Butler Basketball

Is it a safe bet to say that the only people that picked a fully correct Final Four will now be those residing in Indianapolis?

The fifth-seeded Butler Bulldogs used a combination of three-point shooting and shut-down defense to upset the second-seeded Kansas State Wildcats 63-56 and advance to the first Final Four in school history.  The school with an enrollment of just 4,500 students will only have to travel four miles down the road to Lucas Oil Stadium next weekend to face the winner of the Michigan St.-Tennessee matchup taking place on Sunday.

Butler head coach Brad Stevens' squad came prepared to play Saturday afternoon in Salt Lake City, just as they did Thursday night when they knocked off the No. 1 seed in the West Region, the Syracuse Orange. In fact, the two games were eerily similar.

In both games, Butler used tough on-ball defense to hound their opponents and force turnovers.  While the Orange committed 18 on Thursday, K-State "only" turned it over 13 times.

Sophomore guard Ronald Nored was all over Orange senior Andy Rautins in Butler's Sweet 16 victory and continued his gritty play Saturday as he and Willie Veasley combined to hold K-State's dangerous backcourt of Jacob Pullen and Denis Clemente without a basket until 15 minutes had ticked off the clock. Pullen and Clemente ended just 11 of 30 on the day.

Butler proved they're as good a half-court team that you'll find left in the NCAA Tournament.  While their half-court defense frustrated the Wildcats into shooting just 39 percent from the field, their execution on offense was equally as impressive—the Bulldogs shot 46 percent on the day, including 7-15 from the three-point line.

The major player for Butler's offense was Gordon Hayward, who frequently used his 6'9" frame to not only score at will (he ended the game with 22 points) but also draw fouls and be strong on the boards.  Hayward, an 82 percent free throw shooter on the season, was 6-6 from the stripe and added nine boards.

The only other player to score in double figures for Butler was Shelvin Mack, who hit some key three-pointers in the first half on his way to 16 points and made a key out-of-bounds save late in the game to help seal the win for the Bulldogs.

For the Wildcats, it was Pullen and Clemente's slow start the eventually did them in. Pullen, averaging 29.5 points in the first three tournament games, had just two points at halftime and only two field goal attempts. The man with the beard had many shots roll off the rim or rattle out, but he also showed that his legs weren't yet rested after K-State's double-overtime win over Xavier on Thursday. He finished with 14 but was just 4-13 from the field.

The Wildcats' second half run to take a late lead was also reminiscent of Butler's Sweet 16 game against Syracuse.  In both games, Butler led the entire game, fell slightly behind late and then rebounded to roll until the final buzzer.

After an 8-0 K-State run capped off by a Denis Clemente three off a missed free throw, the Wildcats held a 52-51 lead and looked to be taking control of the game with 4:49 left.

The Bulldogs finished the game on a 12-4 run, however, and ran away with the seven-point victory.

Butler is headed home.

As coach Brad Stevens put it, the Bulldogs were headed home to Indianapolis no matter the result of this afternoon’s Elite Eight game in Salt Lake City against Kansas State. But now they have hats for the ride home.

Those hats proclaim Butler as the champions of the West regional in the NCAA Tournament and as a member of the 2010 Final Four to be held in Indianapolis, just miles from the Butler campus, next weekend.

The Bulldogs’ 63-56 victory over No. 2 seed Kansas State bore a striking resemblance to their surprising 63-59 Sweet 16 victory over No. 1 seed Syracuse.

Butler once again jumped out to an early lead as their favored opponent struggled to make contested (and some uncontested) shots. The Bulldogs opened up a 20-10 lead on the Wildcats and led 27-20 at the half.

Just as against Syracuse, the Butler lead waned early in the second half as Kansas St. scored a quick six points to cut the deficit to 27-26. Butler held firm, however, and opened the lead back up to 44-34 with 11 minutes to play. Seemingly every time, Kansas St. pulled within four to six points, Butler hit a critical three-point shot to secure their lead.

The Bulldogs hit an impressive seven of 15 threes on the game, and almost all of the shots were timely.

Even as the Bulldogs out-shot, out-rebounded, and seemingly out-hustled their taller and larger opponents, Kansas St. stayed within striking distance in a low-scoring affair.

