During George Mason's captivating run through the NCAA tournament, Butler became a symbol of Cinderella and the tournament collectively with his tenacious heart and infectious smile and was featured on the cover of the March 27, 2006 edition of "Sports Illustrated" magazine. Following GMU's stunning 86-84 overtime victory against the top-seeded UConn Huskies in the Washington D.C. Regional Final, Butler was named the region's Most Valuable Player. He scored 13 points against Michigan State in the first round, 18 points against North Carolina in the second round, 14 points against Wichita State in the Sweet Sixteen, and 19 points against UConn in the Elite Eight.