Butler just made history with upset win in Big East quarterfinal
Since Butler joined the Big East for the start of the 2013-14 season, the Bulldogs have been 0-for-the-Big East Tourney.
But that streak of futility ended Thursday night in the most dramatic fashion possible, as Butler beat Seton Hall 75-74 on a tip-in by senior Tyler Wideman with seconds to go.
.@ButlerMBB picks up its FIRST EVER #BEtourney win in dramatic fashion! #MarchMadnesspic.twitter.com/sMGhnnbTOe
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 9, 2018
With just over 11 seconds left and trailing 74-73 after Seton Hall’s Khadeen Carrington successfully completed a three-point play, Butler inbounded the ball to Kamar Baldwin. There was no doubt that it was up to Baldwin to win it for the Bulldogs.
Baldwin, a sophomore guard, had put the team on his back and carried them up to that point. Baldwin had 32 points in the game, including 14 in the last five minutes, according to the Indy Star.
Baldwin drove to the basket, but missed the contested layup. However, his teammate, Wideman, was there for the game-winning put-back with 3.6 seconds left.
Seton Hall’s Myles Powell then threw up a three-pointer at the buzzer that missed, giving Butler its historic win.
That’s an historic 1st ever #BEtourney win for #Butler & removes any doubt about #NCAATournament. Repeating, welcome back Kamar Baldwin.
— Rich Nye (@RichNye13) March 9, 2018
Up until that point, Butler had a lead for less than two minutes in the entire contest, and at one point was down by 14 points.
"1 down, 2 to go."
The @ButlerMBB locker room was FIRED UP after that last-second W pic.twitter.com/PZZ78TzD8X
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 9, 2018
The win not only ended Butler’s losing streak in the Big East Tournament, it also ended their losing streak against Seton Hall and at Madison Square Garden.
Butler coach LaVall Jordan, on what his team did better defensively after Seton Hall's hot-shooting first half: "I don't know if it was a scheme. It was more will." https://t.co/MsKT8SnE4y pic.twitter.com/oIa3UxIaqq
— Kieran Darcy (@KieranDarcy) March 9, 2018
“I was able to get there. I wasn’t able to finish,” Baldwin said following the game. “Then Cat (Wideman), like we always say, ‘the bigs just finish rolling,’ and that’s what he did and put it back in for the win.”
When asked to comment, Wideman just stated: “Pretty much what he said.”
“Poetic justice that Big Cat right here gets the big tip-in to get it down,” Butler coach LaVall Jordan said of Wideman.
The win also sets up Butler for a probable NCAA tournament bid, as it improved the Bulldogs’ record to 20-12. Seton Hall dropped to 21-11.
Next, Butler plays Villanova (28-4) in the Big East semi-finals Friday at MSG. Villanova blew out Marquette 94-70 on Thursday to advance.
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