For parts of three men’s basketball seasons, Butler fans had the opportunity to watch former student Shelvin Mack play at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

Collegian file photo

Now Butler alumni have the opportunity to witness Mack in action in a NBA game.

Organized by the Butler University Washington, D.C. Alumni Chapter, the event will give Butler alumni and students in the area the chance to see Mack and the rest of the Washington Wizards host the Cleveland Cavaliers Saturday in the nation’s capital.

Monique Wise, associate director of alumni programs, said the idea of seeing a Wizards’ game was mentioned during a chapter conference call last fall.

“Several committee members had brought up the idea of attending a Wizards game so we could see Shelvin play because it would be Shelvin’s first year, and he is a Butler alumnus,” Wise said.

In addition to taking in an NBA game, attendees will get to take part in a meet-and-greet with Mack after the contest.

Wise said Mack did not hesitate to say yes when asked if he would do a meet-and-greet.

“He was very excited that Butler alumni would want to come and see him,” Wise said. “He was very honored and very happy to hear that.”

This is the second such event that a Butler alumni chapter has organized this year.

The school’s Atlanta chapter arranged for alumni to attend a game between former student Gordon Hayward’s Utah Jazz and the Atlanta Hawks earlier in the NBA season.

Attendees for that event also got to meet with Hayward after the game.

Lauren Cialone, president of the Washington, D.C., chapter, said that the Butler alumni office handled the logistics of setting up the event, including securing tickets and communicating with Mack.

Cialone said she feels the event is a great opportunity for alumni who live outside of Washington, D.C.

“There are folks and families who live a little farther out, and this gives them a chance to be able to come out here for the weekend and participate in the activity,” Cialone said.

Wise said the event was not easy to set up because of the NBA lockout, which shortened the current season.

Wise said the alumni office also had to work around Butler President Jim Danko’s “Imagine the Possibilities” tour in addition to finding a game that a majority of alumni could potentially attend.

Michael Landes, a 2008 graduate and member of the Washington, D.C., chapter, said the event could not come at a better time, especially with many local Butler alumni being involved in election season activities.

Photo courtesy of MCT

“Everyone’s really excited,” Landes said. “They want to see Shelvin and show their support for him during the game.”

Tickets for the event cost $35 each, and Wise said that 20 tickets had been sold as of Monday morning.

Landes said those who are already attending the game are “pumped, big time.”

“I know the Wizards have been kind of lackluster lately as far as their record, but nobody really cares about that,” Landes said. “It’s a pretty good opportunity.”

Photo by Rachel Anderson

After celebrating our president’s inauguration this weekend, be sure to blow out a candle for Butler University’s  most famous student.

No, we’re not talking about Gordon Hayward or Shelvin Mack, we’re talking about Hoosier author Kurt Vonnegut.

The author of such novels like “Cat’s Cradle” and “Slaughterhouse-Five” was enrolled at Butler for a short time in 1942 but dropped out after managing no better than a “C” average in his English courses.

This Friday would have been Kurt Vonnegut’s 89th birthday.

His hometown is ready to celebrate him at the ongoing Spirit & Place Festival, which featured Butler dancers last weekend. This weekend, the festival is featuring “Kurt Vonnegut on the Human Body.”

Richard Clark, professor of music at Butler, will be conducting a group of Butler students and alumni in pieces based on Vonnegut’s own words.

Clark said he was a close friend of Vonnegut, calling him a quasi-grandfather. Vonnegut collaborated with Clark and his orchestra in New York, performing with them and writing original music with Clark.

“I’m keeping my friendship with him alive through this performance and events like these,” Clark said.

The first piece is entitled “Destructive Testing,” which is from “Breakfast of Champions.” There will also be what Clark described as “Ice-9 Ballads,” a reference that any “Cat’s Cradle fan will recognize.

