March 26, 2011, Greencastle, Ind. — "Brad Stevens, the baby-faced Butler coach, and his team stayed poised in overcoming a double-digit deficit," notes the New York Times tonight of the 1999 DePauw University graduate who led his team to a 74-71 overtime win over Florida tonight, sending the Bulldogs to the NCAA's Final Four for the second consecutive year. "Despite trailing by 11 points with less than 10 minutes remaining
against No. 2 Florida in Southeast Regional final, Butler looked
unfazed. The Bulldogs engaged in a furious comeback, forced overtime on
a free throw by Matt Howard and hung on," writes Pete Thamel. (photo: H. Darr Beiser/USA Today)
"We played resiliently," Stevens said after the game. "I'm incredibly proud."
Butler will play the winner of the Kansas-Virgina Commonwealth game in next weekend's Final Four.
Learn more about Coach Stevens, who was an economics major, Management Fellow and basketball player at DePauw, in this recent story.
Stevens and his coach at DePauw, Bill Fenlon, were cited in a Sports Illustrated column this week. (at right: Stevens in action as an undergraduate at DePauw)
On April 13,
2010, Stevens returned to his alma mater to deliver the Robert C. McDermond Lecture.
Also available is an online profile of Brad Stevens.
Another DePauw alumnus, Brad Brownell '91, led his Clemson Tigers to an NCAA tourney berth this year, defeating UAB in the opening round before losing to West Virginia.