Spring Break
Butler shoulders the load
Caron Butler carries the Huskies into the Sweet 16
Mike Cardillo
Issue date: 3/18/02 Section: Sports
WASHINGTON -- As the final whistle sounded Sunday afternoon at the MCI Center, Caron Butler ran into the open arms of teammate Mike Hayes, like a little kid would run to catch the ice cream truck on a hot and humid summer afternoon. His Huskies had just gutted out a 77-74 victory over a pesky North Carolina State squad that refused to give up as his emotions bubbled over in front of an on looking national audience.
It was Butler's career high 34 points and do-it-all attitude, which propelled the Huskies into their first Sweet Sixteen since 1999. It was the most points a Husky had scored in the postseason since Ray Allen had 36 against UCLA in 1995.
"Now it's money time in the NCAAs," Butler said. "If you lose, you go home. You have to leave it all on the floor."
On a larger scale, with Sunday's performance Butler finally earned his way into being mentioned in the same note with past Husky greats like Ray Allen, Richard Hamilton and Donyell Marshall.
"I want to leave something behind," Butler said. "It's a special thing to mentioned with Ray, Donyell and Rip (Hamilton). I was hoping I was in the category already, but coach told me today that I stepped it up big time"
As Marshall's legacy at UConn will forever be linked to his two missed free-throws in the final seconds of regulation in the Huskies 1994 overtime loss to Florida in the Sweet Sixteen, Butler may be remembered for converted free-throws. Saturday he was 12-for-12 from the line, including hitting all five in the final minute to shut the door on the Wolfpack.
The first three of these free throws may forever be linked to controversy (at least to NC State fans) as with 11 seconds remaining, Butler attempted a three, but was fouled by Julius Hodge. Most of the sellout crowd at the MCI Center did not hear the foul call and boos reigned down from the partisan ACC crowd as Butler went to the line. Coolly and calmly, Butler made all three shots, which put away the Wolfpack for good.
It was Butler's career high 34 points and do-it-all attitude, which propelled the Huskies into their first Sweet Sixteen since 1999. It was the most points a Husky had scored in the postseason since Ray Allen had 36 against UCLA in 1995.
"Now it's money time in the NCAAs," Butler said. "If you lose, you go home. You have to leave it all on the floor."
On a larger scale, with Sunday's performance Butler finally earned his way into being mentioned in the same note with past Husky greats like Ray Allen, Richard Hamilton and Donyell Marshall.
"I want to leave something behind," Butler said. "It's a special thing to mentioned with Ray, Donyell and Rip (Hamilton). I was hoping I was in the category already, but coach told me today that I stepped it up big time"
As Marshall's legacy at UConn will forever be linked to his two missed free-throws in the final seconds of regulation in the Huskies 1994 overtime loss to Florida in the Sweet Sixteen, Butler may be remembered for converted free-throws. Saturday he was 12-for-12 from the line, including hitting all five in the final minute to shut the door on the Wolfpack.
The first three of these free throws may forever be linked to controversy (at least to NC State fans) as with 11 seconds remaining, Butler attempted a three, but was fouled by Julius Hodge. Most of the sellout crowd at the MCI Center did not hear the foul call and boos reigned down from the partisan ACC crowd as Butler went to the line. Coolly and calmly, Butler made all three shots, which put away the Wolfpack for good.