Finally, and what Clark said is the most important, is “Armistice Day.” Nov. 11 is commonly known in the United States as Veterans Day, but during Vonnegut’s life, it was still known as Armistice Day, a celebration of the end of World War I. Clark said the fact that this day fell on Vonnegut’s birthday was very important to Vonnegut.

Katie Burns, a sophomore cello performance and English major, said that she is looking forward to the performance.

“I am so excited to help celebrate Kurt Vonnegut, not only because he’s one of my favorite American authors,” she said. “It makes me glad to see that people realize the value of his work and are putting in the effort to continue his legacy.”

Julia Whitehead, the current president, executive director and founder of the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library, is particularly excited about the event and thinks it is an excellent opportunity for Butler students to learn more about Indiana’s most famous author.

“Having the spirit of Kurt in the back of our mind is helpful, not only to create new ideas, but to know that we can put them into motion, just like he did,”  Whitehead said. “He is inspirational. People have said they come to Indianapolis and the United States just to come to the library. Readers connect with him as a friend.”

Besides a performance from the School of Music, the celebration includes a reading and discussion of Vonnegut’s works and a viewing of his art. The event will be moderated by Indianapolis Business Journal arts and entertainment editor Lou Harry, Hoosier author (and Vonnegut’s close friend) Dan Wakefield and Vonnegut scholars and authors Marc Leeds, Rodney Allen and David Hoppe.

Beforehand, Gregory D. Sumner, the author of “Unstuck in Time: A Journey Through Kurt Vonnegut’s Life and Work” will be signing books and speaking at the Vonnegut Library at 5 p.m. After, the group will head to the main event.

The pieces that the Butler group will be performing have been compiled on an album, due out on Jan. 4, 2012. Vonnegut narrated the songs just before his death, and his voice will be on the album. Advanced copies of the album will be available at the  event on Friday night.

The celebration will be held at the Frank and Katrina Basile Theater at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The cost is $20. The event is presented by the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library and the Butler University department of music.

A TRULY HOOSIER BIRTHDAY

Want other ways to celebrate Vonnegut’s day of birth? Here are some other ideas for the weekend.

VISIT THE KURT VONNEGUT MEMORIAL LIBRARY
Located at 340 N. Senate Ave., the Vonnegut Library offers art and literature from Vonnegut, along with a recreation of his workspace.

CHECK OUT A VONNEGUT BOOK FROM IRWIN LIBRARY
Whether you choose out of the ordinary short stories, or a classic like “Cat’s Cradle,” reading Vonnegut provides many fun facts about the Naptown that Vonnegut knew.

VISIT THE ATHENAEUM
Built by Vonnegut’s grandfather in 1898, this building now houses the Rathskellar, Indiana’s local German restaurant.

So, this is what happens when the National Basketball Association faces a lockout?

If such a lockout allows me to see NBA players facing off against NBA players (with a few amateur players sprinkled in) in exhibition-style games, I hope the lockout never gets resolved.

That is obviously greedy of me. However, after seeing the Knox Indianapolis Pro Am team take on the Goodman League from Washington D.C., I can safely say something I have not said in a long time: I enjoyed a basketball game featuring NBA players.

Gone was the boring, slow-paced walking around that one sees during an NBA game. Gone too was the dramatic acting done by players trying to draw a foul.

There were no unreasonably long timeouts to allow for advertisements or a break for the players who had not even broken a sweat.

The NBA players in attendance at the University of Indianapolis’ Nicoson Hall last Saturday put on a heck of a show. It did not matter that there was next to no defense played during the game; the two teams were on the hardwood having fun and causing the crowd to erupt with cheering throughout the night.

Washington Wizards point guard John Wall and Los Angeles Clippers shooting guard (and Indianapolis native) Eric Gordon were the stars of the show for their respective teams.

Wall, playing for the Goodman League, put up 41 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds, a triple-double, while playing a majority of the game’s 48 minutes.

