Underdogs Falter...Except Butler

Well, none of the three big cinderellas were able to continue their storybook runs past the round of 16, something that honestly surprised me. But what surprised me in particular, more than the fact that they lost, was how these teams' leaders, after displaying top-notch performances in the first two rounds and leading their respective teams to uncharted territory, played so poorly in the Sweet 16. Both Cornell's Ryan Wittman and Northern Iowa's Ali Farokhmanesh badly faltered. And by badly faltered, I mean they looked like they had forgotten how to play basketball. Farokhmanesh, after missing seven free throws all season, missed three against Michigan State and missed all but two of his nine field-goal attempts. Wittman similarly had a night to forget, as he finished 3 for 10 from the field after going 7 for 10 and 10 for 15 in the first two rounds of the tourney. As for St. Mary's? Well, their entire team just didn't show up, as the Gaels trailed Baylor 46-17 at the half before succumbing to the Bears by a 23-point margin.

Look, I understand that these three teams were playing out of their minds up until this point, and it would have been unrealistic to expect them to keep up that level of play. But that still doesn't make it any less puzzling when you consider the extent to which these teams, and their best players, struggled in the Sweet 16. Maybe it was the hype doted on them by an adoring media, maybe it was the pressure of keeping their improbable rides going, I don't know. All I know is that Ryan Wittman is better than what he showed against Kentucky, and Ali Farokhmanesh is better than what he showed against Michigan State. When you consider that Cornell, despite a terrible first thirty-five minutes, trailed Kentucky by only six with 5 minutes to play, and that Northern Iowa was neck-and-neck with State until the final minute or so, you realize that these two teams could have won had their best players had even average games.

Anyway, all is not lost for the mid-majors, as Butler, in its typical workmanlike fashion, took out both Syracuse and Kansas State to reach its first Final Four in school history. Even better, Butler will get to play its remaining games in downtown Indianapolis, a mere seven miles away from campus. Of course, the loveable underdog theme has been played up non-stop since Saturday, especially since the Bulldogs play their home games in the same place (Hinkle Fieldhouse, it's called -- doesn't that sound like just the perfect home court name for a loveable underdog?) as the legendary movie Hoosiers was filmed. It should be great, with Butler going against a tradition-rich power conference team in Michigan State, which could be followed by a national championship game against an even more tradition-rich program in Duke. Whether the Bulldogs play one more game this season or two, they will undoubtedly have almost everyone in 70,000-seat Lucas Oil Stadium, as well as the large majority of the country, on their side.

This is what makes March Madness great -- having a team like Butler, who almost nobody predicted would make it here, in the Final Four. I find it ridiculous listening to people like Gary Parrish of CBSSports.com (bonehead sports writers at CBS -- seems to be a trend here these past couple of weeks), who wrote in his latest column that "the nation would be more excited to watch a Kentucky-Kansas title game than, say, a Duke-Butler title game. No question about that." Really, Gary? No question? Because at least for me, and I suspect many other sports fans across the country, we'd rather see a championship game between two true teams than a star-studded matchup that features players doing little more than auditioning for the NBA. I watched the Wildcats and Jayhawks get bounced from this tournament, and they looked awful. Selfish play. No semblance of teamwork. Just individuals trying to do their thing...and failing. If Butler is able to win the national championship, it will truly demonstrate that a team whose players are willing to put their egos aside and sacrifice individual accolades for the success of the group will be the last one standing.

I hope it happens.