INDIANAPOLIS — Coach Mike Krzyzewski won his fourth national title, but his players think they’re part of a dynasty. However, Monday night’s 61-59 win over Butler was their first crown.
And it came on the last game for three seniors: second-team All-American Jon Scheyer, forward Lance Thomas and center Brian Zoubek.
“I don’t think many people can say they went out winning a national championship,” Scheyer said. “It means a lot to us.”
Keep in mind this senior class was upset by Virginia Commonwealth in the first round their freshman year, by West Virginia in the second round their sophomore year and by Villanova in the Sweet 16 last year.
“Our seniors couldn’t have predicted this, anywhere near this kind of success through our career, just based on how our freshman year went,” Zoubek said.
Crazies’ crazy signs.
Duke’s Cameron Crazies brought their creative sign skills to Indianapolis. Some of the entries: “Your Pumpkin is Waiting.” “Mom Send Money to Tip Our Butler.” One simply said, “Distracting Poster.”
Singler thought it was good.
Duke’s Kyle Singler had a good look at Gordon Hayward’s missed 40-foot shot at the buzzer.
“When I got screened, I kind of twisted the right way to see the ball,” he said. “So I saw the ball bounce off the backboard and hit the rim. It looked good.”
Odds and ends.
Only one basket was scored on a fast break. . . . Butler has only one NCAA title: by 2005 steeplechaser Victoria Mitchell. . . . Duke’s four national titles break a tie with Kansas and puts it behind UCLA’s 11, Kentucky’s seven and Indiana’s and North Carolina’s five.
John Henderson, The Denver Post
