CSNbbs

No, it's not that this proves a basketball program can make a run in the tournament despite a low budget.

It is to say that just as the 1980 US Olympic hockey team won games with a system, the same can be true with basketball.

We continually hear how basketball fans like to see up tempo basketball. Sure, dumb ones who never tire of the repetitiveness of the game do, but Butler made their advancement by playing defense first and keeping scores to a point where they could win and created more excitement with their run than a thousand tournaments with 100-99 scores featuring the likes of North Carolina and Indiana in the final.

Furthermore, this used to be how Princeton had such a competitive program. As for fans being bored by the low scores, I remember reading reading an article once that stated the Tigers always got great TV ratings, at least during the Pete Carill era, because purists enjoyed watching this disciplined style.

The lesson here is that I would hope the coaching staff of ETSU would learn something from this. I have said for years that as the major stars of basketball leave college as soon as they can or forgo it altogether, mid majors now have a better chance of advancing than they did before provided they have the right style of play. Forget George Mason and Butler, look at how Cornell, St. Mary's, et all made runs this year.

So let the simpletons complain, as I heard them do, that there weren't any real NBA prospects on the court last night or the games were boring because they were low scoring. This was the most exciting NCAA Tourney game in years and it was 60-59.

And one gets the feeling that if more midmajors would play this style, they'd have success as well.

Impressive post. I can't argue it. The hockey statement is a bit of stretch though

You have to be able to keep the score low, Butler isn't a great defensive team by accident. They have the players to be a great defensive team, something that separates them from lower mid-majors.

Most mid-majors that go on runs do so through offense not defense.

The hockey point is NOT a stretch, as anyone who has seen the movie Miracle can attest to.

And if you haven't seen Miracle then you need to be deported.

This said, let's not forget that when Ed DeChellis was here he helped the Bucs restore respectability early on by keeping the scores low. I think ETSU was one of the best defensive teams in the country in terms of points allowed in one of his first seasons.

By the way, what you're saying is not true, 22. For instance, George Mason didn't allow 70 points in a game in 2005-06 until their Elite 8 Game went to overtime.

Before that, you had to look to Nov. 22 to find a game they allowed 70 or more points in.

(04-07-2010 10:01 AM)PittsburghBucs Wrote: [ -> ]The hockey point is NOT a stretch, as anyone who has seen the movie Miracle can attest to.

And if you haven't seen Miracle then you need to be deported.

This said, let's not forget that when Ed DeChellis was here he helped the Bucs restore respectability early on by keeping the scores low. I think ETSU was one of the best defensive teams in the country in terms of points allowed in one of his first seasons.

By the way, what you're saying is not true, 22. For instance, George Mason didn't allow 70 points in a game in 2005-06 until their Elite 8 Game went to overtime.

Before that, you had to look to Nov. 22 to find a game they allowed 70 or more points in.

Yes but was that done based on the nature of their offense or getting defensive stops? There is more than one way to keep a score low. Clock chewing, efficient offense can keep scores low. Just a guess on my part but I would be willing to bet there weren't many of those tournament games where George Mason held a superior opponent to under 40% shooting. And based on what I remember George Mason shot a ridiculous percentage from the field offensively.

Fine! But I think the point is that for teams such as ETSU or Butler to make runs in the tourney they will have to keep the scores down.