Why not USD?

As Gordon Heyward's final three point prayer agonizingly bounced off the rim as time expired, America's collective hearts sank with those of the Butler faithful. The underdogs from the small Midwestern school pitted against the elitist perennial power; they truly were America's team.
Some prognosticators see this as a seismic shift in the world of college basketball; an ushering in of an era where mid-majors can compete for a national title on a regular basis. Others see Butler as a blip on the radar screen; nothing more than a statistical anomaly. Either way Bruce Pearl, head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers, was correct when he expressed the fact that a Butler win would be the worst thing to ever happen to mid-major coaches across the nation.
While the statement was a bit tongue-in-cheek, Pearl certainly brings up a legitimate point. While Butler did not beat Duke to capture a national championship, they came about as close as a team can. The question every athletic director at every mid-major program in America woke up today asking themselves the same question, "Why not us?"
Why not USD? Why can't USD be competing for a national title? Why were we a part of the laughing stock of the WCC this year? These are valid questions in wake of the Bulldogs' improbable run.
Interestingly, there is not much difference between the two programs. Both are private schools. Both boast enrollment of around 5,000 students. Both are located near major cities. While Indiana is traditionally considered a hotbed of basketball talent, San Diego and the Southern California area are certainly top recruiting areas themselves. With so many similarities it is natural to assume we should be able to compete at the same level as Butler.
The next two years will be very telling in how much further we can expect USD's basketball program to advance. With the best recruiting class in history coming in next year and some promising freshmen play this past year, it will be up to Head Coach Bill Grier to steer this program in the right direction. After  two straight years of vast underachievement, Grier desperately needs a quality turn around, and fast.  
A continued emphasis on defense will be the straw that stirs the drink for the Toreros. It was only by holding opponents under 60 points that the Butler Bulldogs were able to advance in the tournament. That is no coincidence. Defense is one of the few ways a mid-major team can gain an advantage on the upper echelon of college hoops. They cannot compete on talent or athleticism alone, but certainly can take the upper hand on defense and effort.
Talented recruits and defensive pressure will have to be Grier's calling card if the Toreros have any chance of replicating Butler's success. Here's to hoping USD will be America's new team.