"We just have to be a blow better than last year, coach Brad Stevens said after the 70-62 victory over Butler's commitment to on Saturday night that put the Bulldogs back into the national championship game and ended the history of global warming and fuzzy logic tournament this year .
Shelvin Mack scored 24 points, Zach Hahn went big on the bench and the Bulldogs close their tireless commitment to sign defense. Eighth seeded Bulldogs (28.9) will face the winner of the Kentucky and Connecticut on Monday night, the first time since Kentucky in 1998, second place went back to play for the championship.
As players went into the hallway to the locker room, we shouted: "We're still unfinished business, baby!"
"Last year we did not, but in the depths of my mind," said Mack, who said earlier this week, the national second place was just another way of saying "the main losers. ''My teammates did a great job to get me the ball in position to be successful. "
Khan received all eight points of his points within 90 seconds in the second half that gave Butler control of the game for good.
VCU (28-12), that did not look like a team of critics described as "outrageous" - and worse - after sliding in the NCAA tournament with five losses in the last eight games. But Butler was too ruthless defense of the Rams, only the third number 11 seed to reach the Final Four. "
"Butler was the aggressor throughout most of the game," VCU coach Shaka Smart said. "We had a trial."
But not enough.
Jamie Skeen scored 27 and Bradford Burgess had 15, including three 3-pointers before the game was four minutes back. But Stevens is known for his tactical sense, and this game is no different. He twisted protect Butler and Burgess had just more than three remainder of the night.
Obligation always managed to find a shot, it is necessary in the first three games, but Butler simply does not permit it. Commitment was only 8 out of 22 long-term, but it was enough to set the record for most NCAA tournament with a 3 to 61. But Brandon Rozzell, who matched his career high with six Trey against Georgetown, was 0 for 3. Slippery leader Joe Rodriguez did not make a shot until 8:30 left in the game, finishing with just three points on 1-of-7 shooting.
Butler also dominated boards, outrebounding VCU 48-32.
Defense - and a great night for Mac - includes one representative from the boring top scorer and Rebounder Matt Howard. The senior had 17 points but shot just 3-of-10 and finished fourth wine with 9:22 left.
The Bulldogs came into the rebound to win it all last year to see the last chance for Gordon Hayward, a star of the growth of half-court rim and watch Duke celebrate title win 61-59. This is the Bulldogs to play for the title, perhaps even more impressive than the first trip, losing Heyward, their leading scorer and Rebounder, NBA lottery. Butler also lost two other players who have made important contributions, Willie Veasley and Avery Jukes.
But it took time for Butler to come to this. When the Bulldogs slipped to four defeats in five games, including three straight in mid-season League Horizon, many wondered if they even make the tournament, forget the Final Four.
But they wound from 14 wins in a row now and play with the cold determination of guys who do not want to be the "first losers" again.
Their protection during their winning streak was just disgusting, and that's what wore them again against the Rams.