The Wildcats’ star guard tandem of Jacob Pullen and Dennis Clemente struggled throughout the first 20 minutes of the game, but then Clemente found the hot touch with his shooting. Clemente sparked a 13-to-2 Kansas St. run that gave the Wildcats their first lead of the game with just under five minutes to play.

Just like in the Sweet 16 against Syracuse, Butler had blown a lead that they had maintained for most of the game.

But in the final five minutes of the game, just when everyone expected the team with the better ranking and reputation to pull away, Butler put together key defensive stands and scored on their most critical possessions.

Against the Orange in the Sweet 16, the Bulldogs forced two critical steals and hit two game determining three-point shots in the final minutes. Against the Wildcats this afternoon, they forced Kansas St. into bad shots at the end of the shot clock and then drew fouls at the other end, which sent them to the free-throw line even as their field goal shooting had abandoned them towards the end of the second half.

Finally, the clock hit double zeros and the Bulldogs remained on top, 64-57.

Sophomore Gordon Hayward led Butler with 22 points and eight rebounds, while sophomore Shelvin Mack added 16 points and seven rebounds.

With a second victory in as many tries against a heavily favored opponent from a major conference, the Bulldogs advanced to their first ever Final Four with hopes of continuing their surprising run in their hometown next weekend.

We have heard the comparisons by now, the Bulldogs being the college version of the classic High School Indiana featured in the film Hoosiers. The irony is augmented by the fact that Butler plays its home games at Hinkle Fieldhouse, where the movie was filmed during the championship game.

Whether or not Brad Stevens is comparable to Norman Dale is one thing, but one thing is for certain: Brad is an amazing coach, and Butler is for real.

People around here know about the "Butler way" and support the team, but nationwide the team doesn't really get the exposure it should.

Part of the reason for this might be that they play in the Horizon League, but looking at their roster going into the NCAA Tournament this year, they probably have the best team in the state of Indiana.

Much will be made about the Bulldogs playing at home here in Indianapolis, but the real story is the school getting to the Final Four for the first time ever.

With so much being made of the power conferences, Butler has just stuck to its strengths and played together as a team. That philosophy has led them on this incredible run that has now stretched to 24 consecutive wins, dating back to Dec. 22, 2009.

Butler is obviously led by a few players, such as Matt Howard, Gordon Hayward, and Shelvin Mack, but the defensive pressure by the guards in this tournament has really helped them get to where they are now.

The smothering defense played on Rautins in the Syracuse game, followed by the defense played on Kansas State's two leading scorers today were really the keys to the Bulldogs' wins.

Denis Clement and Jacob Pullen were basically held scoreless in the first half of the game, as Butler went into haftime with a seven-point lead.

Even though they combined for 32 points in the game, it was not enough, as they couldn't stop Butler during key points of the game when it mattered most.

Butler's defensive play is the main reason they are going back home as winners, and why they are in their first Final Four in school history.

The timing is perfect.

Come on home, Butler. Lucas Oil Stadium is waiting on you.

Well so far so good for Butler.They started off the same way they ended vs Syracuse. With tuff defense.They are holding K-state's two headed monsters in Pullen and Clemente to a combined 1-8 for only 2 point's! Luckily for K-state Curtis Kelly decided to show up and play he is 6-10 with 12 points.Butler is holding K-state to 35% from the field and the Wildcats have missed both three pointers attempted. And to put salt on the wound so to speak. They are also 0-4 on the free throw line.

Now if you have watched the First Half you know Butler is playing sound foundamental defense.It's helping them that there shooting 4-9 from behind the arch.Gordon Hayward is leading them with 7 points as is Shelvin Mack.

Kansas State needs to........to win this game

Kansas State will need to get more touches to Pullen and Clemente.They also still need keep feeding Curtis Kelly the ball.They will also need to get to the free throw line.But to me I dont see Kansas State winning this game if Pullen and Clemente dont step up for a team that depends on two players so much they need them to score and do a lot of it.

