<P> Despite having played in a mid-major conference , Butler rose to national prominence in the 1990s . They ranked in most media polls for all but a few weeks from the 2006 -- 07 season to the 2011 -- 12 season , and competed in the postseason every year since 1997 , except for 2004 , 2005 , and 2014 . In the 2010 NCAA Tournament , Butler was the National runner - up to Duke , advancing to the National Championship Game after defeating Michigan State in the Final Four . With a total enrollment of only 4,500 students , Butler is the smallest school to play for a national championship since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985 . The Bulldogs also went to the championship game in the following NCAA Tournament , falling to UConn after defeating VCU in the Final Four . With the victory over VCU , Butler became the first mid-major program to reach the championship game in successive seasons since 1979 , when seeding of the tournament began , and the only team from the state of Indiana to reach back - to - back championship games . </P>
<P> Despite having played in a mid-major conference , Butler rose to national prominence in the 1990s . They ranked in most media polls for all but a few weeks from the 2006 -- 07 season to the 2011 -- 12 season , and competed in the postseason every year since 1997 , except for 2004 , 2005 , and 2014 . In the 2010 NCAA Tournament , Butler was the National runner - up to Duke , advancing to the National Championship Game after defeating Michigan State in the Final Four . With a total enrollment of only 4,500 students , Butler is the smallest school to play for a national championship since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985 . The Bulldogs also went to the championship game in the following NCAA Tournament , falling to UConn after defeating VCU in the Final Four . With the victory over VCU , Butler became the first mid-major program to reach the championship game in successive seasons since 1979 , when seeding of the tournament began , and the only team from the state of Indiana to reach back - to - back championship games . </P>
who did butler beat in the final four
who did butler beat in the final four
Michigan State VCU
Michigan State VCU