Gordon nearly matched him, posting 40 points with nine assists while throwing down a few huge slam dunks and draining multiple deep three-point shots.

In all, 12 NBA players took to the court in the game. All of them put up more than 10 points, much unlike a typical NBA game.

Butler alumni Shelvin Mack and Gordon Hayward were even in on the fun. Mack, playing for the Goodman League, scored 15 points, including a tough three-point basket over the outstretched arm of a defender.

For the Indy Pro Am team, Hayward tallied 20 points and ten rebounds. You could see him all over the floor, sprinting to both ends like a kid in a pick-up game.

I wish actual NBA games were this way.

I got to see NBA stars compete in a non-stop contest where they were attempting shots that they could not try during an NBA game, because it would be a waste of a possession.

These guys were not worried about anything. Maybe that explains why Boston Celtics small forward Jeff Green was wearing pink shoes and driving the net like it was nobody’s business. He ended up with 35 points on the night.

Maybe that explains why Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins was spinning defenders around like tops and taking shots from everywhere he could. He ended up with 33 points and 15 assists on the night.

Maybe that explains why Gordon was draining three-pointers from ungodly distances. Maybe that even explains why Indiana Pacers shooting guard Lance Stephenson received a technical foul after nonchalantly hurling the ball down the court after drawing a foul.

There was no pressure. It was all about fun and playing the game of basketball.

“We’re looking to do something good during the lockout,” Indy Pro Am CEO and coach Carlos Knox said before the event. “We’re hoping to get together with other Pro Ams and there is definitely more to come.”

Thank you, Mr. Knox. Thank you.

It was there for the taking. And the crowd of 7,500 inside Hinkle Fieldhouse, the fans who did not migrate south to Houston, knew it.

Junior guard Shelvin Mack drained a 3-pointer to beat the halftime buzzer and sent the Bulldogs into the locker room up, 22-19.

The Butler faithful cheered wildly, recognizing that their beloved Bulldogs were a mere 20 minutes from capturing college basketball’s most heralded and elusive title: national champion.

It was certain that Butler, a team known for having strong second halves, would improve upon its 22 percent first half shooting and pull away from the UConn Huskies, righting the wrongs left by last year’s heartbreaking loss to Duke.

And then it happened—31 of Butler’s 37 second half shot attempts fell off the mark. Consequently, the Bulldogs fell out of contention, leaving Butler fans across the country stunned.

Not many people foresaw Butler advancing to its second consecutive Final Four, especially after losing sensational sophomore Gordon Hayward to the NBA Draft. Out of the 15 million households that watched the game’s telecast, no one foresaw the Bulldogs shooting 19 percent on the biggest stage in college basketball.

Seniors Matt Howard, Zach Hahn and Shawn Vanzant, playing in their final collegiate game, shot a collective 3-of-25 en route to a 53-41 loss on Monday in the national title game.

The last time the Bulldogs scored fewer points in a game was during a 51-39 loss at Wright State Jan. 3, 2004. Prior to Monday night, Butler had been held under 50 points just four times in the past seven seasons.

It was Butler’s worst performance in recent memory and it happened to come in arguably Butler’s most important game in school history.

The faces of this year’s team, Howard, Mack and head coach Brad Stevens, all remarked that the team simply could not make shots. It was clearly a disappointing and uninspiring end to what was otherwise a remarkable run.

As Howard, who ranks third on Butler’s all-time scoring list, leaves the program, the contributions of him and his fellow seniors should not be forgotten.

The 117 wins by the outgoing senior class, consisting of Howard, Hahn, Vanzant, Grant Leiendecker and Alex Anglin, is the second most of any class in Butler men’s basketball history.

Over the past four seasons, these five have helped lead the Bulldogs to four Horizon league regular season championships, three Horizon League tournament championships and four NCAA tournament appearances.

More than that, they have helped put Butler University on the map as more than just a school that perennially fields a solid basketball team, but also as an upper-echelon academic institution.

