Steven Bennett is a senior chemistry major at Butler which already puts him way out of my league. But Steven, a 6-3 guard who was a 1,000-point career scorer at Chrysler High School in New Castle, Indiana – where he played or his dad, Steve – will also be making his third career appearance in the NCAA Tournament this weekend with the Bulldogs.
So Steven is giving us a player’s perspective on what last Sunday’s Selection Show was like to watch for the last time, how the Bulldogs are preparing for Winthrop in their first game Thursday afternoon, why it’s all right if he doesn’t get to see any action in the NCAA Tournament and why tonight he might find it difficult to sleep.
Steven will be checking in with BIGEAST.com frequently with his own version of the “basketball diaries” for as long as the Bulldogs remain in the tournament, all from his spot on the Butler bench – or as we like to call it, “The Best Seat in the House.”
BIGEAST.com: So how are the Bulldogs enjoying Milwaukee so far?
BENNETT: “It’s a little cold but other than that it’s really good. We got to Milwaukee (Tuesday) and it was around 6 p.m. when we got to our rooms. Then we had some dinner and watched some film and then we kind of just hung around the hotel the rest of the night after that.”
BIGEAST.com: So what was it like watching the Selection Show Sunday night?
BENNETT: “This was my third one and they just seem to get more special every time I do it. You know how hard it is to get there and you realize that more and more every year. It’s always a fun night.”
BIGEAST.com: Where did you guys watch the show?
BENNETT: “We have a room called the Wildman Room at Hinkle (Fieldhouse). It’s a really nice room with a bunch of TVs and stuff set up. So we had some food catered in and we had the coaches and their families and a bunch of people in the program. We had some chairs set up in front of one of the bigger TVs and it was just a really cool moment. It’s a cool way to end the regular season and conference tournament because everybody is truly involved, the coaches, the players, everybody in the athletic department and their families. It’s just cool for all of us to come together and be able to see how this year all the hard work has paid off. This is why we do it, to have these experiences together. It was a very special event for us.”
BIGEAST.com: When you saw it was Winthrop and you were a No. 4 seed, the highest in school history, what was the team’s reaction?
BENNETT: “Honestly there wasn’t too much reaction about the seed. Everybody knows in the NCAA Tournament, it’s not called March Madness for nothing. We know tons of things can happen. We know that every single team we play, regardless of their seed, they’re going to be good. So there wasn’t much reaction to the seed. But obviously to see your team’s name pop up on the screen is cool. And you see a team like Winthrop, you know they’re good but you don’t know a ton about them at the time. But I do know we had tons of managers and coaches putting in a lot of work right after that. I live with one of the mangers so I know how much work they put in. So that night we learned a ton about Winthrop. We know they’re good and they are there for a reason and we’re excited to play them. It’s a big challenge for us.”
BIGEAST.com: Was there a big sendoff from campus when the team left for Milwaukee?
BENNETT: “No not really. We practiced in the morning and then we just got our stuff together and loaded it on the bus. There wasn’t really anybody there besides the people going. There were some people from the local TV stations and people from the surrounding area but other than that that was basically it.”
BIGEAST.com: Butler has an early game Thursday, the first game of the day in Milwaukee. Do you like being the first game or would you have preferred playing a night game?
BENNETT: “I’m not sure if it makes too much of a difference. I think when it comes to the NCAA Tournament, whatever time you wake up or whatever time you play, you’re going to have that adrenaline going, that exciting feeling and you’re just ready to play. You’re so excited for the challenge and you realize that you’re a part of something so big and so special with your team. In my opinion, any time of the day that you’re playing in the NCAA Tournament it’s always big and always fun. It’s cool as long as we get the win early in the day, then we get to hang around and watch the rest of those games.”
BIGEAST.com: Like you said you’ve been here before. So when the game tips off Thursday and you’re in the huddle and you’re on the bench and you’re so close to the action what will that be like? Are there nerves? Excitement? Butterflies?
BENNETT: “I would say it’s a little bit of everything but I’d say excitement tops it all off. You know you’re nervous and you have some butterflies but that’s when you have to trust your preparation and trust your training to carry you through. These games are going to be absolute battles. Everybody has the common goal of getting to the Final Four and playing for a National Championship and everybody just leaves it out there. So to compete at that level and your guys are together battling as a family, trying to accomplish something that not many people get to do. It’s a special feeling and a special moment.”
BIGEAST.com: Steven, have you ever appeared in a tournament game and are you hoping for an opportunity to get into the game vs. Winthrop?
BENNETT: “I have not. But it’s obviously a goal to (get in a game) but I’m all right as long as we win. If I ever got out there that would be extremely special and it would be something I’d be grateful for but in the end I just want to win games and I want to advance in the tournament past the first weekend which is something I haven’t done. That’s definitely a goal.”
BIGEAST.com: Will the Bennett family be making the trip up for the game?
BENNETT: “Yeah my mom and dad and cousin are already here. I live in New Castle, Indiana, which is pretty close to Indy so it was about the same time trip for them as it was for us.”
BIGEAST.com: Butler played at the Bradley Center about a month ago and you beat Marquette there. Because you’re familiar with the court is that a benefit for the Bulldogs?
BENNETT: “I don’t know if it is or not. I guess the surroundings will be a little more comfortable because it’s not new to us. But as far as the game goes, whether you’ve been to that gym before or not, you’re not thinking about that when you’re playing. So I don’t know if there is an advantage there for us to be honest.
BIGEAST.com: Will it be tough to sleep tonight thinking about the game tomorrow?
BENNETT: “I think a little bit. This is what you work for your entire life and you want to leave it all out there and give it everything you got and go as far as possible. I think now that I’m older and this is my last time not matter if it ends tomorrow or if it ends the night of April 3, championship night. This is my last go-around so I think I will lay down tonight and just realize how special this is. This is such a cool thing and I’m just trying to take it all in one last time.”