16 | FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 2010 the chRonIcLeDuke in the Final Four

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the past 14 years, but this is the first time the squad will stay on for the Final Four.

Butler’s success is often attributed to Ste-vens, who made a life-changing decision in 2000. He left his job as a marketing represen-tative at the medicine manufacturer Eli Lilly to pursue a college coaching career. Becom-ing head coach in 2007, Stevens has directed the Bulldogs to a 86-14 record in his first three years. Stevens has relied on his commanding knowledge of the game to lead a team of not terribly athletic players, only two of whom are taller than 6-foot-3, to the Final Four. With 86 total wins and three NCAA bids under his belt, Stevens has one of the greatest starts to a career in college coaching history.

Stevens said the key to his achievement comes from his drive to perform as well as he can at everything he does.

“I was told by a person at [Eli] Lilly early on in my time that the secret is just do your job to the best of your ability and don’t worry about anything else,” he said. “That’s what I’ve tried to do. So I’ve never put a timeline on anything. It’s always just been about try-ing to do whatever job I’m assigned well.”

Adding more excitement to the Bull-dogs’ Tournament run, Butler will be the first team to play a Final Four in its home-town since UCLA in 1972. While they have struggled to sell out their stadium in the past, Stevens said that the Bulldogs have solid fan support, and the environment during home games is always loud and lively despite the empty seats.

Even with the Lucas Oil Stadium being just a few miles from Butler’s campus, Ste-vens doesn’t think the fans are going to be a deciding factor come Saturday.

“Everybody is talking about us playing at home,” Stevens said. “Michigan State won a Final Four in Indianapolis in 2000…. This

butler from page 5is Butler country, but it’s also Big Ten coun-try. It’s not like it’s going to be an all-Butler crowd on Saturday.”

Indianapolis may be special to Butler in particular, but Duke head coach Mike Krzyze-wski said that there is something about the Circle City and its unique relationship to col-lege basketball that is special for every team.

“It has been a great place to have a Final Four,” Kryzewski said. “I love a Final Four where you are playing and the people can just walk around. There is a spirit there.... It’s such a good town and a good sports city that having it right there adds a lot to it.”

Bringing home a national title home come Monday would mean tremendous things for the Bulldogs’ program and its fans—even if home is just down the road.

paul sakuma/ap

butler sophomore Shelvin Mack had 16 points in the bulldogs’ elite 8 win over Kansas State Saturday.