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Brad Stevens

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Brad Stevens

Brad Stevens (b. October 22, 1976) is the head men's basketball coach at Butler University. He grew up in Zionsville, Indiana where he starred on the Zionsville Community High School basketballl team. After high school, he attended DePauw University, where he played basketball and earned a degree in economics.

Stevens joined Butler basketball program as a volunteer prior to the 2000–2001 season after quitting his job at Eli Lilly. He was promoted to a full-time assistant coaching position for the 2001–2002 season. He was promoted to head coach on April 2, 2007, after coach Todd Lickliter left the university.

In his first year, Stevens led Butler to 30 wins, becoming the 3rd-youngest head coach in NCAA Division I history to have a 30 win season. In 2010, his third year as head coach, Stevens broke the NCAA record for most wins in a coach's first three years, exceeding the previous record by 7. The 2009–10 team finished undefeated in conference play for the first time in team and Horizon League history. In the post season, Stevens coached Butler to the first Elite Eight and the first Final Four in school history.

Stevens is known for calm, focused coaching style. His teams are exceptionally well prepared and quietly confident. Stevens has twice been named the Horizon League Coach of the Year and has won the Hugh Durham Mid-Major Coach of the Year. He is married with two young children.

Biography

Early life

Stevens grew up in the Indianapolis suburb of Zionsville, where he developed his love for basketball.[3] Starting at age five, Stevens would watch taped basketball games "before he went to afternoon kindergarten".[4] His father would drive him to Bloomington in order to watch the Indiana Hoosiers games.[5] "It's hard not to be [in love with basketball] when you're a kid growing up in Indiana", Stevens later said.[2]

For his eighth birthday, Stevens received a brand new basketball hoop. "It’s so much fun to dream in your driveway," he later remarked. "That’s where my friends and I hung out. It was a lot of fun to grow up in that era."[6] When a friend Brandon Monk had a basketball court installed in his back yard, Stevens "appeared instantaneously."[6] He was so dedicated the game that he would bring the unprepared ingredients for grilled cheese sandwiches over to Brandon's house, so as to not waste time waiting for sandwich to cook.[6]

The Monk's court soon became a gathering place for local kids. Zionsville kids and kids from the surrounding areas would often hold pickup games.[6] These games helped develop Stevens' competitive streak.[6] Besides playing basketball, the young Stevens also enjoyed solving puzzles – a skill he later applied to analyzing opposing teams to find their weaknesses.[4]

File:Brad Stevens-DePauw.jpg
Stevens dribbles past a defender while playing for DePauw

Stevens attended Zionsville Community High School where he became a star basketball player.[3] During his freshman year, he would get up early to practice shooting at a local gym.[7] The hard work payed off, as Stevens made the varsity team that same year.[7] By the time his high school career was complete, Stevens had set school records for career scoring, assists, steals and three point field goals. Three of those records still stand, including his scoring record.[8] Stevens was named to the all-conference conference team three time. He was named the sectional MVP in 1995, and was the leading scorer in state sectional play (32.3 ppg).[9] Stevens also traveled the country playing AAU basketball.[4]

Stevens made the academic all-state first team and received the Straight A Gold Medal Award all four years.[9] He was a member of the National Honor Society, graduating seventh in his class of 165.[9] He earned three letters in basketball, three in track, and one in baseball during his days at Zionsville.[9]

Although Stevens had a strong passion for the game, he decided that his basketball skills were moderate and not likely to get him very far.[6] As such, he chose to attend academically oriented DePauw University. He did, however, stick with the game, playing point guard for the university's Division III basketball team.[5] During his stay, he played in all 101 team games, earning four varsity letters.[9] He earned multiple all-conference and academic all conference awards, and was a three-time Academic All-America nominee.[10][9] He was a team captain his senior year, and averaged more than 8 points per game 3 of his 4 years.[6][11] His career highs were 24 points and 8 rebounds during a game.[9] After his senior year, Stevens received the Coaches’ Award.[9] Coach Bill Fenlon later described Stevens as "one of the most selfless, team-oriented person [sic] I've ever been around."[10]

While at DePauw, Stevens was a member of the Management Fellows Honors Program and the DePauw Community Services’ Sports Night executive board.[9] He was also a member of the Alpha Tau Omega social fraternity.[9] During summer vacations, Stevens spent time teaching at Butler basketball camps.[12] He was named to the Dean's list and graduated in 1999 with a degree in economics.[9]