Butler needs to.......to win this game

Butler needs to keep up there great defense and keep Pullen and Clemente in check.They also will need to avoid putting Kansas State on the free throw line.If they can keep the game at this slow pace like it was in the first half its to there advantage.But for the most part they just need to keep up the defense and not allow Pullen and Clemente to get on a role.

Well the next 20 minutes of basketball should be good,my prediction is....

Butler 59 Kansas State 56

 

After a stellar first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, the mid-majors and Cinderella teams of the college basketball world came crashing back to earth in the Sweet 16 round the last two nights.

Really this should come as no surprise, as it seems almost every year that the top seeds assert their dominance during the second weekend of the tournament.

Occasionally, an unheard of mid-major like Gonzaga in 1999 or Davidson in 2008 will slip its way into the Elite Eight and prolong its Cinderella run by another couple of days.

And every once in a while—well, really just once in recent memory—a Cinderella mid-major squad will make it all the way to the Final Four like George Mason did in 2006.

But for a moment, this year seemed different because of the unprecedented success of teams from outside the six major conferences in the first two rounds of the tournament.

Five of the final 16 participants—Cornell, Butler, Xavier, St. Mary’s, and Northern Iowa—in this year’s tournament came from outside of the six major conferences in college basketball.

And none of those five teams looked like your typical long shot Cinderella whose glass ceiling appeared to be the Sweet 16 from the moment they got there.

St. Mary’s, with big man Omar Sahman, dominated No. 7 seed Richmond in the first round and pulled away from No. 2 Villanova late in round two.

Cornell trounced both No. 5 Temple and No. 4 Wisconsin by double digits, and looked capable of shooting any team right out of the building with their three-point prowess, even the mighty Kentucky team they were slated to face in the Sweet 16.

Xavier already had a history of NCAA Tournament success to rely on, and didn’t have too much trouble in dispatching Minnesota and Pittsburgh in the first two rounds as a No. 6 seed.

No. 9 seed Northern Iowa looked the best of all after dispatching Kansas, the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament, in the second round and drawing a Michigan St. squad in the Sweet 16 that was shorthanded without its best player, Kalin Lucas.

If there was one of the five mid-major schools that didn’t prove anything on the first weekend of the tournament and looked destined to bow out with ease in the Sweet 16, it was Butler.

The Bulldogs came into the tournament as a No. 5 seed, the highest ranked of any of the schools from the non-power conferences that survived the first weekend.

In the first round they ultimately dispatched No. 12 seed UTEP by a fair margin, but only after trailing at the half. In the second round they drew No. 13 seed Murray State, which had conveniently already knocked out No. 4 Vanderbilt, and once again Butler trailed at the half. This time the Bulldogs did not pull away, however, and the game came down to the final possession before Butler held on 54-52.

Drawing No. 1 seed Syracuse in the Sweet 16 seemed like bad news for the Bulldogs. Along with Kentucky, Syracuse looked in the best form of any of the top seeds during the first weekend of the tournament.

Yet Butler jumped out to an early lead, pushed it to double digits, fell behind late, and ultimately managed to outplay the Orange down the stretch with a couple of key turnovers and three-point shots in a closely contested and low scoring 63-59 game.

It wasn’t the flashiest of victories, much like their first two, but it was enough for Butler to make it through to the Elite Eight and draw a date with No. 2 seed Kansas State at 4:30 PM EST this afternoon.

The other mid-majors that stole the headlines and showed so much pizazz in the first weekend of the tournament fizzled out with hardly much of a fight, with the exception of Xavier (which lost in double overtime to Kansas St.) and to some extent Northern Iowa (which led by seven against Michigan St. at halftime).

So with only eight teams left in the draw, the role of Cinderella belongs solely to Butler.

Some will say that Butler doesn’t qualify for the role of a mid-major or Cinderella because they were a No. 5 seed and have experienced some level of success in the tournament throughout the last decade.

There is no denying that Butler is a known commodity with a proven track record. The Bulldogs have dominated the Horizon League for the last decade, reached 10 of the last 14 NCAA Tournaments, including four straight, made it to three Sweet 16s, and hold a respectable No. 5 seed in this year’s draw.

Yet one must remember that this is the deepest the Bulldogs have ever played into March.

