If there were anyone who could empathize with the Indiana Hoosiers’ loss at Fort Wayne last week, it was the Butler Bulldogs.
For years, the Bulldogs lived mid-major life on the road. Such games were never easy, irrespective of how damaging a defeat might have looked to those who never witnessed them.
Ending with 18-0 in 2009-10, Butler once had a four-year record of 62-8 in the Horizon League, including 29-6 on the road. Before the Bulldogs went on NCAA tournament runs, they calloused themselves at Valparaiso, Cleveland State, Loyola, Green Bay and Milwaukee.
Toughness has transitioned.