After college, Stevens got a well paying job in marketing for Eli Lilly and Company in Indianapolis.[6] He didn't lose his passion for basketball, however, working as a volunteer coaching assistant job at Carmel High School and coaching an AAU summer team.[3][12]

Butler

In the summer of 2000, Stevens quit his job at Eli Lilly to volunteer in the Butler basketball office.[2] "Now, it looks like a great idea," he later remarked. "At the time, I thought it was something I really wanted to try."[2] He took a job at Applebee’s to pay the bills,[6] but before he started training he was offered a low-paying administrative position as coordinator of basketball operations under then-coach Thad Matta.[3][2] The position had opened up after assistant coach Jamal Meeks resigned after being arrested on solicitation and drug charges. (He was later acquitted.)[6] Years later Matta recalled "[Stevens] was just a hungry young kid that was desperate to get into coaching. He had a great passion and was willing to take a risk to get into the coaching profession."[6]

After Matta left the school following the 2000–2001 season, new head coach Todd Lickliter promoted Stevens to a full-time assistant coach.[3] Under Lickliter, Stevens was active in every aspect of the game: skills instruction, game preparation, in-game coaching, and recruiting.[3]

Named head coach

On April 2, 2007, Lickliter resigned his job to take the head coaching position at the University of Iowa.[2] The Butler players had a meeting athletic director Barry Collier, urging him to hire from within.[13] Collier was in complete agreement, having spent the entire season observing the assistant coaches' interaction with the team.[2] The day after Lickliter resigned Stevens and Butler's two other assistant coaches interviewed for the job.[12] Within 24 hours of the interviews Stevens was named Butler's new head coach.[2] According to Collier, Stevens had something older, outside candidates could never offer: six years of experience learning the Butler system, dubbed "The Butler Way" by Collier.[12] "Age wasn't a factor because I'd seen his ability shine through during the course of the season," Collier said.[12]

2007–2008 season

At the start of the 2007–08 season, Stevens was the second youngest coach in Division I basketball.[12] He got off to a fast start, winning his first 8 games as Butler head coach before falling to Wright State 43-42.[14] Legendary coach Bob Knight, whose Texas Tech team was an early victim said "I wish we played as smart as they do."[15] Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg added "They've got toughness about them and they expect to win."[15]

Midway through Stevens first season, with the Bulldogs at 12-1, The New York Times wrote "so far, Stevens has made the transition [to head coach] look easy."[7] The Times went on to state he had the calm and composure of seasoned veteran.[7] "You’ve got a lot of people always looking for the next step. And that’s not what I was doing. I was just trying to figure out a way to win the next game and think like a head coach." Stevens said.[7]

Butler ended the regular season with a 27-3 record, taking first place in the Horizon League with a 16-2 in conference mark.[14] The team beat Illinois-Chicago 66-50 and Cleveland State 70-55 to claim the league's tournament title and an automatic bid to the 2008 NCAA tournament.[14] Butler beat South Alabama 81-61 in the opening round, before falling to Tennessee 76-71 in overtime.[14]

Stevens ended up with a school and Horizon league record 30 wins, beating several big name schools – Michigan, Texas Tech, Florida State, Ohio State – along the way.[11][7] In so doing, he became the 3rd-youngest head coach in NCAA Division I history to lead a team to 30 wins in a season, and became the fourth winningest first year coach.[11] Butler was nationally ranked for a school and league record 19 consecutive weeks.[11]

2008–2009 season

Butler lost four starters after the 2007–08 season, and was picked to finish 5th in the Horizon league during the 2008–09 season.[11] Stevens defied expectations, again winning the regular season Horizon championship with a 25-4 (15-3 in conference) record.[16] Butler lost the Horizon League tournament final 57-54 to Cleveland State, but made the NCAA tournament as an at large selection.[11][16] The team lost in the first round to Louisiana State by a score of 75-71.[16]

Stevens' 56-10 two-year record places him second only to Bill Guthridge (58) in total wins during one's first two years as head coach.[11] During the 2008–09 season, Stevens became the sixth head coach in NCAA history to reach 50 wins in 56 games or fewer with his February 5, 2009 win over Detroit.[17] Doc Meanwell did it in 51 games at Wisconsin. Clair Bee at Rider, Bill Carmody at Princeton, and Bill Guthridge at North Carolina all reached the mark in 55 games.[18] Buck Freeman also reached the milestone in his 56th game at St. John's.[18]

