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HOUSTON -- "Were not done yet! Unfinished business, baby!" That was the rallying cry from the Butler Bulldogs, who are headed back to the title game, not as lovable underdogs but a team intent on making up for last years heartbreak. Cheap Los Angeles Dodgers Jerseys . Maybe this time that final, riveting shot will go in. Maybe this time Butler wont need it. "Were not going to settle on just getting back," said Zach Hahn, who came up big off the bench in Butlers 70-62 victory over VCU on Saturday night that gave the Bulldogs a do-over and ended the warm-and-fuzzy story of this years NCAA mens tournament. "I remember the sour taste it left in my mouth last year, and I just think this group, were here now and we have a chance. Thats all you can ask." Shelvin Mack scored 24 points, Hahn scored all eight of his points during a 90-second span in the second half that gave Butler control of the game for good and the Bulldogs shut down hot-shooting VCU with their trademark unforgiving defence. The eighth-seeded Bulldogs (28-9) will face the winner of Kentucky-Connecticut on Monday night, the lowest-seeded team to play for the national title since Villanova won it as a No. 8 seed in 1985. "Weve just got to be one shot better than last year," coach Brad Stevens said. VCU (28-12) sure didnt look like a team critics dismissed as "unworthy" -- and a whole lot worse -- after it skidded into the NCAA tournament with five losses in its last eight games. But Butlers stifling defence was too much for the Rams, only the third No. 11 seed to reach the Final Four. "Butler was the aggressor for the majority of the game," VCU coach Shaka Smart said. "We had our runs." But not enough of them. Jamie Skeen scored 27 and Bradford Burgess had 15, including three three-pointers before the game was even four minutes old. But Stevens is known for his tactical acumen, and this game was no different. He tweaked Butlers defence, and Burgess had just one more three the rest of the night. VCU had always managed to find a shot when it needed it in its first three games, but Butler simply wouldnt allow it. VCU was just 8 of 22 from long range, though that was still enough to set the NCAA record for most threes in a tournament with 61. But Brandon Rozzell, who tied his career high with six treys against Georgetown, was 0-for-3. Slippery point guard Joey Rodriguez didnt make a shot until 8:30 left in the game, finishing with only three points on 1-of-7 shooting. Butler also dominated the boards, outrebounding VCU 48-32. "Some of our shots didnt fall. Open shots, shots wed been making," Rodriguez said. "I think if you go back and look at the tape, youll see some of them were in and outs. Almost felt like it wasnt supposed to happen or something." The defence -- and the big night by Mack -- made up for a lacklustre showing by leading scorer and rebounder Matt Howard. The senior had 17 points, but shot just 3-of-10 and picked up his fourth foul with 9:22 left. "Its not one guy making plays," said Hahn, whose total Saturday was one point less than hed had in Butlers previous four tournament games combined. "Its literally a collective effort; its all 14 guys." The Bulldogs came within a bounce of winning it all last year. But Gordon Haywards last-ditch, half-court heave caromed off the rim, and Butler had to watch Duke celebrate the title with a 61-59 win. "Last year we didnt get it done, so thats in the back of my mind," Mack said. That the Bulldogs are playing for the title again is maybe even more impressive than the first trip, having lost Hayward, their leading scorer and rebounder, to the NBA lottery. Butler also lost two other players who made significant contributions, Willie Veasley and Avery Jukes. But it took Butler a while to get to this point. When the Bulldogs skidded through four losses in five games, including three straight, midway through the Horizon League season, many wondered if theyd even make the tournament, forget about the Final Four. But theyve reeled off 14 straight wins now and are playing with the cool determination of guys that dont want to be "first losers," as Mack called them earlier this week, ever again. About all they need to do now is practise those half-court shots -- Hahn missed one at the halftime buzzer that looked eerily like Haywards last-ditch effort last year. Every other part of their game, the Bulldogs are set. "We want to win. We dont look at it as its a mid-major that wants to win," Howard said. After falling behind 34-28 at the half, the first time in the NCAA tournament they trailed at halftime, VCU reeled off five quick points to take a 35-34 lead. Then it was time for a little game of "Can you top this?", starring Hahn. Skeen made a three and Hahn answered back with one that didnt even rustle the strings of the net. Skeen converted a three-point play, and Hahn made another three. Rozzell showed he can score from inside, too, with a layup, only to have Hahn -- who else? -- make a reverse that put Butler in front 44-43 with 12:20 left. Butler clamped down on the Rams, not allowing another field goal for more than three minutes. Meanwhile Mack, who earned most outstanding player honours in the Southeast Regional, showed off his dazzling skills yet again. He made back-to-back three-pointers and then a layup to give Butler a 52-45 lead with 9:41 to play, and