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Duke Prevails 61-59 over Butler

Nolan Thomas Written by Nolan Thomas, Monday April 05 2010
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This one was as perfect as a movie script, a David vs. Goliath game that was in doubt all the way until the final shot from half court flew through the air and headed for the basket as the final buzzer sounded.

 

The only difference is that in a movie script David would have been the winner, and alias, Goliath won this one. Duke prevailed over Butler 61-59 in the NCAA national championship game on Monday night to put to rest any thought of a “Hoosiers” sequel.

 

Butler (33-5) had a chance to win it at the end in an amazing sequence that defined this tournament. Gordon Hayward’s half-court shot at the buzzer flew through the air, hit off the backboard, hit the rim, and bounced out. Had it gone in, it would have made for the perfect slow motion climatic scene for the ending of a classic Hollywood sports movie.

 

Instead it was hearing the crowd of 70,930 gasp and then let out a heavy hearted sigh. It just was not meant to be this time around.

 

The Blue Devils (35-5) ended Butler’s 25-game winning streak and brought the long-awaited fourth national title back home to Carolina.

 

The “Big Three” of Singler, Jon Scheyer and Nolan Smith, won the crown for coach Mike Krzyzewski. The is Coach K’s first championship since 2001 and his fourth overall. He tied Adolph Rupp for second place on the all-time list.

 

“First of all, it was a great basketball game. I want to congratulate an amazing Butler team and their fans,” Krzyzewski said. “Fabulous year. We played a great game, they played a great game. It’s hard for me to say it, to imagine that we’re the national champions.”

 

What a game to end one of the most memorable tournaments in history, as it was close throughout and neither team led by more than six points at any time during the game.

 


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