Stevens won the Hugh Durham Mid-Major Coach of the Year Award and was named the Horizon League Coach of the Year.[11]

2009–2010 season

Main article: 2009–10 Butler Bulldogs men's basketball team

Fueled in large part by Gordon Hayward's and Shelvin Mack's roles leading team USA to the gold medal in the FIBA Under-19 World Championship during the off-season,[19] Butler began the season ranked 10th in the Coaches' Poll and 11th in the AP Poll.[20] Butler won its first three games, before heading to the 76 Classic for its first real test.[21]

Butler lost its first round 76 Classic game to then 22nd ranked Minnesota 82-73, committing 21 turnovers and shooting just 33 percent from the field.[22] The team then beat UCLA 69-67,[23] and faced 19th ranked Clemson in the tournament finale. Against Clemson, Butler jumped out to a 33-26 half time lead and held the led until the final seconds when Clemson hit two free throws to win 70-69.[24] The poor tournament showing dropped Butler to #23 in the AP Poll and #20 in the Coaches' Poll.[25]

Butler won its next two games before falling to then-thirteenth ranked Georgetown 72-65 in the Jimmy V Classic.[21] The team recovered by beating #15 Ohio State 74-66 and edging out former conference rival Xavier 69-68, both at home.[21] Three days after the Xavier game, the team lost for what would become the last time in the regular season, falling 67-57 at UAB.[21]

After the UAB loss, Butler stood at 9-4 and fell out of the AP rankings. However, the team remained in the Coaches Poll at #23.[26] Stevens rallied the team, and they responded by winning 16 straight games before facing Siena in a BracketBusters game.[21] Butler beat Siena 70-53 and Stevens tied the NCAA record for most wins (81) by a head coach in the first three seasons set by Mark Few of Gonzaga in 2002 and tied by Mark Fox of Nevada in 2007.[18][27]

On February 26, 2010, Butler traveled to Valparasio for their final regular season game. Leading scorer Gordon Hayward was sidelined with lower back pain, but the team still won 74-69.[28] In so doing, Stevens broke the coaching record he had tied the prior week and Butler completed an 18-0 undefeated conference schedule. It was Butler's first undefeated conference record since joining the Horizon League and first since Joe Sexson lead the 1978 team to an undefeated conference season in the now defunct Indiana Collegiate Conference. Steven's earned his third straight regular-season conference championship.

Stevens offers encouragement from the sidelines during a 2008 game against Detroit

As the league's top team, Butler received a bye to the Horizon tournament semi-finals and home field advantage. From there, Steven's Bulldogs beat Wisconsin-Milwaukee 68-59 in the semi-finals[29] and Wright State 70-45 in the finals, earning the team an automatic bid into the 2010 NCAA tournament.[30] By going 20-0 in league play overall, Butler became the first school in Horizon League history to go undefeated through both the regular season and conference tournament.[31] Stevens was the only coach in Division I to lead his team to an undefeated conference schedule during the 2009–10 season.[30]

NCAA tournament

For their season, the Bulldogs were ranked 8th in the final pre-NCAA tournament Coaches' Poll and 11th in the corresponding AP Poll.[32] On Selection Sunday, the Bulldogs were seeded 5th in the West regional of the NCAA tournament and given a first round match up with 12th seeded UTEP on March 18.[33]

Of the 32 first round games, the match up between Butler and UTEP was the only one featuring two nationally ranked teams (UTEP was ranked 24th entering the game). Many basketball commentators picked UTEP to pull the upset,[34] and in the first half of the game it looked like they might be right as UTEP jumped to a 33-27 lead at the break. Stevens rallied the team, and the Bulldogs came out firing on all cylinders in the second half. Shelvin Mack hit 2 three-pointers within 90 seconds to tie the game and ignite a 22-4 run to start the half. Butler won the game 77-59 sinking 13 3-pointers.[35]

In the second round, Butler faced off with 13th seeded Murray State. The game was close throughout and was tied at 50 with a minute to go. Ronald Nored put Butler ahead with a layup and added a free throw to make it 53-50 with 25.4 seconds remaining. Murray State made two free throws to cut the gap, but was forced to foul Matt Howard to keep the clock from running out. Howard hit 1 of 2 free throws, giving Murray State a chance to tie or win the game on its final possession. With less than five seconds on the clock, Hayward deflected a Murray State pass into the back court. By the time the ball was recovered, the game was over and Stevens was heading to his first Sweet Sixteen.[36]