the game was all but over. "Were a defensive team, so we dont need to score 10 points in the last two minutes to win the game," said Andrew Smith, who had seven rebounds. "Wed much prefer to just get a few stops. Thats kind of what were made to do." Butlers run last year inspired mid-majors everywhere, including VCU. The Rams had won a grand total of five games in the NCAA tournament before this year, never more than one at a time. But led by Smart, their cool and charismatic 33-year-old coach who is sure to be seen on the big stage again, they showed the little guys can play with anybody, anytime. After VCU missed its first five shots of the game, Burgess drilled a three to spark an 11-0 run that gave the Rams an 11-5 lead with 15:38 left in the first half. Another three by Burgess about 2 1/2 minutes later put the Rams up 15-7, and Stevens had had enough. Burgess didnt score again the rest of the half, and had only one more three the rest of the night. "Of course its not a once in a lifetime run. Were going to try to do this every year," said Smart, in his second year at VCU. "Its not easy, theres no question about it. ... If were capable of coming together as a group and playing aggressive, confident, loose basketball, and we have the right guys out there, its certainly possible." Just look at Butler. Butler was an adorable story last year, a 4,200-student school playing for the national title just six miles from campus. That the Bulldogs play in the same arena where "Hoosiers" was filmed only added to the sweetness. Although Butler has shown it has more substance than a movie sequel, consider this: that 1954 Milan team that was the basis for Hoosiers? It didnt win the title on its first trip to the Indiana state finals. It did it the second time around. Cheap England Soccer Jerseys . So on Friday, they went to work. The two-time Eastern Conference runner-ups announced they had signed three free agents -- backup big man Lavoy Allen, swingman C. Cheap France Soccer Jerseys . Wrights first stint with Milwaukee was on a 10-day contract from March 14-23. He played in two games, averaging six points and two rebounds in 16. PRETORIA, South Africa -- Oscar Pistorius had a heightened concern for his personal safety and was making plans to take girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on international trips shortly before he fatally shot her, his agent testified at the double-amputee runners murder trial Tuesday. The defence called Peet van Zyl to the stand in an attempt to bolster Pistorius account that he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder, providing testimony about a loving relationship and a fear of crime that may have pushed the Paralympian to fire through a closed toilet door. Van Zyl faced tough questioning from the chief prosecutor, however, about Pistorius alleged egotism and tantrums, high-speed driving and love of guns. The prosecution maintains that he intentionally killed Steenkamp in his home after an argument in the early hours of Feb. 14, 2013. Pistorius, who is free on bail, faces 25 years to life in prison if found guilty of premeditated murder, but he could also be sentenced to significant time behind bars if convicted of murder without premeditation or negligent killing. He also faces gun-related charges. The agent, who helped guide Pistorius to success as a globally renowned athlete with lucrative sponsorship deals that have since been stripped away, testified that his client had a "heightened sense of awareness" and appeared preoccupied with security at times. On one occasion, he recalled, Pistorius drove with him at high speed to the airport and, when told there was no rush, recalled a traumatic episode in which Van Zyl was accosted at gunpoint while in his car in 2007. "He wantted to ensure that we are safe and not being followed," Van Zyl said. cheap jerseys. He also remembered a time when Pistorius grabbed him by the arm in apparent fear when the pair heard a loud bang while walking in New York City, and described two occasions in which the runner lost his temper but was not aggressive under "abusive questioning" from journalists. He also said he was assisting Pistorius in plans to take Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model, to races in Britain and Brazil, and a concert in Italy. Prosecutor Gerrie Nel tried to pick holes in Van Zyls testimony, pressing the agent for details about a reported incident in which a South African athlete who was sharing a room with Pistorius asked for them to be separated because Pistorius was allegedly arguing frequently on his telephone. He also referred to a 2012 Paralympics race in which Pistorius accused the winner of breaking the rules by using prosthetic limbs that were too long. Van Zul acknowledged that it was the "wrong place and wrong time for him to react in such a way" but noted there was a "long lead-up" to the incident in which Pistorius had expressed concerns that rules were being flouted. Nel also described Pistorius plans to take Steenkamp on trips as an example of alleged narcissism after Van Zyl quoted the athlete as saying he wanted his girlfriend "to see what my world is about, the pressure that Im under" and "how I need to perform." During an adjournment, Van Zyl and Pistorius shook hands. The two men patted each other warmly on the back. cheap jerseys cheap jerseys from china ' ' ' |
