Hayward's Halfcourt Heave

One bounce.

A softer bounce off the backboard and it’s the greatest shot in college basketball history. And that's not even hyperbole.

Gordon Hayward heaving up a three at the buzzer for the title. The Hoosier coming up just short.

A desperation heave that bounced the wrong way for Butler and the right way for Duke.

Hayward that close to being the night’s hero, from taking the big dog Blue Devils down with one amazing shot.

It was the shot you will remember from this game. The one that finished this year’s ‘One Shining Moment.’

But in all its infinitely close glory, it’s just that...close. Butler deserves all the credit in the world for proving a lot of people wrong throughout this tournament. But this is one of those games that goes on the ’Empty Feeling That Sits in Your Stomach For 15 Minutes After the Game’ list.

A recent example: Canada/USA Gold Medal game after Crosby’s game-winner in overtime. It’s when you just sit in front of your TV for a while speechless, thinking how one split second decided the entire outcome.

That was the feeling tonight. Rooting for the underdog for two plus hours, becoming invested. Seeing them have a chance at the end, not once but twice.

It would have been like Boise State’s hook and ladder coming up a few yards short, or the Statue of Liberty in overtime getting stuffed. The non-BCS school that not only played its heart out and gave a good fight but was in contention. They just didn’t get the one or two breaks.

But don’t get me wrong; while Butler didn’t have the One Shining Moment, its program certainly had its shining moment tonight and throughout these three weeks. This championship game will be remembered for the performance of Kyle Singler and Brian Zoubek’s key rebounds. But the indelible image will be Hayward’s heave at the buzzer.

The shot I keep watching over and over again. I’m not even a Butler fan. I just can’t help thinking about how close that was. A half court shot for a championship that bounced just a little too far for Butler.

One bounce. March Madness at its finest.