INDIANAPOLIS — When Jared Butler left Alabama in the summer of 2018, enrolling at Baylor just before his freshman year started, he walked into what was a middling program, one that had not reached the N.C.A.A. tournament the prior season and had been known for its early flameouts.
His eyes were on what was in front of him — competing for a starting job, getting adjusted to college and winning as many games as possible.
A trip to the Final Four seemed as unlikely as a trip to the moon.
“Could I believe it three years ago?