Rotnei Clarke this year’s Cinderella man
by Nicole Auerbach, USA TODAY Sports
INDIANAPOLIS — When he transferred to Butler two summers ago, Rotnei Clarke couldn’t have predicted he’d be a part of the biggest upset of the 2012-13 season so far.
Yet there he was, on the court as walk-on Alex Barlow hit the game-winning floater to knock off then-No. 1 Indiana in overtime at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in a Dec. 15 game that made it feel like March. There he was, celebrating the victory in a pile of happy Bulldogs.
He couldn’t have known what would happen when he chose Butler, but he knew the possibility existed.
“That was one of the reasons I came,” he said. “I think it says a lot about our team and about our character to go into overtime against the No.1 team in the country in a venue like this and a game like this and pull it out, gut it out for each other.”
Clarke led Arkansas in scoring during the 2010-11 season with 15.2 points a game but left after coach John Pelphrey was fired. after the 2010-11 season, during which Clarke led the team at 15.2 points per game. The Verdigris, Okla., native sat out last season per transfer rules and has had a huge impact in his first two months with Butler. He is averaging 17.7 points a game and hit the winning shot against Marquette on Nov. 19 — a one-handed three-pointer at the buzzer.
USA TODAY Sports caught up with Clarke minutes after No. 21 Butler upset Indiana 88-86 to discuss the big win and other fun stuff.
On my iPod
I like a lot of Christian rap, honestly. I’m big in my faith, and there’s a guy that’s out that’s called Lecrae. He’s one of the guys that I look up to right now that’s not an athlete.
Xbox or Playstation?
Playstation. I play a lot of Xbox because my roommate has one, but I like Playstation. My parents bought it for me, and I’ve gone with it ever since. I feel like you’re one way or the other; you’re not both.
DVD I can’t live without
Has to be Hoosiers. That’s cliché to say that, but it’s … [For more on Butler's Rotnei Clarke is this year's Cinderella man in college hoops, click here.]
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