INDIANAPOLIS — Playing from behind the entire game the Indiana Hoosiers found some dog going down the stretch. As a matter of fact, they went to see the Wizard and got some heart as Robert Phinisee the freshman drained a three at the buzzer to send the Butler Bulldogs to the crib with an “L” 71-68. It was truly a dagger that will hurt for some time.
The Bulldogs came into the building with a boulder on their shoulders daring a boy to knock it off. They came out of the Blue Impala shooting that thang and being aggressive to the rack. It didn’t matter that Indiana University was on the other end of the floor. By the time I bit into my second hot dog it was 15-6 and the Hoosiers were scrambling for answers.
Butler was clearly out working Indiana and making sure that they knew they were in a Battle Royale. As the Hoosiers settled down Juwan Morgan started to find his way as he hit two big buckets for the Hoosiers to get them to within 4 to make it 17-13 Butler.
LaVall Jordan’s crew was defeinitely the more confident team on the floor. They were aggressive on the boards and were getting to the bucket while IU just seemed to be taking whatever Butler dished out. The Hoosiers showed no emotion as we got mid-way through the first half.
Butler’s Sean McDermott was puttin’ that thang up as he scored 6 of his 20 points early in the first half on big shots to put the Bulldogs up 25-16.
Juwan Morgan was carrying the Hoosiers during the first half with 14 of their 23 points up to that point.
Indiana was lucky to be down only 4 points 38-34 at the break. They shot extremely well from the field at 52 percent but struggled from behind the arc at a miserable 25 percent. Butler was consistent shooting 44 percent from the field and 41 percent from three.
Did I tell you that Sean McDermott was shooting that thang? He continued to knock down big shot after big shot for the Bulldogs and Juwan Morgan continued to do work for the Hoosiers. With 11:40 left to play Butler held on to a 54-50 lead with the Hoosiers heating up shooting 54 percent from the field and 43 percent from behind the arc.
Then the Hoosiers came storming back on the back of Juwan Morgan!!! He was balling down the stretch doing it all as they took the lead 66-64 with less than 3 minutes left. Then is suddenly got real as they traded baskets and the lead down to the wire. With the time running out and the Hoosiers trying to get the rock into Romeo Langford’s hands. Robert Phinisee had no choice but fire that thang up and he knocked it down at the buzzer. IU walks off with the win. Unbelievable win for the Hoosiers.