HAWAII 81, BUTLER 78 (OT)

Official Basketball Box Score Butler vs Hawai'i 12/30/02 7:37pm at Stan Sheriff Center -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VISITORS: Butler (10-1) TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS ## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN 04 MILLER, Brandon..... * 1-2 0-1 10-11 0 1 1 3 12 4 2 0 1 39 10 ARCHEY, Darnell..... * 1-11 1-5 2-2 0 1 1 1 5 1 1 0 1 35 22 MONSEREZ, Mike...... * 4-6 4-5 0-0 1 4 5 5 12 5 6 0 2 35 33 CORNETTE, Joel...... * 4-9 0-0 0-0 1 3 4 2 8 2 1 2 0 34 51 CURRY, Lewis........ * 0-4 0-3 0-0 0 1 1 5 0 0 0 0 1 12 01 LIGHTFOOT, Duane, Jr 9-9 0-0 0-0 1 1 2 5 18 1 1 0 0 28 03 HORAN, Bruce........ 5-7 5-7 0-1 1 4 5 0 15 0 0 0 0 26 21 SHEETS, Avery....... 3-4 2-3 0-0 0 1 1 1 8 0 0 0 3 12 30 GARDNER, Nick....... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 2 0 0 2 0 1 4 TEAM................ 1 1 2 Totals.............. 27-52 12-24 12-14 5 18 23 24 78 13 13 2 9 225 TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 15-30 50.0% 2nd Half: 9-17 52.9% OT: 3-5 60.0% Game: 51.9% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 5-12 41.7% 2nd Half: 5-8 62.5% OT: 2-4 50.0% Game: 50.0% REBS F Throw % 1st Half: 2-2 100 % 2nd Half: 6-8 75.0% OT: 4-4 100 % Game: 85.7% 0,1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HOME TEAM: Hawai'i (7-1) TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS ## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN 02 Martin, Phil........ * 2-12 0-0 3-4 6 3 9 4 7 0 2 1 0 36 14 Shimonovich, Haim... * 6-14 0-0 2-4 7 3 10 2 14 5 2 1 0 40 15 Campbell, Mark...... * 2-5 0-1 2-2 2 4 6 5 6 6 2 0 1 39 23 English, Carl....... * 7-15 3-8 4-5 0 4 4 3 21 2 4 0 0 36 24 Kuebler, Michael.... * 9-12 1-3 10-11 1 4 5 1 29 1 1 1 0 44 13 Carter, Jason....... 1-2 0-1 0-0 0 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 14 22 Peciukas, Vaidotas.. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 54 Akpan, Nkeruwem..... 1-2 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 2 2 0 2 0 0 12 TEAM................ 2 1 3 Totals.............. 28-62 4-13 21-26 18 21 39 18 81 14 13 3 1 225 TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 8-24 33.3% 2nd Half: 16-33 48.5% OT: 4-5 80.0% Game: 45.2% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 0-4 0.0% 2nd Half: 4-9 44.4% OT: 0-0 0.0% Game: 30.8% REBS F Throw % 1st Half: 10-11 90.9% 2nd Half: 4-7 57.1% OT: 7-8 87.5% Game: 80.8% 2,1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Officials: Frank Bosone, Murph Shapiro, Ryan Wells Technical fouls: Butler-None. Hawai'i-None. Attendance: 7925 Score by Periods 1st 2nd OT Total Butler........................ 37 29 12 - 78 Hawai'i....................... 26 40 15 - 81 39th Annual Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic - Championship Game BUTLER "Bulldogs" vs. HAWAII "Warriors" Champions - HAWAII "Warriors" 2nd Place - BUTLER "Bulldogs"

DAVE'S POSTGAME ANALYSIS
The Butler Bulldogs saw a 15-point lead evaporate over the final four minutes of regulation and lost a heart-breaker in overtime to the host Hawaii Rainbow Warriors, 81-78, in the finals of the Rainbow Classic. Butler broke open a 14-12 game with a 15-0 run, keyed by three 3-point baskets from Bruce Horan. They led 35-14 after two more Horan treys, but Hawaii outscored the Bulldogs 12-2 to close the half, eight points coming from the free throw line. Butler led 37-26.
The second half was back-and-forth to start. The Butler lead stayed between eight and eleven until Hawaii's Carl English hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to six at 46-40 just ahead of the 16:00 media timeout. Both teams went cold for the next few minutes, and Butler led 48-42 at the 12:00 timeout. Three Mike Monserez 3-pointers and another by Avery Sheets helped Butler expand its lead to 62-47, and a pair of Brandon Miller free throws made it 64-49 with 4:00 remaining. Much like the previous night against Western Kentucky, that's when things went south for the Bulldogs. A 10-0 Hawaii run cut the lead to five at 64-59, and English followed a pair of Miller free throws with another 3-pointer to cut it to four. Monserez was called for traveling, and Hawaii's Michael Kuebler made one of two free throws to make it 66-63. Monserez made an ill-advised pass and turned the ball over, and then fouled out of the game at the other end as Kuebler converted a conventional 3-point play to tie the game up at 66 with 1:12 to play. Each team failed to score on its next possession, and Butler had a chance to win with the final shot. But Joel Cornette's shot was blocked by Haim Shimonovich, and the game went into overtime.
Hawaii built a five-point lead at 76-71, but the Bulldogs fought back. An Avery Sheets 3-pointer made it 77-76 Hawaii. Kuebler was fouled and hit both free throws, and Miller made a running bank shot at the other end to make it 79-78 Hawaii. Kuebler was fouled again and made both free throw attempts, but Butler was unable to get a last-second three up, and Hawaii got the win, 81-78.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Horan. The freshman was a perfect 5-of-5 from 3-point range in the first half, and finished with a career-high 15 points. He also pulled down five rebounds.
Just as impressive off the bench was Duane Lightfoot, Jr., who was a perfect 9-of-9 from the field, finishing with a team-high 18 points before fouling out. Sheets added eight points and three steals, giving Butler's bench players 41 of the Bulldogs' 78 points. Monserez had 12 points, five rebounds, and five assists, but committed six turnovers prior to fouling out. Miller finished with 12 points and four assists, taking just two shots from the floor. Cornette had eight points and four rebounds before fouling out. Archey had another tough shooting night, going 1-of-11 and finishing with five points, but tied the NCAA consecutive free throw record of 73 with a pair of free throws. Hawaii was led by Kuebler's career high 29 points, 25 coming after the first half.
I felt pretty good with a 15-point lead with 4:00 to go, but the Bulldogs struggled to close out their second straight game. What really hurt was our defense down the stretch--I'm not sure we made a single stop when we needed to. Hawaii was very aggressive with the basketball and got to the line a bunch, which helped them close the gap at the end of the first half and ice the game in overtime. Butler was outrebounded 39-23, which certainly was due in part to Curry, Monserez, and Lightfoot being in foul trouble, but UH's 18 offensive rebounds were nearly equal to Butler's total. Butler shot 52% from the field, 50% from 3-point range, and 86% from the line--certainly numbers that should be good enough for a win. But Butler's difficulties with defense and rebounding, coupled with Hawaii's ability to get to the free throw line, made the difference.

