Hooped Up

Duke beat Butler 61-59 on Monday night. What a game! And what a way to end the season, even if America’s favorite underdog came up a little short.

“It will become an historic game, a benchmark game,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “Not just the way it was played, but who played in it and what comes about.”

Memorable, indeed, for the way both teams battled, never giving an inch, or giving in on a single possession. And memorable for the way it ended. Tiny Butler, on a mission to write a sequel to “Hoosiers,” had two chances to win it in the last 4 seconds. Hayward’s more traditional attempt — a fadeaway, 15-footer — was barely long. Then, after Brian Zoubek made one free throw and intentionally missed the next, Hayward collected the rebound, moved to halfcourt and took another shot that was on line, but barely bounced out.

“I can’t really put it into words because the last couple of plays were just not normal,” said Duke’s Kyle Singler, who scored 19 points and was named the Final Four’s most outstanding player.

The Blue Devils (35-5) got the right bounces at the end to snap Butler’s 25-game winning streak and bring the long-awaited fourth national title back home to the Cameron Crazies.
Press Release


Though Mike Krzyzewski turned down an NBA job in 2004, the Nets are willing to take a run at the Duke head coach soon after this NCAA season comes to a close. The Nets’ offer likely will be between $12 million and $15 million per season for Krzyzewski to be their coach and perhaps general manager, a source said. If [Mikhail] Prokhorov gets his way this off-season, Krzyzewski could be coaching his final game for Duke tonight when the Blue Devils face Butler for the NCAA championship. Krzyzewski has been reluctant to leave Duke. But if the Blue Devils beat Butler and Krzyzewski wins his fourth national championship, it could help the Nets’ chances.
The Bergen Record

The days of the Rick Mahorn and Bill Laimbeer are a thing of the past, and, these days, the title of NBA’s Bad Boy, somewhat by default, may fall to Matt Barnes. The Magic signed the journeyman last summer to give them a tattooed toughness, an edge that has been missing from Team Disney. “Mad Matt” has compiled quite a resume this season: Fined for throwing a ball in the stands. Reprimanded by team after using expletives in Twitter posts. Agitated Kobe Bryant and traded elbows in a national TV game. Blew top at coach Stan Van Gundy during and after games. Confronted fans in San Antonio who heckled Dwight Howard and threw beer.
Chicago Tribune