And everything else about this school, starting with its small enrollment of 4,000 students, calls out mid-major and Cinderella.

If you glance down the roster, the Bulldogs look much different from most of the teams remaining in this tournament.

Aside from a little-used 6'11" freshman center, Butler doesn’t have a single player on its roster taller than 6'9". Two-thirds of the team hails from the school's home state of Indiana, and the other one-third all hails from the southeast, indicating that Butler is limited, and its recruiting pipeline and budget only go so deep and so far.

While the Bulldogs have some talented players on the current roster like Matt Howard, Shelvin Mack, and Gordon Hayward, Butler is not competing for the very top national recruits. Most elite college basketball programs have NBA talent on their roster, yet Butler hasn’t sent a player to the NBA since the 1970s.

Many comparisons will be made between Butler and Gonzaga, another school from a mid-major conference that has experienced sustained success over the last decade and proven itself as more than just your typical mid-major, but Gonzaga has in recent years filled its roster with future NBA players, such as Austin Daye, Dan Dickau, Ronny Turiaf, and Adam Morrison.

Butler has not.

That’s why the Bulldogs should still be considered a mid-major. They might be the best mid-major of the last decade, and unlike most mid-majors they aren’t in danger of falling off the face of the college basketball planet when a class of current star players graduate, but they are still a mid-major.

Their relatively weak conference, reliance on local in-state recruiting, undersized roster, scrappy style of basketball, and general lack of future NBA talent proves that.

Perhaps, Butler would rather not be thought of as a mid-major at this point, but it is  truly a compliment that makes the success they have had over the last decade all that more impressive. Being a mid-major doesn’t mean you’re a one or two-year wonder, don’t have talented players (perhaps even future pros), and can’t contend for Sweet 16s and Final Fours year after year.

It just means that you are exceptional if you can accomplish that.

And Butler has the chance to prove that and lead the way for all the mid-major programs across the country today by advancing from their first Elite Eight, to their first Final Four, to their first championship game, all the way to their first NCAA Tournament Championship.

As a No. 5 seed with a proven track record, Butler wasn’t a Cinderella during the first weekend of the tournament, but now with just eight teams left—two from the SEC, two from the Big 12, one from the Big Ten, one from the Big East, one from the ACC, and one from the Horizon League—that role belongs to them once again.

It is Butler’s turn to take that mantle back from St. Mary’s, Northern Iowa, and Cornell, and compete with the elites and power conference teams of college basketball for a trip to the Final Four just miles from its hometown, and ultimately a National Championship.

If the past is any indication, this round (or possibly the next) is where a team like Butler should bow out of this tournament, but that is why they are now the Cinderella of this NCAA Tournament worth rooting for.

No. 2 Kansas State vs. No. 5 Butler

Butler is one game away from playing its first Final Four in its hometown. The Bulldogs, who were picked by many to lose in the first round to No. 12 seed UTEP, pulled off the improbable upset against No. 1 seed Syracuse. 

Kansas State made its way to this point with wins over North Texas, BYU, and Xavier.

Butler has been outstanding since the start of December, with its only two losses coming to Georgetown and UAB. Everything has been clicking for Butler through the first three games—and everybody is stepping up when needed. 

The Bulldogs' great defense on Syracuse shows that they can keep Jacob Pullen and Denis Clemente from having huge games. If Butler limits these two guys, the Bulldogs will be on their way to the Final Four.

On top of the defense, Butler's passion for wanting to play in Indianapolis will get the Bulldogs past Kansas State. 

Butler 71, Kansas State 69

No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 2 West Virginia

Kentucky has dominated the tournament through the first three rounds with an average margin of victory in the first three games of 25.3 points. 

West Virginia defeated red-hot Washington in the Sweet 16 to advance to the Elite Eight. The Mountaineers could have a slight advantage because of playing tougher competition to this point in the tournament. 

Kentucky was able to score a lot in the first two rounds, but it struggled a little against Cornell and only scored 62 points. The Wildcats have not had to play a great defensive team like West Virginia yet. West Virginia's size could really disrupt Kentucky's guards—and possibly its big men, too.

