compared to UConn. My dream scenario for tonight is UConn winning easily, the Butler Way failing miserably, and then more dirt on Calhoun and UConn coming to the surface, eventually leading to the revoking of their title. Give me no winner! That would be great.

But pizza delivery, your last sentence is probably the root of my hatred. Their fanbase, as a whole is far less "deserving" of a national championship than many. I've always despised that about their program. They can't even fill their crappy little gym. Obviously, I don't want to infer that the teams with the most fans deserve to win or anything like that. But it does piss me off as a Xavier fan that we put SO much more into our program only to constantly get dumped by coaches and almost break through while they may actually have that once in a lifetime top 5 coach who may stay there for awhile. Of course I'm jealous about that. At the end of the day, I'm sure there are great kids on both teams who deserve to win, and that's what it's all about, but as a fan, I don't want to see any Butler fan feel the joy of a national championship.