National Championship Recap

     It had been 9 years since Mike Kryzewski and his Duke Blue Devils had cut down the nets, and he needed a title. A loss to Butler would be, well, embarrassing.


     There was no need to worry; well, almost.


      Kyle Singler scored 19, Jon Scheyer scored 15 and Duke prevailed 61-59 over Butler to win the school's fourth championship.


     Nolan Smith scored 4 early points for Duke, and they took a 6-1 lead. But Shelvin Mack made back-to-back threes to cut the deficit to 8-7. Zach Hahn made a 3 for Butler, but Kyle Singler answered to put Duke up 16-14.


     After a jumper by Mack and a tip-in by Willie Veasley, Butler led 20-18. But Jon Scheyer hit a free throw and a 3, then Singler scored to put Duke up 26-20. Butler answered with jumpers by Gordon Hayward and Avery Jukes, and then a 3 by Jukes from the right wing. Nolan Smith made a 3 for Duke, but a 3 by Jukes from the left perimeter cut the halftime deficit to 33-32 for Butler.


     Kyle Singler made a 3 for Duke, but after an open layup by Shelvin Mack Butler regained a 40-38 lead. Ronald Nored made a 3 for the left wing, but Kyle Singler answered. A layup by Brian Zoubek put Duke up 47-43. Gordon Hayward then hit 4 free throws for Butler, and Shelvin Mack made a jumper for Butler. 


     Jon Scheyer converted a 3 point play after his jersey was grabbed on to and he scored, but after 6 Butler free throws the score was 56-55. Nolan Smith made 2 more foul shots and Kyle Singler hit a jumper, but Butler wasn't done just yet.


     Matt Howard slid to the basket and made easy layups twice, cutting the deficit to 60-59. With 33.7 seconds left, Butler got the ball. Gordon Hayward took a tough jumper and... missed it off the back rim. Brian Zoubek grabbed the board and got fouled, and made the first and intentionally missed the second. Gordon Hayward missed a half-court shot at the buzzer and Duke was the national champions!


     Kyle Singler was named Final Four MVP with an average of 20 points per game in the Final Four. It was the start of a new era.


     Baily's Top 10
     1 Butler (yes, Butler)
     2 Duke
     3 Michigan State
     4 West Virginia
     5 Kentucky
     6 Kansas State
     7 Kansas
     8 Baylor
     9 Ohio State
    10 Tennessee


     Women's Championship: Stanford vs. Connecticut Pick: Uconn 81, Stanford 58
    

Comments

Jeremy said…
Dear Mr. Deeter,

Oh come on! We might have all WANTED Butler to pull it out in the end, but they didn't. It's time to give credit where it's due and put Duke at the top of your year-end ranking. Do the right thing.

Fondly,
An anonymous New Yorker
April 6, 2010 at 4:43 PM
Baily D said…
I put Butler because they played so hard, played better (in my opinion) so I have Butler.
April 6, 2010 at 6:36 PM
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