The Mountaineers defense has been so sound and consistent in the last few months— especially during their current nine-game winning streak. West Virginia's defense will take the Mountaineers to their second Final Four appearance—and the first since Jerry West carried the team in 1959.

My hate for Kentucky makes me pick against them. Although there is bias in this preview, don't be surprised if there is a minor upset in the East Region.

West Virginia 65, Kentucky 62

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If there’s one shining moment to an epic college basketball tournament story, it’s Butler upsetting Syracuse in what was the most heartfelt victory in school history.

Three wins away from fulfilling a magical wish for the first time in school history, Butler hugged each other and smiled greatly, stunning the world as bracket-saboteurs.

Not every college team has tremendous luck obtaining a championship banner and cutting down a net.

This wasn’t what Syracuse had in mind, arguably portrayed as the hottest and best team in the West region before the Orange was obliterated in Salt Lake City, on a night happiness and enthusiasm was noticed from a school that has never had much worth celebrating.

In the ending of a nerve-racking finish, the Bulldogs had taken down Syracuse, the No. 1 seed in the West Regional.

There was no one filled with much delight as Butler’s coach Brad Stevens, a 33-year old whose baby face convinces most people that he barely graduated from high school a year ago.

It’s a rarity to hear the Bulldogs celebrate an incredible win and sustain a grand achievement within a lackluster program, respectively turning into a legit tourney contender.

Nothing was sweeter than the Bulldogs knocking off the Orange, a top-seeded team predicted to advance to the Final Four or greater, win it all.

But with all the uncertainty and beautiful landscapes transpiring in a tourney filled with much buzz and romance, Butler wears a gigantic glass slipper after making a strong explanation.

March has turned into a wondrous storyline, seeing the unthinkable happen before our very eyes and dramatic finishes implement the coolest tale in college hoops.

In recent memory, the Bulldogs never developed much hype or regularity, until it conquered the proudest dream and capped a 63-59 win over a prominent school with much parity and talent.

None of it matters, with upsetting sequences becoming the commonplace in collegiate sports where balance and gifted athletes elevates a fragile program.

And while Butler is the archetype of an emerging program that has accelerated to new heights and continuously defies the odds and rational thinking, consider it a miracle of the ages.

But we must also consider that the Bulldogs are a vital contender, heading to the Elite Eight.

The feverish crowd made the trip to Salt Lake City, witnessing a glorious landmark unlike in prior seasons in which the latest defeat was convenient enough to lift sanity in a community that hasn’t had much of an advantage in basketball.

I’d say Butler is elite.

An uttermost performance in the Elite Eight is no bigger than the one that occurred less than 24 hours ago.

That’s a program with young teams. Therefore, the usual pattern following an evident win is that a young core has a tendency of becoming complacent.

In this case, Butler is an unusual breed, craving and coveted shining and traveling to Indianapolis for its first ever Final Four appearance in school history.

As the final seconds narrowed, a saddened Syracuse bench mired in a state of shock.

Wes Johnson, the star player for the Orange, was stripped and committed the team’s 18^th turnover.

Jim Boeheim watched in despair and Andy Rautins looked as if he was ready to burst into tears, somehow kept his composure.

So much for all conceptions that this was a dangerous powerhouse ever since Kansas was eliminated.

On the other side of the court, there was a thrilled bench watching the memorable night take place.

The Bulldogs refused to finish without a fight, and never allowed the Syracuse publicity to bother them.

As we know, there’s always less pressure on an underdog team, attempting to establish an identity in a competitive tourney.

Rarely do you see Boeheim’s talented core fall to a much physical defense that humiliated the favorable school of the Big East.  

This late in the tourney, any team can escape with a win, right?

“There are no better seeds in this tournament. There are just higher seeds,” said Stevens. “It’s about who plays better on a given night.”

Guess that answers the question.

As it turns out the better seed are the No. 5 Bulldogs in the West regional.

Wouldn’t it be nice if their storybook season last until the Final Four?

That’s not such a bad prediction.

The nation is glancing at the toughest team alive in the tournament, a physical core refusing to leave teary eyed.

