Butler in the Final Four
As a native born Hoosier I was very pleased to watch Butler’s win over Kansas State yesterday. It was not an upset.
Butler entered the ranks of top-notch college programs years ago due to its performance against teams from the major conferences. Having Butler on your non-conference schedule has generally proven to be a losing proposition.
Butler also has the honor of playing in what I consider to be the finest basketball arena in the world. Hinkle Fieldhouse was built in 1928 and its large size helped transform basketball in the late 1920’s and 1930’s. It is the oldest of the major college basketball fieldhouses and still the largest at a private institution.
In my youth I was a frequent visitor. I saw Pete Maravich play there and saw Adolph Rupp and Hank Ida coach there. Last summer, my youngest son and I walked in the door. It was my first visit in over 30 years. While some renovations had been made, it was the same old place.