On March 25, 2010, Butler faced top-seeded Syracuse. Unlike their first two games, the Bulldogs got off to a good start, jumping out to a 12-1 lead and taking a 35-25 lead in the break. Syracuse rallied in the second half, taking its first lead of the game, 40-39, off a Wesley Johnson 3-pointer. Stevens called timeout and Butler regained the lead on its next possession. The game remained tight for the next several minutes. At the 5:32 mark, Syracuse got a rare fast break opportunity that ended with a dunk and 54-50 lead. Stevens again called time out and Butler responded by Syracuse scoreless for the next 5 minutes. Butler took a 60-54 lead on a Willie Veasley tip in at the 0:59 mark and held on to win 63-59. The win allowed Butler to advance to the Elite Eight for the first time in school history.[37]

Two days later, Stevens' Bulldogs met 2nd seeded Kansas State in the regional finals. Perhaps feeling the effects of their double overtime 101-96 win two days prior, Kansas State got off to a slow start, scoring just 20 points in the first half to trail 27-20. Butler kept the lead in the upper single digits for most of the second half and led 49-39 with 7:38 to go. Kansas State managed to go on a 13-2 and take a 52-51 lead on a Denis Clemente 3-pointer with 4:50 to go. Stevens immediately called time out and re-focused the team. "Play your game. Just play your game" he told the team.[38] On the ensuing possession, Hayward pulled down an offensive rebounded on a Mack miss and was fouled. He hit both free throws and Butler didn't trail again, out scoring Kansas State 12-2 before the Wildcats hit a meaning shot at the buzzer to make the final margin 63-56. The win earned the Bulldogs a trip back to Indianapolis for the first Final Four appearance in school and Horizon League history.[39] The win made Stevens, at age 33, the youngest coach to lead a team to the Final Four since Bob Knight made his first Final Four appearance at age 32 in 1973.[2] Butler is the smallest school (enrollment: 4,200) to make the Final Four since seeding began in 1979.[40]

Brad Stevens and the Butler Bulldogs beat Michigan State in the national semifinals on April 3. The Bulldogs will play for the National Championship on April 5, 2010.[41]

Coaching future

Stevens is currently signed by Butler through the 2015–2016 season.[42] He makes an estimated US$400,000 a year, a relatively low figure for a successful head coach.[43] When asked if he would ever leave Butler, Stevens replied "I guess if they kicked me out."[6]

Stevens' career record is currently 89-14.[2]

Coaching style

According to Stevens, in one of his first games as head coach, he was nervous and "felt like our team played on edge" because of it.[44] He decided that a team's play will reflect the mood of its coach; a calm coach means a team that will remain poised in difficult game situations, while a nervous coach means a team that plays on edge. "I don’t want to lose a game because of my approach," he told himself.[44] Accordingly, he developed a strategy of always remain calm and focused during games. He rarely raises his voice or gets emotional, instead quietly observing on the sideline with folded arms.[42] He doesn't get upset about bad calls by referees or player mistakes, preferring to always focus on "the next play" rather than what just happened.[38][44] On the rare occasion Stevens feels the need to correct a player, assistant coach Mike Graves says he does it with "positive reinforcement, just at a little louder decibel".[44] Above all, he wants his players to be confident, not living in fear of being yanked after making a bad play.[44]

Externally, Stevens is always calm, but internally he is far from it. "I'm not as calm as everybody thinks," Stevens says.[5] His wife Tracy adds, "He’s calm and collected, but he’s fiercely competitive. He’s always thinking about how he can beat you."[42] Former player Joel Cornette says "Everyone sees Brad as a level-headed, calm and cool coach, but he’s about as competitive of a guy as I know. We would get into it constantly, whether playing two-on-two or arguing about players’ having better college careers."[6]

Stevens talking with former player AJ Graves during a 2008 game against Detroit

Stevens spends a lot of time preparing for each game, and always tries to add a few new wrinkles specific to that game's opponent.[42] He is a proponent of using statistical analysis to enhance his coaching decisions, spending almost as much time looking at statistics as watching game film.[42] Sports Illustrated has described Stevens as an expert "on breaking down tape and looking at statistical trends to find opponents' weaknesses."[13] Sophomore guard Ronald Nored agrees: "We know everything we need to about our opponents, all their tendencies are broken down" ahead of time.[42]