Howard, a finance major with a 3.77 GPA was named this year’s NCAA Division I Academic All-American of the Year.

Butler athletics have embodied “The Butler Way” for decades. However, these past two basketball squads, both finishing as national runners-up, have raised awareness of Butler’s mission and have elevated Butler onto the national stage as a première academic and athletic institution.

A 12-point loss in the national title game is heartbreaking, yes—almost as heartbreaking as a 2-point loss that was decided by fractions of an inch.

It might be years before another Butler team advances to a national semifinal. On the other hand, it might only be another calendar year.

Yet, some things, such as Butler’s national perception, are now here to stay.

In light of the recent success of the Butler men’s basketball team in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championships, the Butler community, as well as Indianapolis, has grown closer. We have all utilized the team’s success as a reason to unite as we cheer “our team” on to victory. It is a unique experience to see an entire city unite over a simple sport and a simple team.

At the beginning of the tournament, different Indiana residents were cheering for different teams. But as the competitive field was narrowed, the view was narrowed onto Butler.

Although it’s been said that many fans are jumping on the “band wagon,” I think it is so much more than that. It stems from the fact that there is a team in the national spotlight who is representing our state and its residents. We are taking pride in that by supporting Butler throughout the remainder of the tournament.

This year, sportscasters around the nation have been asking, “Who’s the new Butler?” even though Butler is still in the spotlight from last year. I haven’t been able to understand why so many people insist that Butler has had its fifteen minutes of fame and will now slip into the shadows.

Butler making its way to the national championship game last year and this year was not a result of luck or coincidence—it was the result of hard work. While it is enjoyable to beat the odds and be labeled the underdog, it grows tiresome. Perhaps it is time for those who doubt us to accept the fact that Butler has a quality basketball program. I’m not asking for everyone to become instant Butler fans, but simply to respect the quality and talent that our team possesses.

As I drive through downtown Indianapolis and even to my hometown of Franklin, In., I spot people donning Butler t-shirts, hats and jackets. I drive past houses with signs in their front yards proclaiming “Go Dawgs.” I always take pride in seeing fellow residents cheer on Butler. Amidst all the hype of the tournament, conversation can be struck up with any stranger about Butler. It is the one topic of conversation that never grows tiresome.

Butler has repeatedly been referred to as “America’s Team” and it isn’t difficult to understand why.  Butler has captured hearts around the nation as well as the hearts of Indiana residents.

Butler is the small school that has for two consecutive years fought its way to the NCAA championship game. It is hard not to root for a team and university that is so small and is succeeding so immensely against powerhouses like Wisconsin, Florida and Pittsburgh.

Butler has the ability to inspire fans across the state and country, as well as energize the nation to cheer for a new team with passion and intensity. The excitement for Butler is definitely contagious as it spreads across our country, engulfing even the smallest cities and towns.

As the tournament nears its end, I take pride in knowing that Butler has made such a significant impact on the country and has united the city of Indianapolis through their victories and hard work on the court. Band wagon or not, it is hard to deny the energy and enthusiasm that accompanies the Butler Bulldogs.

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PHOTO GALLERY | Moment by moment of Butler vs. UConn

The Butler men’s basketball team was the victim of its own demise in Monday night’s NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, making them the fourth team in NCAA history to lose consecutive title games.

The Bulldogs’ worst shooting performance of the season came against the No. 3-seed Connecticut Huskies, who defeated the Bulldogs, 53-41, in Houston’s Reliant Stadium.

Butler head coach Brad Stevens said on Sunday that Butler would have a shot to win if they played their best.

There was no shot to win in the end, as the Bulldogs played from behind for more than the final 18 minutes and never found a breakthrough moment or spark.

“We weren’t getting the loose balls initially, and that carried into the second half,” senior forward Matt Howard said.

Junior guard Ronald Nored repeated those words, saying that not getting the 50-50 balls was the difference in the game.

