NCAA Tournament recap, Graves' coaching job, and more

I'm typing from my iPod on a train right now so please excuse any typos.  I'm sorry I haven't posted anything in a week, but I have been traveling on vacation and have had little access to a computer.  I wasn't able to watch Butler vs. Bucknell, though I heard that Butler's bigs did a great job on Mike Muscala.  Rotnei Clarke's shooting really helped Butler overcome a six point deficit in the second half.

I was able to watch the entire second half of the Marquette game.  I was consistently upset with Butler's guards, who missed Andrew Smith on the low post on numerous occasions.  Not only was Smith playing well, more attention on Smith inside could've opened up more perimeter looks for Clarke and Dumham, who both played poor second halves.  Defensively, I felt that Smith did a good job hedging out on Marquette's ball screens, but Clarke could not stay with the Marquette guards, and Roosevelt Jones could've done more to help on defense.  As close as this game was down the stretch I just wasn't sure that the Bulldogs would be able to do enough to win.  Maybe that was because Matt Howard wasn't on the court for BU.  Despite Smith's free throws and a nice baseline jumper from Kam Woods in the last couple of minutes, Butler was just too turnover prone, which has been a problem the entire second half of the season.  Neither Smith nor Clarke
Was able to get good looks from three to win the game, and a great defensive play from who else, Alex Barlow, went for nothing.  So the Bulldogs ran out of the March magic they had in 2010 and 2011.  2013-14 could be a difficult year without the on court ability of Andrew Smith and Rotnei Clarke, and the leadership of Chase Stigall and Emerson Kampen (I should mention that it was Kampen who through the long baseball pass to Smith for the goal-tended layup in the final minute).  But I will talk more about next season as the spring and summer months move on.

In other Butler news, long time assistant coach Matthew Graves (Butler, '98) has accepted the head coaching position at South Alabama.  While he was a great assistant coach and I am sad to see him go, he is more than ready for a head coach job after having been under the tutelage of a head coach like Brad Stevens.  I wish Graves nothing but the best at South Alabama.

Lastly, I will be doing individual player analysis for every Butler player by class.  Expect that to come in the next week or two.

Also, if you are reading this, thank you for taking time to read my blog.  I know I am not the best writer, but I truly have a passion Butler basketball and really live this team win or lose.  I thank you for sticking with my blog despite all the late/missed entries, awkwardly phrased sentences, and any other mistakes I may have made.

Go Bulldogs!