SportsLine Report
March 17, 2000

Round 1: Bulldogs finish 0.3 seconds short

With Andrew Graves tossing in 3-pointers from all over the court, 12th-seeded Butler was in prime shape to bounce No. 5 seed Florida from the first round of the East Regional In Winston-Salem, N.C.

But the Gators hung close enough to make continual comebacks and get the game to overtime, where they edged the Bulldogs 69-68 on Mike Miller's driving layup with 0.3 seconds remaining.

"You tend to think when you're up three or four with 20 seconds to go you're going to win the game and advance. It starts creeping in," said Graves, whose deep 3-pointer with 30.5 seconds to go gave Butler a 68-65 lead. "Then when all of a sudden the carpet gets pulled out from underneath of you it's like the end of the world."

Butler could have kept Miller from having a chance to win the game, but LaVall Jordan missed two free throws with 8.1 seconds left.

Bulldogs coach Barry Collier was in tears during his postgame news conference talking about Jordan's missed opportunities. Jordan had just rejoined the team Thursday night following the death of his great aunt, who raised him since he was a child.

"We told him we loved him," Collier said. "I think he knows all those things, but you can imagine how distraught he is."

If Butler had shot better than 36 percent in the game, it wouldn't have come down to the late free throws.

"They deserved to win," Collier said of the Gators. "They kept coming back and you have to admire their play. Florida earned this game, but this is one that could have gone a few more overtimes because of the passion by both teams. Billy (Donovan) never let them quit."

How They Got There

Butler earned the Midwestern Collegiate Conference's automatic -- and only -- NCAA Tournament berth by winning the conference tournament. After winning the league regular-season title, the Bulldogs scored postseason victories over Loyola, Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Detroit, to gain their third NCAA appearance in four years. They head into the tournament with a 23-7 overall record and a 15-game winning streak.

Starting Lineup

• PG Thomas Jackson (5-9, 165, So.): He's got the savvy to penetrate and create offense for the Bulldogs, but also won't hesitate to take the medium-range jumper or even a 3-pointer. And he takes big shots, the kind that demoralize the opposition, usually as the shot clock is winding down.
• SG LaVall Jordan (6-2, 185, Jr.): A smooth player who, like Jackson, tends to play best in big games. He matched a career-high with 15 points in Butler's quarterfinal NIT loss to Clemson last year. This after scoring the winning basket with 4 seconds remaining against Bradley in the first round.
• C Scott Robisch (6-11, 215, Jr.): The son of former NBA player Dave Robisch transferred from Oklahoma State for the second semester of 1998-99 and became eligible to play Dec. 19. It's a date coach Barry Collier should circle on his calendar because it roughly coincides with when the Bulldogs turned the corner. Robisch can be effective inside and outside, making for a difficult matchup.
• SF Rylan Hainje (6-6, 235, So.): Has played spottily at times, but is always a threat to score from 15 feet and closer, while picking off his share of rebounds. With so many bodies to choose from, Collier often sent a message with a brief benching, which invariably brought out the best in Hainje.
• PF: Mike Marshall (6-4, 235, Sr.): Nobody is more important to the Bulldogs in terms of providing leadership, toughness and other intangibles than this former high school football player from Cincinnati. But Collier can't keep him on the floor down the stretch in close games because Shaquille O'Neal would beat him in a free-throw shooting contest.

Keys to Success

Butler's offense is nothing if not balanced.

Dramatically unselfish, the Bulldogs went the entire season without having the same scoring leader in consecutive games, which is hard to do even if you're trying. That said, the roster is filled with multi-skilled players providing good balance on offense and defense.

Defense is where the Bulldogs excel.

As league foes discovered, they are capable of locking down top scorers. Just ask Detroit guard Rashad Phillips, who entered the MCC championship game as the fourth-leading scorer in the country (23.4 points) and left thoroughly humbled following a 4-for-19 shooting performance. They contested every shot he took, jumped his passing lanes and anticipated most of his moves.

Then there's the Marshall factor.

The Bulldogs rely on burly senior Mike Marshall to rebound, set the tone defensively and play the role of enforcer -- he's also an excellent passer, finishes well on the break and knows the game.

The Coach

Barry Collier (196-131) pocketed his second consecutive MCC Coach of the Year award (fourth overall) and is starting to look like one of the better unknown coaches in the country. He tried to make a upward move, but came back this season after finishing second for the Minnesota job behind former Gonzaga head man Dan Monson.

Under Collier, the Bulldogs have become postseason fixtures, last season advancing to the NIT quarterfinals. This is Collier's ninth winning season out of 11 and his winning percentage over the past five seasons is nearly .700. He revitalized a program that averaged just 12 wins a year for the 20 prior to his arrival.

Collier's success hasn't been limited to the basketball court. Entering this season, of the 35 players who completed their senior seasons under his direction, 33 had earned degrees.

The Bench

Butler goes nine, and sometimes 10 deep effectively. Guards Andrew Graves, a senior, and Darnell Archey, a freshman, provide quick offense. Graves earned MCC Player of the Week honors late in the year, scoring 25 points in one game. The spindly Archey (6-1, 145), led the conference in 3-point shooting.

Up front, 6-10, 215-pound freshman Joel Cornette provides a shot-blocking presence in relief of either Robisch or one of the forwards. Although he averages just 6.1 points, he's shown the ability to score when needed -- he dropped a season-high 18 points on Detroit. Like Marshall, however, he's a liability in crunch time, hitting free throws at barely a 51-percent clip.

Offense

Butler favors a deliberate pace, although there is backcourt quickness aplenty and the Bulldogs do get their share of points off the break. Collier is big on the high screen and roll, and nobody sets better screens, regardless of floor position, than Marshall. The Bulldogs led the MCC by a wide margin in field-goal percentage (.472), which means they consistently get good shots.

Defense

The Bulldogs wear teams down with their tenacity, and their physical play is death to finesse. Cutters beware ... you will be bumped. Some opposing coaches would say mauled. This approach helped the Bulldogs limit opponents to 39 percent shooting, lowest in the league.