The stakes were high throughout a dramatic showpiece, but finally the Bulldogs had enough poise and energy to explode in the late minutes. Willie Veasley’s three-pointer from the baseline, bounced around the rim before dropping in.

Whether it was luck or skill, it fell in, and just like that the Bulldogs extended their lead to 58-54 with one minute 40 seconds left on the clock.

“I was standing under the basket and it went in, then out, then in, then out, then in,” Butler forward Gordon Hayward said in relief.

He was a heroic finisher, moments later tipping in a miss for a 60-54 lead with one minute left.

From there, it capped the biggest upset defeat since Northern Iowa stunned Kansas in what arguably will go down as the greatest upset in tournament history.

I’ll rank the Butler upset at an all-time high, but I just don’t know where.

For much of the evening, Butler had the swagger with its fierce offense, potent defense and monstrous dunks. Enough parity of executing endless onslaughts to ridiculously suffocate opponents and annihilate more brackets.

For Stevens, he averaged 29 wins a year in his brief tenure at Butler and has won more games at his age than any coach in modern collegiate basketball.

There’s a little luck for the Bulldogs.

Near the end, marked one of the wildest finishes in the tourney this year, with Butler finding a rhythm by scoring 11 straight points.

The world shouldn’t be surprise by the Final Four results? Remember, there was George Mason and even Davidson almost advanced two years ago.

It’s fine to say, Butler could be this year’s George Mason.                      

Setting : Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City is the location for the West Regional semifinal battle between Brad Stevens and his No. 5 seed Butler Bulldogs (30-4) and Jim Boeheim’s No. 1 seed Syracuse Orange (30-4).

Plot : Horizon League faces off with the Big East for a spot in Saturday’s regional final.

Sub-plot : Syracuse will go without center Arinze Onuaku. The senior injured his right leg during the Big East tournament. Butler has not lost a game since December—a streak that covers 22 games.

Flashback : Butler and Syracuse have only met once before, with the Bulldogs coming out on top. Brandon Miller scored 15 and Thomas Jackson added 13 as Butler downed Syracuse 66-65 in the second round of the 2002 NIT. Preston Shumpert scored 36 for the Orange.

This is the Orange’s  27th NCAA Tournament appearance under Boeheim. In the last 10 years, Syracuse has reached The Dance seven times, with Sweet 16 appearances in ‘00, ‘04, and ‘09, and a National Championship in ‘03.

Butler is making its 10th NCAA Tournament appearance and third trip to the Sweet 16.

Foreshadowing :  Thirty-four Orange have earned spots in the NBA : Carmelo Anthony, Jonny Flynn, Donte Green, Jason Hart, Etan Thomas and Hakim Warrick currently hold spots in the Association. Three Bulldogs have heard their named called on draft day. Butler still awaits its first NBA guy.

Conflict :  Butler scores almost 70 a game while limiting opponents under 60. Syracuse scores over 81. Their opponents get less than 66.

Which team will dictate pace and tempo?

Syracuse holds opponents to 39.8 percent from the field, including 30 percent from behind the arc. Butler limits opposing shooters to 41.5 percent from the field and 31.5  percent from long range.

Can the Bulldogs continue their defensive against the firepower of the Orange?

Wes Johnson and Andy Rautins have led the Orange charge for much of the year. The two have combined for 28 points, almost 12 rebounds, and seven assists per outing.

Rautins’s selfless play has been key to the Orange success. The senior guard finds seams in opposing defenses that most could not. He does not always get credit for assists, but his passes always shift defenses. Add to that his 40 percent accuracy from behind the arc, and Rautins is dangerous.

Johnson makes a variety of plays for the Orange. His most overlooked contribution to the Orange attack could be his work on the offensive glass. Johnson has grabbed an offensive board in all but four contests this year. Two of those games were blowouts. The others were wins for the Orange where opposing defenses made it a priority to limit the junior transfer.

Freshman guard Brandon Triche averages just under eight points and almost three assists. Triche has shown flashes where he can drive strong to the basket and finish.

Rick Jackson grabs seven rebounds and scores almost 10 points a game. Can he continue his production with Onuaku on the bench?

Kris Joseph won the Big East’s Sixth Man of the Year award. Three weeks ago, he was a role player that could make the difference. Now, Syracuse needs to count on him. Can Joseph continue to respond?

