SYRACUSE 66, BUTLER 65 (OT)

[BUTLER LOGO]

NIT 


NCAA BB  NIT 


         FINAL IN 1ST OT         1ST  2ND  1OT  TOTAL
                                 ---  ---  ---  -----
         BUTLER                  37   21   7     65
         SYRACUSE                31   27   8     66     FINAL IN 1ST OT


HIGH SCORERS:   BUTLER - BRANDON MILLER 15, THOMAS JACKSON 13, MIKE 
                MONSEREZ 9
                SYRACUSE - PRESTON SHUMPERT 36, DESHAUN WILLIAMS 14, TWO
                PLAYERS WITH 6
HIGH REBOUND:   BUTLER - RYLAN HAINJE 8, THOMAS JACKSON 8, SCOTT 
                ROBISCH 4
                SYRACUSE - PRESTON SHUMPERT 8, HAKIM WARRICK 7, THREE 
                PLAYERS WITH 5
HIGH ASSISTS:   BUTLER - THOMAS JACKSON 5, JOEL CORNETTE 3, MIKE 
                MONSEREZ 3
                SYRACUSE - JAMES THUES 4, PRESTON SHUMPERT 2, DESHAUN 
                WILLIAMS 2


         ATT:   5,904
                                                                        


Box Score


NIT 


BUTLER (65)


                          fg    ft    rb             
                   min   m-a   m-a   o-t   a  pf   tp
J Cornette          33   3-4   0-1   0-3   3   4    6
R Hainje            40   2-9   4-5   1-8   1   3    8
S Robisch           30   3-7   1-2   1-4   1   2    8
B Miller            40  5-13   0-0   0-2   2   4   15
T Jackson           42  4-12   5-5   2-8   5   1   13
D Archey            11   2-4   0-0   0-0   2   0    6
M Monserez          28   3-6   0-0   0-1   3   3    9
M Moore              1   0-0   0-0   0-0   0   0    0


_____________________________________________________
TOTALS             225 22-55 10-13  4-26  17  17   65
_____________________________________________________


Percentages: FG-.400, FT-.769. 3-Point Goals:
11-28, .393 (R Hainje 0-3, S Robisch 1-2, B 
Miller 5-11, T Jackson 0-3, D Archey 2-4, M 
Monserez 3-5). Team Rebounds: 3. Blocked 
Shots: 3 (S Robisch 2, R Hainje). Turnovers: 
13 (M Monserez 4, J Cornette 3, R Hainje 2, S
Robisch 2, T Jackson, B Miller). Steals: 9 (T
Jackson 4, J Cornette 3, D Archey, R Hainje).


SYRACUSE (66)


                          fg    ft    rb             
                   min   m-a   m-a   o-t   a  pf   tp
P Shumpert          44 12-19  7-13   2-8   2   0   36
K Duany             13   0-2   0-0   0-3   1   1    0
C Forth             22   0-3   0-0   1-4   1   2    0
J Thues             36   3-7   0-0   2-5   4   1    6
D Williams          41  5-15   2-2   1-5   2   3   14
H Warrick           40   3-6   0-0   0-7   0   3    6
J Pace              12   2-4   0-0   3-4   1   0    4
B Celuck            17   0-2   0-0   1-5   1   2    0


_____________________________________________________
TOTALS             225 25-58  9-15 10-41  12  12   66
_____________________________________________________


Percentages: FG-.431, FT-.600. 3-Point Goals:
7-15, .467 (P Shumpert 5-7, K Duany 0-1, J 
Thues 0-2, D Williams 2-5). Team Rebounds: 1.
Blocked Shots: 8 (C Forth 3, H Warrick 3, J 
Thues, D Williams). Turnovers: 17 (D Williams
5, P Shumpert 4, C Forth 4, K Duany 2, J 
Thues 2). Steals: 11 (J Thues 4, P Shumpert 
2, H Warrick 2, B Celuck, D Williams, J 
Pace).


