UConn vs Butler Reaction

NCAA Tournament Final Score: UConn 53 - Butler 41 (Lowest score for the winner of an NCAA tournament championship game since 1949 when Kentucky beat Oklahoma A&M 46 to 36)

• Butler had a horrible night shooting from the floor. They were 3 of 31 from inside the arc, which is six fewer buckets, not from three, than any other title game participant. Butler was 12 for 64 from the field, which is the least field goals in a championship game since Oklahoma St. only converted 12 in 1949 against Kentucky. Butler's 18.8 percent shooting from the field was the lowest ever in an NCAA championship game topping when Washington St. shot 21.5 percent in the 1941 championship game. It is the third lowest shooting percentage in NCAA tournament  history. Butler was also only 27.3 percent from behind the arc, making just 9 of 33 threes.
• Butler had extremely long stretches during the second half when they couldn't score and went on long droughts. They didn't score from the 12:32 mark until there were 6:13 remaining in the second half. With 12:32 remaining in the half, UConn was leading 33 to 28. With 6:13 left in the game, UConn had a 41 to 30 lead.
• Butler's leading scorers, Shelvin Mack and Matt Howard, both struggled from the floor. Mack finished the game 4 for 15 from the floor including only making 4 of 11 three-point attempts. He was the only Bulldog in double figures with 13 points. Howard was 1 of 13 from the floor including 1 of 6 from three. He only had 6 points and was frustrated by the size of Alex Oriakhi the entire night.
• Andrew Smith also struggled down in the past, only scoring 5 points on 2 of 9 shooting.
• UConn had 10 blocks including four from Roscoe Smith and four from Alex Oriakhi, tied for the most in a NCAA championship game.
• After sitting out much of the first half with 2 fouls, Jeremy Lamb scored all 12 of his points in the second half. Lamb scored five early second half points, including a three to give UConn a one point lead, which they never surrendered. His length on the defensive end frustrated Shelvin Mack in the second half, as he only scored six points.
• Alex Oriakhi may have had the best title game of anybody on the court. He had his first double-digit scoring game of the tournament with 11 points. He had his first double-double since the semifinals of the Big East tournament adding 11 rebounds to go along with his 5 of 6 shooting. His size on the interior forced Matt Howard and Andrew Smith to a combined 3 of 22 shooting. Oriakhi had 4 blocks, his most since February 5th as well.
• Although Kemba Walker struggled shooting from the floor, only making 5 of his 19 shots including going 0 for 4 from three, he added 9 rebounds and still scored 16 points to lead UConn to the victory. Kemba and the boys are now national champions.