Gators give Noah bragging rights on Butler
DEERFIELD, Ill -- Jimmy Butler knew what was coming.

After spending so much time talking about his beloved Marquette basketball team over the past few weeks, the proud alum knew what he was in for after the Golden Eagles' lost to Joakim Noah's Florida Gators in the NCAA Tournament Friday night.
"I knew I was going to hear it this morning," Butler said after Friday's practice. "I didn't know as soon as I walked into the door everybody was going to give it to me this morning."
The easy-going rookie tried to take it in stride, though. He actually spent Thursday night watching the game at Noah's house with teammates Ronnie Brewer and John Lucas III. The trash talk was, needless to say, abundant.
"It was tough," Butler said. "They play hard, they were making their shots ... it didn't help that I had Jo in my ear, in my face, doing his pistols when he didn't make any shots. But I guess that's what we got here."
For Noah, the loquacious Florida alum loved the fact that his old team was able to pull out the win.
"It's great, man," Noah said. "Really proud of the Gators. It was a great team effort, [Thursday]. I watched the game with Jimmy. I've never seen a guy with such an emotional ... his ups and downs [Thursday] were unbelievable. I was trying to stay steady, focused on the game. He was distraught after the game and I let him know about it ... We're family, but it was definitely tough for Little Jimmy [Thursday]."
Noah acknowledged that there was some kind of wager on the game, but he wasn't spilling on what was won, or in Butler's case, lost.
"It's more than just the wagers," Noah said. "Especially for Jimmy. He played with those guys so not being able to be there, in the fire, I'm sure that's tough. But being an old Gator boy, I just want to say I'm very proud of those young guys. They played their hearts out and made an old Gator very proud."

- jadande J.A. Adande
LeBron: "This is by far the best game I've ever been a part of."
54 minutes ago
- jadande J.A. Adande

- nate_robinson Nate Robinson
It's been real #yakima #✈life a8yes @qdb2900 #weoutchea mayne http://t.co/maKiJbFMkH
about an hour ago
- nate_robinson Nate Robinson

- johnhollinger John Hollinger
Soooooooo .... how 'bout that USA-Honduras game?
about an hour ago
- johnhollinger John Hollinger

- johnhollinger John Hollinger
RT @kevinarnovitz: #HoopIdea Game 8.
about an hour ago
- johnhollinger John Hollinger

- johnhollinger John Hollinger
THAT. WAS. EPIC.
about an hour ago
- johnhollinger John Hollinger

- jadande J.A. Adande
Welp, Green wasn't open. #Bosh
about an hour ago
- jadande J.A. Adande

- jadande J.A. Adande
RESPECT THE BOSH!
about an hour ago
- jadande J.A. Adande

- jadande J.A. Adande
I want a Game 7...even though it would probably be real raggedy after all the energy expended in this one
about an hour ago
- jadande J.A. Adande

- NickFriedell Nick Friedell
If this series has reinforced anything for Bulls it's that they must find a three point threat or two to open floor Allen and Green show why
about an hour ago
- NickFriedell Nick Friedell

- jadande J.A. Adande
Is anybody going to give Bosh credit for that rebound? Anybody???
about 2 hours ago
- jadande J.A. Adande

- jadande J.A. Adande
Did you see Joey Crawford grab that ball? Now there's someone who wants the ball in the fourth quarter!
about 2 hours ago
- jadande J.A. Adande

- jadande J.A. Adande
You know it's getting real when they've got the yellow rope around the court
about 2 hours ago
- jadande J.A. Adande

- jadande J.A. Adande
Felt like we hadn't heard Tony Parker's name since the opening lineup before those 5 huge points.
about 2 hours ago
- jadande J.A. Adande

- jadande J.A. Adande
Duncan 0-4 in 4Q
about 2 hours ago
- jadande J.A. Adande

- jadande J.A. Adande
After going single coverage on Duncan all game, Heat are sending the double in 4Q and throwing him off. Lakers used to do it that way too
about 2 hours ago
- jadande J.A. Adande

- ESPNSteinLine Marc Stein
Shoeless Mike Miller and Headbandless LeBron have, as they say in one of my favorite parts of the world, turned this game on its head
about 2 hours ago
- ESPNSteinLine Marc Stein

- jadande J.A. Adande
This is getting good. All we ask: meet the moment. LeBron's doing it right now RT @jackdanielzs: are you not entertained?
about 2 hours ago
- jadande J.A. Adande

- jadande J.A. Adande
Not quite MJ steal from Malone, hits jumper, but that was a huge sequence for LeBron
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- jadande J.A. Adande

- jadande J.A. Adande
Now would be a good time RT @tim_matuszak: Calling it now. Lebron is about to go 2007 vs Pistons mode.
about 2 hours ago
- jadande J.A. Adande

- jadande J.A. Adande
For real. From my seat 30 rows up he could easily be Joel Anthony. RT @DDADDYYANKEE: James is unrecognizable without that headband.
about 2 hours ago
- jadande J.A. Adande
TEAM LEADERS
| POINTS | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Luol Deng
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| OTHER LEADERS | ||||||||||||
| Rebounds | J. Noah | 11.1 | ||||||||||
| Assists | K. Hinrich | 5.2 | ||||||||||
| Steals | J. Noah | 1.2 | ||||||||||
| Blocks | J. Noah | 2.1 | ||||||||||




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