Butler shot 18.8 percent from the field—the worst ever in an NCAA championship game—and was unable to use rebounding or defense to overcome their poor shooting performance.

Whenever Butler got a stop on the defensive end, offensive plays rarely came to fruition.

Stevens said it was painful to watch the guys he cares about struggle in their biggest game.

“I told them I don’t care if they make shots and don’t love them any less because we lost,” he said. “You’re not always going to make shots, which is part of the game.

“Very rarely will you go 12-of-64, but UConn had a lot to do with that. The credit deserves to go to them.”

There may have been hope at halftime, when Butler led 22-19 despite shooting 22.2 percent from the field, but that hope quickly dissipated when it was clear Butler could not score in the paint and shot 16.2 percent in the second half.

“We kept feeling the shots would go down—that’s the belief we had,” Howard said. “It just wasn’t happening.”

Howard went 1-for-13 from the field, finishing with seven points and six rebounds.

“I wish I was able to give a little bit more to my team,” Howard said. “It was just one of those days, and it’s really frustrating now looking back at it, realizing we had our chances.”

Sophomore center Andrew Smith said it was awful watching Howard struggle to score.

“When you see a player like that, who’s had such a good career end like that,” Smith said. “He played as hard as he could and no one blames him for anything. Unfortunately, just like everybody else, he couldn’t put the ball in the hole.

“He’s played his heart out his entire career at Butler—something I’ve learned from him and will do in the future. He’s offered priceless stuff to this university.”

Junior guard Shelvin Mack—the only Bulldog to score in double-digits with 13 points—said he too was frustrated.

“We’re all upset about the game tonight,” he said. “We had chances and opportunities, and we let them slip away by not being solid.”

Mack was 4-of-15 from the field, with all four buckets coming from behind the arc.

“They’re a great defensive team,” Mack said. “They were tough and contested every shot we took—contested shots that people normally wouldn’t be able to contest.”

The defense was so tough that shortly after Butler made its 10th field goal of the game, UConn had its 10th block of the game.

Howard, along with fellow seniors Zach Hahn and Shawn Vanzant, finished their Butler careers with a combined 12 points and 14 rebounds.

Walk-on seniors Alex Anglin and Grant Leiendecker round out the five not returning next season.

“The seniors losing was the worst part about it,” Smith said. “To go out on a win with them would have been the most unbelievable thing because of everything they’ve offered to the university.

“Seeing them cry is hard to watch.”

Stevens, whose 117-25 record is the best four-year coaching start in NCAA history, said the emotions in the locker room were a true sign of Butler’s family bond.

“It’s a real locker room when the freshmen are crying,” Stevens said. “They’ve got three more years to play, but they are feeling for the seniors.”

Howard said he feels fortunate to have been a part of the senior class.

“This group has been able to do something that we’ve never done before,” he said. “It’s hard to put that into words right now because we wanted more, but maybe at some point, I can look back and be proud of what this group has accomplished.”

Sophomore guard Chase Stigall, who made three 3-pointers in the game, said he was already proud of the departing senior class.

“I know we’re going to be lifelong friends,” he said. “They’re going to go down as one of the best senior classes in Butler history, and I couldn’t be more thankful to be a part of these two years with them.

“We’ve lost five brothers today.”

Vanzant said he gave credit to UConn for their performance and that the loss hurt.

“I’ll remember being around [my teammates], the coaches and just being a part of this team,” he said.

Vanzant and Hahn both said the group was a special and unique one.

“This group of guys really believed in each other,” Hahn said. “That’s what made it so special, and I’m just proud.”

Watch the dog fight progress in the championship game between the Butler Bulldogs and the Connecticut Huskies.

What do you think about the Bulldogs’ match up in the championship game against Connecticut? We’ve done our homework and gathered the dish on our Husky opponents. Here’s what we’re up against:

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Butler battles UConn for national title

VIDEO: Butler looks ahead to title game