Playing 21 minutes per game, Scoop Jardine has an assist to turnover ratio of 2.2 :1.

Gordon Hayward leads four Bulldogs in double digits. The silky smooth swing man provides versatility to the lineup. At 6′9″, Hayward can go inside and get work done. He averages almost nine boards a game and can finish in the paint. Hayward has also hit 40 trifectas on the season.  Stevens has called on Hayward to run the offense from time to time.

Matt Howard adds 12 points and five rebounds. He is textbook type of player in the paint whose work could be a how-to video used at summer camp.

Shelvin Mack leads the Bulldogs with 64 three pointers. Mack hits 40 percent from long range.

The only senior in the lineup, Willie Veasley, chips in 10 points and four rebounds.

Ronald Nored runs the point at just a touch under 2:1, assist to turnovers.

Zach Hahn needs to have a big night if the Bulldogs want to stick with the Orange. Hahn hits 43.9 percent from long range.

Resolution : Butler is a talented team. They start three sophomores, a junior, and a senior. 

Syracuse is as experienced a team as there is left in the tournament. Rautins is in his fifth year. Johnson is playing his fourth. Onuaku won’t be playing, but his senior experience will have an influence.

Butler has the talent to stay in this game. The Orange practically played home games last weekend some two hours away in Buffalo. They will not have a partisan crowd behind them. That should make for a close game in the second half. But Syracuse’s experience will take over in the last 10 minutes.

Pickin' Splinters

Despite getting minimal point production from its bench (three), the Horizon League champion Butler Bulldogs ended Murray State's Cinderella run in the NCAA Tournament, by hanging on by the skin of its teeth, 54-52.

Butler guard Ronald Nored blazed toward the rack, sinking his shot, and drawing the foul in the most important possession of the game. Nored scored a game-high 15 points. Gordon Hayward added 12, Shelvin Mack finished with 11, and Willie Veasley contributed eight to the Bulldogs' offense.

And that was that for the Racers.

In a game that many felt was Murray State's to lose—the Racers did. After toppling fourth seeded Vanderbilt in the first round, B.J. Jenkins and company had all of Kentucky cheering for its "other" team in the tournament. 

Everyone has their underdog—the country is in love with the "Cinderellas" right about now, right? 

And why not?

The teams we don't expect to win that have success are a testament to the tournament's moniker of "March Madness," and indeed, it is maddening.

The Racers had a great run. No one gave them a chance to knock off Vandy—and they did it by the slimmest of margins, 66-65.

No long faces here: Murray State advanced past where most thought it would.

One thing is certain. Racer fans can look forward to the development of their phenomenal frosh, Isaiah Canaan. Canaan scored a team-high 14 points—off the bench.

The Racers made the Ohio Valley Conference proud, but the Butler Bulldogs, a perennially overlooked team, have something to prove.

Indianapolis' north-siders aren't just your garden variety mid-major. Butler is an actual "Cinderella" that can dance, and coach Brad Stevens' team came to cut a rug.

The Bulldogs have set themselves up for a date with Jordan Crawford (and his 20 points per game) and the high-flying Xavier Musketeer offense in the Sweet 16 (should Xavier beat Pitt).

Atlantic 10 vs. Horizon League in the Sweet 16? Stranger things have happened.

This year's March melee has shaped up to be one for the underdogs, overlooked and plain discounted.

Another bracket busted, another game to watch—that's why we love March.

Tuesday night marks the official beginning of the postseason as conference tournaments begin in the Big South, Horizon League, and Ohio Valley Conference.

In the Horizon League tournament, the question that will be asked around the league and across the nation is, can anyone upset Butler?

The task is a daunting one. Butler ran through the Horizon League with an undefeated 18-0 league record, only the fourth team in league history to do so and the first since the Horizon League went to an 18-game league schedule. The next closest team, Wright State, finished six games back with a 12-6 record.

Butler placed three players on the Horizon League All-League First Team; Matt Howard, Shelvin Mack, and conference player of the year Gordon Hayward. The other two members of the starting five, Ronald Nored and Willie Veasley, earned spots on the Horizon League All-Defensive Team. 

