Butler may play in the Horizon league and the Bulldogs may never attract the McDonalds All Americans that flock to schools like Kentucky and Kansas every offseason but make no mistake Butler is a big time basketball program.

Butler has won 20 or more games in eight of the last ten seasons and has made the NCAA tournament in six of the last ten seasons. It is no secret that the Bulldogs are not just content with making an appearance in the field, playing 40 minutes and traveling back home.

Since 2003 the Bulldogs have reached the sweet sixteen four times including their final four appearance in Indianapolis this season.

The style of basketball played by Butler is not flashy; don’t expect behind the back passes and alley oops. Instead what you can expect when watching Butler play is a team of kids that play as a unit, make high basketball IQ plays, and rarely turn the ball over.

Like I mentioned earlier if you check recruiting services such as rivals or scout don’t expect incoming Bulldog recruits to have five stars next to their names. Head coach Brad Stevens sees no problem with that though.

"The guys we recruited, most of them weren't very highly ranked," Stevens said. "They had very good high school careers or careers at other places (transfers), but for one reason or the other they weren't seen as great players. But they all had intangibles." Stevens remarked when speaking of his players he chose to recruit.

During the course of the 2006-2007 basketball season broadcasters and sports columnists alike referred to the Bulldog’s style of basketball as “the Butler way”. The term serves as a tribute to Butler’s emphasis on defense, toughness, and team play.

While watching Butler play; I always think of the classic sports movie “Hoosiers”. In the movie new head coach Norman Dale and his Hickory Huskers defy all odds and win the Indiana boys high school basketball state championship.

“I know you guys can shoot but there is more to the game than shooting; there is defense and fundamentals.” Dale emphasizes to his team in the film during a practice.

On Saturday night the Butler Bulldogs will not be playing in Hinkle Fieldhouse (seating capacity of 11,043) instead they will play six miles down the road at Lucas Oil Stadium (seating capacity of 63,000).

Do not expect them though to get rattled by the grand stage they will be playing on or the fact that their opponent Michigan State has been to six of the last twelve final fours. They will be doing the same thing that has gotten them this far and that is playing tough, disciplined basketball.
If the Bulldogs do win the National Title they will do it “the Butler way.”