One could hear the critics murmuring.

You know the type. The cynics, the skeptics, the “I told you so’s,” the sports fans who can’t wait to bash a failing product.

Such people were licking their chops when the Butler boys basketball team left the Golden Tornado gym floor the night of Jan. 7, having just been whipped by 31 points by rival North Allegheny.

The Tornado were 4-6 overall, 1-3 in section play, riding a three-game losing streak and heading toward disaster.

The scuttlebutt was starting already. The players no longer were buying into coach Matt Clement’s intense practices and conditioning. They no longer were diving for loose basketballs, no longer forcing turnovers or creating transition offense.

The 13-0 start in Clement’s debut season of 2009-10 seemed like years ago. He was losing his team.

“See that? I knew this wouldn’t work out.”

Such words were swimming in the naysayers’ minds.

Those words quickly drowned.

Butler rediscovered defense, rediscovered commitment to the team and rediscovered winning.

During their first three section losses, the Golden Tornado allowed an average of 72 points per game.

During their last three section wins, they’ve allowed 39 per contest.

Unbeaten Shaler, joining South Fayette and Vincentian as the only undefeated boys teams in the WPIAL, scored 67 points against Butler on Dec. 21. The Titans scored 40 on the Tornado Jan. 25 in what was easily their closest game of the year.

North Allegheny scored 86 points in that aforementioned 31-point win at Butler Jan. 7. The Tigers scored 58 on the Tornado Feb. 2.

As senior forward Bobby Swartwout put it: “We were playing as five individuals before.”

Take away a fast-paced 20-point win over Aliquippa and Butler is allowing a mere 45 points per game while winning seven of its last nine.

The Tornado are headed for a third-place finish in Section 3 and a return trip to the playoffs, this time as a battle-tested team riding a wave of momentum.

Following Tuesday’s 53-49 win over Central Catholic, Clement lauded the defensive play of Zach Slater, who kept Central scoring threat Mike Anselmo off the scoresheet completely. Anselmo missed all eight of his shots that night.

“I pointed that out to Zach and his response was, ‘Yeah, but I turned the ball over three times.’” Clement said. “All they’re interested in is getting better.”

The Tornado have become selfless and are all in when it comes to the team. All they want is to combine forces to create a winner.

Their midseason turnaround has been impressive — and easy to root for.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle