Topic: The Butler "Way"

[The Right Stuff]

The other night on ESPN radio one of the players from Butler that graduated was asked about what was the secret to Butler's success.  He said simply this, the players were told from the get-go that what they did off the court mattered more than what they did on the court and this translated into success on the court.  Butler does not recruit McDonald's All-Americans yet over the past number of years they have been one of the more successful programs.  They recruit solid individuals that simply do the right things. So it can be done with dignity.  Yes both years they have been beaten in the championship game but no one can take away from them what they have accomplished.  Not many programs can say they have been to back to back championship games.  This is the type of sports programs that I want representing the University that gave me a chance at an education and memories in life that I will always cherish.

TRS
MU 71

[ThunderValley]

They have had a great two years and I hope it continues.

[Luke80]

My youngest son goes to school at Butler.  When he went for orientation they gave him this list that he has on his bulletin board:

The Butler way boils down to nine essential points

1. Surround yourself with the right people.
2. Great skills are no better than good skills and a never-give-up attitude.
3. Proper preparation is key to effective performance.
4. An assist is as valuable as a basket.
5. A pass is better than a shot if someone else is open.
6. An effective system can make a good team great, just as a poor system can diminish a team with great talent.
7. The team is greater than the sum of its parts.
8. Be opportunistic. Prepare, work and wait for your chance to demonstrate what you can do.
9  Time for the game and team is finite, but the lessons learned from the game and school are forever.

I know a lot of folks have pithy sayings, but it really seems to me that this program is true to these points.  I hated that they had a poor shooting night in the Championship game, but that was all it was.  Regardless, what the talking heads said, those young men did not play poorly.  They shot poorly.  There is a difference.

[Taft#1]

I beieve T Matta got them on the winning path in bball. Butler has had some great coaches .

[Luke80]

It was Barry Collier before him.  the current AD. Matta was only the HC one year he didnt build them up.