Basketball in Indiana: Butler beats Valpo
by Bill Kintner
INDIANAPOLIS – It is Saturday afternoon in Indianapolis and historic Hinkle Fieldhouse is the place to be for college basketball fans in Central Indiana. The 7,000-plus fans came to see two of the top so-called mid-major programs not only in the state of Indiana but in the country.
The 16th-ranked Bulldogs are playing Horizon League newcomer Valparaiso in a game that will go a long way in determining the winner of the Horizon League.
The Crusaders won their first two road games in their first year in the Horizon League. They beat Wright State in their first Horizon League game 71-66, which was their first win of the year against a top 50 RPI team, then followed that up with a win at Detroit. Valparaiso’s three losses were road games against Vanderbilt, Wisconsin and North Carolina.
In the crowd today is Indianapolis mayor Greg Ballard, an Indiana University grad who likes to watch a top 20 team without having to drive 90 minutes to Bloomington. Governor Mitch Daniels, a frequent visitor to Hinkle, didn’t make today’s Indiana match-up.
Today’s game is between two private schools each with about 4,000 students that really believe in the concept of student athletes. Both teams recruit kids that are coachable and that understand the importance of getting a good education.
Both coaches are models of class. Valpo’s coach Homer Drew is known for his positive demeanor on the sideline and gracious comments once the game is over. During the game he is always clapping his hands in encouragement and slapping his players on the back as they pass by. Brad Stevens, the Butler coach, is just 31 years old, but he has the calm demeanor of an experienced coach that has the situation well-under control. The classic Stevens pose on the side lines is left leg forward, knees bent, his back hunched over and vigorously clapping his hands in encouragement.
In today’s game it was the Crusaders committing 16 turnovers and Butler making 28-33 (84.8 percent) at the foul line that denied Valparaiso a 3-0 start in the Horizon League as Butler wins 73-65.
It was not a pretty game by either team, but Valparaiso (11-4, 2-1HL) started off pretty well. In the first half the Crusaders jumped out to a 4-0 lead after Shawn Huff made two free throws and Jake Diebler made a layup.
Playing at the speed of a couple of Post Office workers, Valpo pulled ahead by nine at 15-6 at the 12:39 mark.
Finally, at the 1:30 mark Butler (13-1, 2-1HL) took their first lead of the game on a 3-pointer by Mike Green to make it 31-29. Just 24 seconds later, Valparaiso’s Jarryd Loyd made a layup to tie the game at 31-31, and that was how it ended going into the locker rooms at halftime.
After scoring just seven points in the first half for Butler, Mike Green turned it on in the latter frame, scoring 17 points on four baskets and going 11-14 from the foul line to help put the game away for the Bulldogs.
Stevens thought that not only did Green lead the team in scoring, but he led then by coming back strong in the second half after a shaky first half performance.
“It was a mature performance from Mike (Green),” said Stevens. “It didn’t start off great. When Mike starts off like that but then picks it up for himself that shows the younger guys that it is okay. Mike’s value goes far beyond making baskets and making assists. He is leading guys all the time and his resiliency was why we were able to win today.”
Drew pointed to Green as the dagger that put his team under.
“Green did a really good job in breaking us down and creating things for himself and his teammates,” said Drew.
The Crusaders took a brief three point lead at 36-33 at the 16:34 mark on a 3-pointer by Brandon McPherson. A layup by Butler’s Matt Howard cut the Crusader lead to one at 36-35 and then a 3-pointer by Green put the Bulldogs up for good at 38-36 with 15:06 left in the game.
Butler got the lead up to 11 points on a free throw by A. J. Graves after being fouled by Loyd to make it 64-53 with 2:12 left. Valpo worked it down to a five-point deficit on a 3-pointer by Diebler and a 3-pointer by Loyd but that was as close they got.
Loyd led Valpo with 15 points.
Valpo will certainly be playing a lot more tough games as they try to position themselves for a run in the Horizon League Tournament. They have lost to four teams with a combined 54-3 record.
The game is long over as I type this and it is dark outside. Besides me, it is just Indianapolis Star writer David Woods here in a darkened Hinkle Fieldhouse. I don’t think either of us really wants to leave as we enjoy the quiet in this sacred temple of basketball.
I don’t know about Woods, but I can almost see Oscar Robertson streaking down the court here 20 feet in front of me. I can almost see Big Ed Schilling elbow an opponent as he goes up for a rebound, or maybe Steve Alford sinking 25-foot shots on this vary court where he once score 50 points in a high school game.
The clean-up crew has long left after giving up on us to clear out so they can clean up.
I may just find a ball and shoot some shots – what a way to spend a Saturday night!
