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The simplest comparison we can think of to explain why the overwhelming majority of the free world was rooting for a basketball team last night that they probably didn't care about a month ago is this: Butler reminds most people of themselves: there is certainly some talent there, a propensity for greatness. But the stars have to align just right for that defining moment. We get those moments every so often, and they're precious because we realize they don't happen every day for ordinary people and mid-major basketball teams.

Duke reminds most people of someone they dislike: the proverbial lucky son-of-a-[redacted] who was, as they say, born on third base but still thinks he hit a triple. While everyone else is bashing away at each other to get into position for a shot at greatness, the Dukes of the world -- be it a person or an elite major conference team -- not only get but expect opportunities at every turn.

As such, it really felt like last night's game was the epitome of a Hollywood movie with the wrong ending. Now: sometimes we love the unexpected cinematic twist. Often, even when watching movies we are enjoying, we'll lean over and whisper to the RandBall Better Half, "If I was directing this movie, this is where so-and-so would get hit by a meteor, and then everyone would be wondering 'why did that just happen?' and then the movie would be over after like 45 minutes." This was not one of those times. This was a time when the sappy, happy ending actually seemed plausible. It was a tense, closely contested game. Butler deserved to be in the position it was in: within range for two desperate shots in the closing seconds, either of which could have won the game and a title.

But instead, we were stuck with reality: after all that work, everything Butler did to put itself in position to improbably win a national championship so close to its campus, both shots hit the rim and bounced away. Butler the team can take a good amount of consolation in even getting that far, though the Bulldogs will also have to wonder if the stars will ever align so perfectly again. Butler the metaphor will have to settle for being a symbol of what could happen against the Dukes of the world, even if it didn't quite happen Monday night.