Stevens' teams are built around solid basketball fundamentals and good team work, rather than individual basketball skill.[38] His teams are known for their defense, forcing opponents into uncharacteristic mistakes.[5] The secret to basketball – and life – is "just to do the job to the best of your ability and don't worry about anything else," Stevens says.[13] In short, he is a strong believer in "The Butler Way" – doing all the little things that transform a group of good basketball players into a great basketball team.[15] "I tell the players 'the Butler Way' isn't easy to define," Stevens says "but you can see it on the floor when we share the basketball, play with great energy and defend."[15]

Stevens prefers to recruit strong team players instead of "top recruits."[15] "The guys we [have] recruited, most of them weren't very highly ranked," Stevens says. "They had very good high school careers or careers at other places (transfers), but for one reason or the other they weren't seen as great players. But they all had intangibles."[15]

Stevens is not interested in self promotion, deflecting most praise he receives to the players, athletic department, and his mentors.[44] He has not been known to posture for more money, or to leak his name for open coaching positions.[44] He has been described as humble and modest.[15]

The New York Times, ESPN, and other commentators have attributed Butler's success against teams with superior athletes to Stevens' coaching style.[42][38] The Times remarks "the Bulldogs are very well prepared for their opponents, and they do not rattle easily" and that the resulting confidence has led to their success.[42] "He coaches to his personality and to his strengths," Collier says. "Obviously, he has great rapport and communication ability with his team."[2] Yahoo! Sports compared Stevens to legendary coach John Wooden writing "Brad Stevens is winning at Butler the Wooden way - calm and composed on the sideline."[44] Wooden agreed saying, "I enjoy watching [Stevens] and very much enjoy [Butler's] style of play."[44]

Personal life

Brad Stevens met his wife Tracy (nee Wilhelmy) while attending DePauw University.[45] Tracy quickly learned of Brad's love for basketball - on their third date he drove her an hour an a half to attend a high school basketball game.[42] The couple currently live in Indianapolis, Indiana, with their two children - a four-year-old son, Brady, and an infant daughter, Kinsley.[11] Tracy works as a labor and employment lawyer.[42]

Brad's father Mark is an orthopedic surgeon and former Indiana Hoosiers football player.[2] His mother Jan is a university professor.[4]

Brad Stevens is known for his youthful looks, often being described as "baby-faced".[42] One commentator remarked "Stevens looks like he checks the mirror every morning to see if it's time to start shaving."[38] On occasion, he has been mistaken for a player.[5] He is also for projected a profession, "corporate" look from the sidelines.[40]

Stevens is involved with the American Cancer Society's Coaches against Cancer. He says that the cause really hit home for him after his mother-in-law died of the disease in 2004.[46] The day before Butler's 2010 Final Four appearance, he hosted a fundraiser for the organization.[46]

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Butler (Horizon League) (2007–present)
2007–2008 Butler 30-4 16-2 1st NCAA 2nd Round
2008–2009 Butler 26-6 15-3 1st NCAA 1st Round
2009–2010 Butler 33-4 18-0 1st NCAA Championship game
Butler: 89-14 49-5
Total: 89-14