The Bulldogs can't afford to dwell on this loss for long, because conference season is now upon us and the first game will be tough. The Bulldogs travel to Chicago to face the UIC Flames. Game time is Saturday, January 4, at 4:00 p.m. EST. Hope to see you there.

User comments

Butler Fan in Hawaii:

Get out your hats, put on your sweatshirt and raise those BU flags
because your Bulldogs played the grittiest, toughest and hardest that I have
ever seen in 12 years.  In the most blatant example of homering this fan has
seen in his life, the Dawgs scratched and clawed their way to the finish.  

Now some of you will say you can't blow a 21 point lead and blame the
officiating.  I will agree with you in 99 out of 100 games.  It sickens me to
bring the officiating into this.  Think Florida only worse.  I counted no less
than 10 times when Darnell or Brandon were either held, knocked down or actually
collared by a  defender.  In the last minutes of the second half the UH center
literally took two steps, trip over his own feet and there was nothing!  The
only way the "player of the tournament" (and I use this term lightly) got open
on three of his four big threes was by (and I am NOT EXAGERATING) shoving
Brandon with two hands to get seperation.  If this game is on a nuetral court we
win by 25 points, at Hinkle it is over 30.  If this is the best the WAC has to
offer, I am not impressed.

Off the negative, onto the positve.  

The Dawgs showed the greatest amount of class by staying on the floor, accepting
with generousity the second place trophy, and than STAYED to clap for Hawaii as
they took the Championship trophy.  

I overheard Todd talking with a local news reporter, of course the reporter
asked about the officiating and with the utmost sincerity and grace, Todd said
that it had nothing to do with the outcome of the game.  Class.

We have some pretty damn good Freshman.  Avery and Bruce continue to not only
play incrediable offense, but get after it on the defensive end too.  The future
is truely bright.

Duane Lightfoot and Mike Monserez have stepped up and will lead next year.  The
conference should be afraid, very afraid.

If anyone doesn't think that Brandon Miller's warrior mentality isn't the engine
that runs this ship, then they are fooling themselves.  This guy not only runs
the offense but also guards the toughest opponents player.  He embodies what
Butler is and hopefully always will be.

Darnell Archey is money at the line, nuff said.

Fans, please don't get down.  This team played a game that was so off the charts
it is hard for me to believe I watched it.  Be proud of our dogs and lets get
ready to take the Horizon League!

HawaiiMongoose from Honolulu, HI:

I witnessed the game in person and was very impressed with Butler. 
I'm a Princeton alumnus and have heard Butler compared to Princeton (and have
read comments from Butler fans disparaging the comparison).  My reaction is, the
styles of the two teams are similar, but Butler puts more talent on the court
and plays at a higher level than I ever saw the Tigers perform.  The Bulldogs
played 35 minutes of great, textbook basketball last night and will be in the
hunt come NCAA tournament time.  In my opinion the key factors that turned the
tide at the end were (1) Hawaii had more gas left in the tank because the
Rainbows played their tournament games over four days rather than three, and (2)
Butler had no timeouts left which gave the Bulldogs no opportunity to regroup in
response to the Hawaii press and the deafening crowd noise.  I don't think
officiating was a significant factor, although I know some Butler fans disagree. 
The referees were not from Hawaii, they are brought in from the Mainland for the
Rainbow Classic.  It's true there were some bad calls but they went both ways. 
The disparity in free-throw shooting in my opinion was largely due to Hawaii's
aggressiveness in pounding the ball inside, coupled with the Rainbows' size
advantage.  Anyhow, great game and I hope Butler's program continues to gain
respect as I would really enjoy watching the Bulldogs beat up some "name"
schools on national TV.

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