---------------------------------------
BUTLER               37  21  7    -  65
SYRACUSE             31  27  8    -  66
--------------------------------------- 


Technical fouls: Butler 2 (S Robisch, bench), Syracuse 1
(H Warrick). A: 5,904. Officials: Duke 
Edsall, Gary Maxwell, Ray Natili

DAVE'S POSTGAME ANALYSIS

A record-setting season came for the Butler Bulldogs came to an end at the Carrier Dome as Butler lost a heart-breaker to Syracuse, 66-65 in overtime. The Bulldogs used a barrage of 3-pointers to jump out quickly, and led 35-22 with a little over three minutes remaining in the first half. But the Orangemen closed out the opening frame with a 9-2 run to pull within six at halftime, 37-31. Syracuse extended its zone defense in the second half, and really spread Butler out offensively. The Bulldogs spent a great deal of time passing the ball from 25 feet out and beyond, and for the most part were unable to establish any kind of inside attack. And the perimeter attack, which was deadly the first half (7-of-15 for 47% clip), was not falling as easily in the second 20 minutes. Meanwhile, Syracuse continued to chip away at Butler's lead and eventually pulled ahead, led by the play of Preston Shumpert and DeShaun Williams. Shumpert was a one-man show in the first half, scoring 19 of Syracuse's 31 points, but got some much-needed help from Williams in the second half. Williams scored 10 points in the second half, including a pair of 3-pointers. Syracuse led 56-53 with under two minutes remaining in regulation when Mike Monserez buried a huge 3-pointer to knot things up at 56. Joel Cornette made a dunk and was fouled to put the Bulldogs in the lead 58-56, but missed the free throw. Syracuse's Hakim Warrick drove the lane and scored a layup to tie the game back up at 58. Monserez missed an off-balance shot for Butler, and Syracuse's James Thues heaved a desperation shot that hit the back iron and bounced away at the buzzer.

Butler led 60-58 in overtime when Shumpert hit a basket and was fouled. He missed the ensuing free throw, but a Butler lane violation game him another chance, one he took full advantage of. A Thues jumper made it 63-60, and a Shumpert 3-pointer seemed to put the Bulldogs away, 66-60. But Rylan Hainje hit a pair of free throws and Thomas Jackson drew a foul on a 3-point attempt and nailed all three attempts to pull the Bulldogs within a point a 66-65. Williams missed a shot for Syracuse, but Shumpert got the rebound and was fouled. He missed both free throws, and Butler got the rebound and quickly called timeout. With just over 4 seconds remaining, Thomas Jackson took the inbounds pass the length of the floor and dished to Hainje, who was trailing TJ on his left. Hainje put up a tough layup which bounced in and out, but, as replays showed, wouldn't have counted had it gone in. Syracuse escaped with a 66-65 victory.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Brandon Miller. Miller got things going in the first half with three 3-pointers. He finished 5-of-11 from downtown for a team-high 15 points and the usual amount of floorburns. He gave everything he had and left it all on the floor.

Jackson was the only other Bulldog to reach double figures, finishing with 13 points, eight rebounds, four steals, and five assists with just one turnover. Monserez hit three 3-pointers for nine points with three assists. Hainje finished with eight points and eight rebounds, and fellow senior Scott Robisch also had eight points along with four rebounds. Cornette added six points, three rebounds and three assists, and Darnell Archey had a pair of 3-pointers for six points. Syracuse was led by Shumpert's game-high 36 points and Williams' 14 points.

It's frustrating to be that close to beating a Big East team and come up just short. There were many reasons why, but rather than focus on the negative, I'd rather look back on a fantastic 26-win season and remember the good things. It's been an honor to watch this team and be a part of all the up's and down's of this season, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. It's been a pleasure to watch Rylan and TJ grow and mature over their four years here, and they will be sorely missed next season. It's been fun to watch Scott play an entire year free from injury and hit those jumpers again like he did against Detroit and Florida a couple years back. Sure, it's disappointing that it's all over, but that's the thing about postseason tournaments--every team but one ends its season with a loss. This team has nothing to be ashamed of and lots to be proud of. I can't wait for next season and the challenges it will bring. To Thomas, Rylan, and Scott, I can only say "thank you" for all your hard work and dedication--you'll be missed next year, and I hope we still see you around the Fieldhouse. To everyone returning, learn from this season and work hard this summer in preparation for next season. To the new faces coming in, I look forward to seeing you wearing the Butler blue.

And last but certainly not least, I'd like to thank all of you who have participated here on the website and the message board. This has by far been the busiest this site has been since its inception, and I really appreciate everyone's support. As I've said before, without you guys I'm just out here talking to myself. Thanks for putting up with all the pop-up ads and my low-level HTML knowledge.

I'm probably going to step away from the website here for a little while now that the season is over, but I'll do my best to keep you updated on any significant developments during the offseason. Thanks again to everyone--it's been one heckuva ride, and I look forward to doing it all again next season. I hope you'll join me.

DAVE (aka bu97)

AP photos from the game:
the Butler bench reacts to a missed shot near the end of regulation
Syracuse's Preston Shumpert after hitting what turned out to be the game-winner
Darnell Archey works for the loose ball
Syracuse's James Thues drives to the basket as Scott Robisch defends

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