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Volunteers overwhelm Buckeyes but fall to Spartans

Aaron Hotchner — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 01:50:01 +0000

St. Louis, 3/28/10 “Look what’s happening out in the streets/Got a revolution, got to revolution/Hey I’m dancing down the streets/Got a revolution, got to revolution.” - Jefferson Airplane, “Volunteers”

A clarion call for Vietnam protest, Jefferson Airplane’s blazing 1969 single could also describe the sense of elation gripping the University of Tennessee campus Friday night. Bagging 2^nd seeded Ohio State’s Buckeyes 76-73 despite heroics by guard Evan Turner, the 6^th seeded Vols sat atop the world, heading to the first Elite Eight in school history.

Like many revolutions, a future of limitless potential is glimpsed via rose-colored glasses. Next round match-up Michigan State was injured & had barely survived challenge by the plucky Northern Iowa University. Once their supply of Band-Aids ran out, reasoning went, they’d be easy pickings for a Volunteers squad boasting a long & brawny front line.

Like many revolutions, the end came soon, the wave breaking some 36 hours after its crest. Michigan State’s Spartans – veterans of last year’s Final Four – drew heart from their coach & inspiration from the injured teammate that got them there. After an intense, down-to-the-wire battle, M. State emerged victorious Sunday 70-69, the difference a single free throw.

Now, from breathless heights to hopeless depths:

Though packing bags for home, Buckeye junior Evan Turner can find consolation. As the expected #2 pick in the upcoming draft, his future is bright. Against Tennessee, he left it all out there, scoring 21 of 31 total in the second half. Throw in seven rebounds, five assists, & 9-9 from the free throw line, and accusations of anything less than 110% effort are lacking cause or merit. Instead, Ohio State’s star collided with a Volunteers team playing nitro-fueled power basketball. The Vols dominated both the offensive & defensive boards for a 36-23 margin. Brian Williams (Tennessee’s center, not him) and power forward Wayne Chism alone accounted for 23 of those rebounds, & 31 points. While Turner’s 6′7” frame allows him to shoot over smaller guards, Tennessee guard J.P. Prince (14 points, 6 rebounds) is equally long & lanky, allowing him to block the last second, chance-to-tie three pointer Turner shot. At the end of all things, it was textbook: the better team beat the best player.

Facing Michigan State, Tennessee’s odds looked favorable. Kalin Lucas had ruptured his Achilles tendon in the second round, depriving the State of their high-man for both points & assists. Chris Allen (8.5 ppg, foot injury) & Delvon Roe (6.5 ppg & 5 rebounds/game, torn meniscus) were playing hurt. The Vols were coming in on a head of steam, looking past this night towards Indianapolis & Final Four glory. The Spartans though, refused to be buried before they were actually dead. On the back of a 21 point outburst by guard Durrell Summers & Lucas’s crutched cheer-leading, they battled back from the brink & sealed their return ticket. For Summers, stepping up meant listening to Coach Tom Izzo, the same coach who’d benched him after an earlier conflict.

“[Izzo told me to] be more aggressive and it starts on the defensive end,” Summers said. “I think throughout the whole tournament my defense has been on a different level than it was in the beginning of the year, and that’s just been able to translate to my offense.”

Bulldogs put a squeeze on the Orange & punch Elite 8 ticket

Aaron Hotchner — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 17:23:00 +0000

Salt Lake City, 3/25/10 – Renowned for their tenacity, the Bulldog made it’s fame in the fighting pits of Renaissance England. Those with the most “gameness” – a willingness to keep fighting through adversity – were prized by breeders above all else.

It was that fighting spirit animating Butler University’s Bulldogs Thursday night against Syracuse, driving the latest upset in a Madness not short of them. Loyal readers know previous pieces were profiles of two of the four #1 seeded teams – the University of Kentucky Wildcats & the University of Kansas Jayhawks. A profile of #1 West Regional Syracuse was next in the series, but seemingly their endeavors were not favored by the Fates.

Instead this piece will serve as study on why the Orange got peeled 63-59 by a fifth seeded team – and why the ‘Dogs are thinking Indianapolis (site of this year’s Final Four & home of Butler University) or bust.

Question the first: why did Syracuse, a 30-4 team coming in leave so humbled? One reason was starting center Arinze Onuaku, missing from the lineup since a quadriceps muscle injury suffered during the Big East tournament. Strangely enough, the injury came during one of Syracuse’s rare losses, to another band of bulldogs, Georgetown University’s Hoyas. Coincidences aside, Onuaku’s rebounding & scoring prowess – season averages of 5.1 boards, 10.5 points, & 67% from the field – were hard to replace, as was the on-court leadership the senior provided.

It’s also reasonable to assert that Syracuse had not been truly tested until their collision with Butler. The Orange blew out 16^th seeded Vermont by 23 points on the Tournament’s second day, followed by a drubbing of 8^th seeded Gonzaga by 22 points a few days later. However, against a team justifiably proud of stingy man-to-man defense, Syracuse committed 18 turnovers to Butler’s 7. Further confounding their heavyweight opposition with 13 steals, the Bulldogs - who shot worse from the field & had fewer assists – were able to pull out the win.

Question the second: why Butler? Why did this underdog & undersized gang of Jacks end up giant killers? Their defense was mentioned, but bears another example: against a team that scored in bunches (166 total) their previous games, the ‘Dogs dug deep & held Syracuse nearly scoreless for the first seven minutes, building a 12-1 lead. Forced into catch-up nearly all game, the Orange were finally ahead 54-50, with five & change remaining to play. Butler again ramped up the defensive intensity, reaching a fever pitch at the four minute mark. Bulldog Willie Veasley came up with a steal that was converted into a 3-pointer, kicking off an 11-0 run. By the time Syracuse scored again, there were only 35 seconds left in a game already lost.

“Defense wins championships” is Gospel wisdom in basketball. After holding Syracuse to a tie for season low points scored, the Bulldogs proved they have what it takes. Going into the first Elite Eight in school history, Butler feels homeward bound with the wind at their backs.