UConn Beats Butler 53-41 in Sloppy NCAA Title Game
The NCAA title game can be summed up in one word: Ugly.
How ugly? The combined 95 points between UConn and Butler shattered the previous combined low in a shot-clock-era title game by a whopping 26 points. Butler didn't hit their second two point shot until 12:32 mark in the second half, and ended the game shooting an inconceivably bad 12 for 64. Meanwhile, UConn shot 34 percent from the floor, yet won with relative ease.
The Huskies 53 to 41 victory made coach Jim Calhoun the oldest man, at 68, to coach his team to the NCAA title. It also made him the fifth coach in NCAA history to win three national championships, joining an exclusive group of join John Wooden, Adolph Rupp, Mike Krzyzewski and Bob Knight .
Butler’s stars Matt Howard and Shelvin Mack combined a woeful 5 for 28 from the field -- with many a botched layup and open jumper among their misses -- and UConn’s Player of the Year finalist Kemba Walker finished with a 5 for 19 clunker.
The only player who distinguished himself Monday night was UConn sophomore center Alex Oriakhi, who played an ultra-efficient 11 points, 11 rebounds, 4 blocks game.
- Contributed by Jeremy Taylor