Wyatt was supposed to go the Pacers game with his friend but his friend ended up being sick so Wyatt talked me into going with him. I had wanted to go to a Pacers game this season but I wanted to go to one after things had settled down after the holidays. So it didn't take much to convince me. We were ahead by so much that we ended up leaving early so Wyatt could get me home earlier. I think it was a good compromise!
I always love going to basketball games at Banker's Life! We got to watch former Hoosier, Victor Oladipo play there again...only this time as an Indiana Pacer!
It's officially dancing season. March Madness is in full swing and I couldn't be happier. This is one of the best times of the year in sports. Wyatt and I had kind of decided we weren't going to fill out brackets this year. Then we had dinner at his parents' house and his dad printed us off some brackets. We filled them out against our better judgement. I'm sure after one day, they're all busted (I always fill two out...one realistic bracket and one Hoosiers all the way bracket. Wyatt on the other hand cannot pick against his beloved Hoosiers and only fills one out).
The state of Indiana had 5 teams to make the field this year. Go Indiana, go! Purdue lost their game to Cincy last night (please note, even with out immense love of our Hoosiers we both chose our big in-state rival to win that one). Notre Dame and Butler both won their games yesterday and play each other next. Valparaiso and my Hoosiers play their first games this afternoon! Hoo-Hoo-Hoo-Hoosiers!
Butler played this video at their pep rally today and luckily for all of us, they posted it on their website. This little school in the middle of Indiana has made a name for themselves and gained hundreds of fans across the country over the last two seasons. It's a story that is often compared to the movie 'Hoosiers' which has ties to the school. That team, those boys, the coaches, and the school have so much to be proud of with what they have accomplished. Hope you enjoy this video as much as I did...if anything just for the great choice of music (firm believer that the right music can make anything 10x better).
'better luck next year'....well unfortunately for the Bulldogs, this was not the case. Such a heart breaker(again). Would you rather lose the National Championship by a last second missed shot....or by achieving the lowest FG% in a game? I'll take the buzzer beater any day over this. It was like those baskets had lids that would not come off for the Dawgs! Their spirit was definitely broken before the game was over. So glad to have seen them go to the final back to back years. It may not have ended anywhere near how many of us would have liked, but it was a great run boys! You continued to prove critics and haters wrong through your run. Sure this game was ugly...but it was ugly for a great deal of time for UConn too.
Congrats to Jim Calhoun for his accomplishments as coach. That is a special achievement that few can claim as their own. And, on a final note....take that mic from Barkley and don't give it back.
Time for the always tear jerking 'One Shining Moment'...yes, I'm sappy and tear up while watching every year. It never fails.
Tonight is the night! Go Dawgs, Go! Bring the 'ship back to Indiana! Also, for any of you who enjoy themselves a good Butler Blue 2 picture, go here. I definitely think that Butler may have moved up higher in the Social Media Power Standings after this tournament run.
LET'S GO DANCING
Every year in March, the country is swept with an overwhelming obsession with college hoops. Even those least interested in the game during regular season can sometimes transform into diehard supporters come March. It helps if your team makes the tournament, but even those whose teams only make the NIT or the CBI (or no tournament at all) have been known to get sucked into the hype that surrounds the NCAA tournament that determines the National Championship team. The seemingly best of the best go head to head over a three week time span when 68 teams are narrowed down to one standing as the National Champions. Even the President gets into it. President Obama has announced his picks for the tournament for two years now on ESPN.
This year in the tournament, although my beloved Indiana Hoosiers are not present, there are four other Indiana colleges representing our state. Butler brought a lot of attention to our state last year in their run to the final game that happened to end up being played in their own hometown and backyard at Lucas Oil Stadium. Although their odds of repeating that great run again this year are not as likely, never underestimate the determination of a little team with heart. They proved last year that a mid-major can have what it takes to compete against the power conference teams that dominate the draw. Some would give more favor to Purdue for making it deep in the draw. Even after losing one of their best players due to injury this season, they have remained a force to be reckoned with thus far. With the way the draw ended up, things could be set up for an all Indiana match up in the Sweet Sixteen between Purdue and Notre Dame, also a team to watch. Sadly the ISU Sycamores seem to have little chance of advancing too far, but March is always a time for upsets and Cinderella stories. Stranger things have happened. This is also a great year for Big Ten teams. The Hoosiers struggled in conference play this season and rightfully so. The Big Ten was a tough conference to be a part of again this year. We had seven teams make the big dance this year, including the overall number 1 seeded, Ohio State.
There seemed to be a lot of controversy surrounding the teams chosen by the selection committee for the at large bids this season. The committee is taking on a lot of scrutiny about choosing UAB and VCU and leaving some scratching their heads with some of the bubble teams that were overlooked like St. Mary’s, Virginia Tech, Colorado, and Boston University. I’ll admit, as I was watching ESPN on Sunday night, I was agreeing with a lot of what they commentators were saying in regards to the choices being poor. That being said, no matter what you expect to happen in the tournament there will always be teams to surprise you so maybe it's not a bad thing, after all every team can't be in the tournament. There will always be an upset or two...or ten. The field this year could be fairly predictable, but then again, it’s March and that sparks a special type of drive and adrenaline in players and coaches. The first game proved to be an exciting game between UNC Ashville and University of Arkansas Little Rock. The game went into overtime and was decided by four points.
#FREEBUTLERBLUE2
Over the last several years I have become a huge Butler Basketball fan, between my sister attending school there and a local boy playing for the team, my interest was sparked while still in high school. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching Coach Stevens and his boys over the last three years. He is a class act and I have to say a truly nice guy (I was star struck when I met him while I worked at the hotel). As much as I enjoy the team, one of my favorite parts about Butler...is Butler's Blue II. He is the live mascot for the Butler Bulldogs. I kind of have a soft spot (ok it’s a huge soft spot) for bulldogs and after I began following the Butler Blue II Flickr and Twitter accounts I fell in love with the furry guy. If you haven’t checked out either, I suggest it. The Twitter account is ran by his owner who happens to be Butler's director of web marketing and communications. It’s truly a great read…and if you are ever in need of a pick me up and are any kind of animal lover at all, this will surely do the trick. His dad has a terrific sense of humor and pride for his pup and the school.
This week Butler's Blue II has also been a topic in the news. NCAA made an exception last year during the Final Four and allowed Blue II to attend the games. He was broadcast on air and gained a lot of attention and new lovers/followers during this time. Currently the NCAA is not making any exceptions to the rule of no live animals in attendance. Even Butler’s opponent in their opening game, Old Dominion, have reached out to the NCAA to lift the ban and allow him to attend. NCAA has spoken out saying that the reasoning for the ban deals with the quick turnaround for the games, the crowds, etc. Should a team with a live mascot make it deeper into the tournament, the rule will be re-evaluated and most likely an exception will be made again like it was last year.
In the wake of this news, a twitter campaign was started #freebutlerblue2. This campaign seems to be helping Kaltenmark and Blue II land interviews(even though I'm sure with Butler in the tournament this was bound to happen anyway) on local news and radio spots and even ESPN’s First Take. ESPN’s PTI also made mention of the whole thing. Since Blue II cannot attend Thursday’s game, Kaltenmark has ingeniously come up with a way for him to be present in DC. Blue II masks have been made and uploaded to Blue II’s Flickr photostream for fans to print out and put on a stick. I cannot wait to see the crowd. I’m assuming the Dawg Pound will be a sea of Blue II’s. Should make for an interesting story for the commentators, right?
