The only thing missing was a championship trophy.

Butler and its fans — new and old — partied inside Hinkle Fieldhouse yesterday as if the Bulldogs had won the national title. The Bulldogs got a not-so-customary phone call from President Barack Obama, despite their runner-up finish to Duke.

“I think his message was that he wasn’t just going to call the team that won today because of the way both teams played,” coach Brad Stevens said.

Stevens taped an appearance for the “Late Show with David Letterman” from the free-throw line. Letterman offered Stevens a year of his salary to take over his alma mater, Ball State.