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Awards

References

  1. ^ Jeff Rabjohns (March 23, 2010). "Butler's Stevens shows signs of Syracuse coach's greatness". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved April 3, 22010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l David Woods (March 30, 2010). "Hiring a young Stevens pays for Butler". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved April 2,2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Brad Stevens Named Butler's Men's Basketball Coach" (Press release). Butler University. April 4, 2007. Retrieved February 28, 2008.
  4. ^ a b c d Brad Stevens' mom tells us what makes him tick (TV newscast). WISH-TV. April 2, 2010. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
  5. ^ a b c d e Jerry Sullivan (April 2, 2010). "Sullivan: Make no mistake, Butler's Stevens is for real". The Buffalo News. Retrieved April 2, 2010.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Pete Thamel (April 2, 2010). "For Butler's Stevens, Run Began in the Driveway". New York Times. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Stephen Beavan (January 5, 2008). "Taking a Veteran Approach to the Job of a Young Lifetime". The New York Times. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
  8. ^ "Zionsville Basketball Team Records" (doc). Retrieved April 2, 2008.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "DePauw Athletic Profiles: Brad Stevens". DePauw University. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
  10. ^ a b "Brad Stevens '99 Named Men's Basketball Coach at Butler University". DePauw University. April 5, 2007. Retrieved February 28, 2008.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Brad Stevens: Official profile". Butler University. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  12. ^ a b c d e f August 6, 2007. "Stevens second-youngest Division I head coach". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 3, 2010.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ a b c "Roll of dice turns out nice for young Butler coach". Sports Illustrated online. March 29, 2010. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
  14. ^ a b c d Ken Pomeroy. "2008 scouting report for Butler". 2008 Pomeroy Ratings. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g Dan Wetzel (November 30, 2007). "The Butler Way". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
  16. ^ a b c Ken Pomeroy. "2009 scouting report for Butler". 2009 Pomeroy Ratings. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
  17. ^ "Butler Closes Three-Game Road Stretch At Wright State". Butler University. February 6, 2009. Retrieved March 31, 2010.
  18. ^ a b c "NCAA Coaching Records" (pdf). NCAA. Retrieved February 14, 2010.
  19. ^ Andy Katz (July 13, 2009). "U.S. U-19 team captures first gold since 1991". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  20. ^ "2010 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings - Preseason". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  21. ^ a b c d e "Butler Bulldogs Complete Schedule". CBS Sports. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  22. ^ "Johnson fuels Minnesota's upset of No. 12 Butler". CBSSports.com wire reports. November 26, 2009. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  23. ^ "Free throws in final second lift 12th-ranked Butler over UCLA". CBSSports.com wire reports. November 28, 2009. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  24. ^ "Stitt's late free throws help No. 19 Clemson edge No. 12 Butler". CBSSports.com wire reports. November 29, 2009. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  25. ^ "2010 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings - Week 3 (Nov. 30)". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  26. ^ "2010 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings - Week 7 (Dec. 28)". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  27. ^ "Mack, Butler keep Siena winless against ranked foes on road". CBSSports.com wire reports. February 20, 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  28. ^ "No. 15 Butler extends nation-leading winning streak to 18 games". CBSSports.com wire reports. February 26, 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  29. ^ "No. 12 Butler wins 19th straight, advances to Horizon title game". CBSSports.com wire reports. March 6, 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  30. ^ a b "Butler headed to Big Dance after locking up Horizon League title". CBSSports.com wire reports. March 9, 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  31. ^ John Perrotto (March 12, 2010). "Around the Rim". Basketball prospectus. "Butler Finishes Horizon Season Unblemished" section. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  32. ^ "2010 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings - Week 18". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  33. ^ Greg Beacham (Match 17, 2009). "Butler gets tough matchup with 12th-seeded UTEP". San Francisco Examiner. Associated Press. Retrieved March 29, 2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  34. ^ Ashley Adamson (March 17, 2009). "Butler sizes up impressive UTEP lineup". WISH. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  35. ^ "Bulldogs rally past Miners, stretch win streak to 21". CBSSports.com wire reports. March 18, 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  36. ^ "Late heroics help Butler hold off upset-minded Murray State". CBSSports.com wire reports. March 20, 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  37. ^ "Butler downs No. 1 seed Syracuse, advances to school's first Elite Eight". CBSSports.com wire reports. March 25, 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  38. ^ a b c d e Tim Keown (March 30, 2010). "The Butler bonus: compatibility". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 2, 2010.
  39. ^ "Butler ousts K-State, rides 24-game win streak into first Final Four". CBSSports.com wire reports. March 27, 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  40. ^ a b David Woods (March 28, 2010). "The Road Winds Home". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
  41. ^ http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/schedules?tag=fastFacts.collegebasketball
  42. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Bill Witz (March 28, 2010). "Butler's Coach: Competitiveness Wrapped in Calm". New York Times. Retrieved April 2, 2010.
  43. ^ Laurent Belsie (April 3, 2010). "Brad Stevens: the economics of a Cinderella coach in the Final Four". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
  44. ^ a b c d e f g h i Dan Wetzel (April 2, 2010). "Butler's Stevens builds his own pyramid of success". Archived from the original on April 3, 2010. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
  45. ^ "Brad Stevens '99 Guides Butler to NCAA's Final Four". DePauw University. March 28, 2010. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
  46. ^ a b Kim King (April 2, 2010). "Coach Stevens Stops For Cancer Society Benefit". Fox 59 WXIN. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |access date= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
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