Throw in the fact that the Bulldogs are led by Horizon League Coach of the Year Brad Stevens and are hosts of the tournament as long as Butler remains in the bracket, the task seems impossible.

But Butler had the championship game on its home court last year at Hinkle Fieldhouse, and Cleveland State walked away the victors on their way to a first-round NCAA tournament upset against Wake Forest. So there is a chance at an upset.

Wright State is the No. 2 seed for the tournament and under the Horizon League tournament format, will receive a bye along with Butler to the semifinals on Saturday night.

Wright State is led by junior guard Vaughn Duggins. Duggins averaged 14.5 points per game in route to being named to the Horizon League All-League Second Team and All-Defensive Team. Despite having a usually solid defense that ranks in the top 70 of defensive efficiency according to kenpom.com, Wright State could not slow down Butler's offense. The Bulldogs were able to pile up offensive efficiency numbers exceeding 1.2 points per possession in both of Butler's 12-point wins against the Raiders.

The other eight Horizon League teams will have to battle through two games to join Butler and Wright State in the semifinals.

No. 3 seed Wisconsin-Green Bay is led by Horizon League All-League First Team guard Rahmon Fletcher. Fletcher was hampered by a knee injury for parts of the year and missed two games because of the injury. Green Bay shoots 38 percent from three-point range, so the Phoenix could be a threat if they catch fire from outside. But Tod Kowalczyk's squad, like Wright State, had trouble slowing down Butler in their two matchups, surrendering 1.2 and 1.19 points per possession in 72-49 and 75-57 losses to the Bulldogs.

The Phoenix will host No. 10 seed Youngstown State in the first round. Youngstown State was looking to build upon last year's sixth-place finish, but stumbled to a 2-16 league mark this season. The Penguins don't do anything particularly well and most likely won't make it past Tuesday. Green Bay swept the season series with Youngstown State this season, winning 75-67 and 69-55.

Wisconsin-Milwaukee won the three-way tie-break for fourth place and will be the No. 4 seed in the tournament. Milwaukee features Horizon League All-League Second Team guard Ricky Franklin, who averaged 15.1 points per game this season, and cult legend James "Big Lumber" Eayrs.

The Panthers were one of the best teams in the nation defending their own glass this season, ranking 14th in offensive rebounds allowed, something that can be an advantage against Butler, who starts three players under 6'4". Milwaukee gave Butler a game in the building formerly known as The MECCA, losing only by seven in early February.

Milwaukee will host No. 9 seed UIC on Tuesday. Not much was expected out of the Flames this season, as they were predicted to finish ninth in the preseason poll. UIC was one of the worst shooting teams in the nation, ranking 326th in effective field goal percentage at just 43.9 percent. The Flames did play two close games against Milwaukee, losing by just five and four points in the two matchups. So an upset is possible here.

Cleveland State earned the No. 5 seed and will host Loyola (Chicago) in the first round. The Vikings are looking to defend their Horizon League tournament championship from last year. Cleveland State placed Norris Cole on the Horizon League All-League First Team and D'Aundray Brown on the All-Defensive Team this season.

The Vikings have been taking care of the ball and forcing a bunch of turnovers on the defensive end, ranking in the top 30 in that category. But Cleveland State faltered down the stretch, losing four of their last five league games.

The Ramblers, the No. 8 seed, will be looking to avenge a couple of close losses to Cleveland State. Loyola lost 62-57 in early January and 59-56 in early February. The Ramblers feature a balanced attack led by Horizon League Sixth Man of the Year Walt Gibler. Gibler, a 6'7" sophomore, averaged 11 points in just 22 minutes per game.

Loyola came within one point of Butler in a 48-47 slug fest at the Gentile Center and have been a thorn in the side of the Bulldogs, beating them twice at Hinkle in the past four years. However, the Ramblers have struggled down the stretch, losing their last four games and six of their last seven. But they could sneak up on Butler if they can put a couple of wins together to get to the semis.

The final first-round matchup features No. 6 Valparaiso and No. 7 seed Detroit. Valpo is led by Horizon League Newcomer of the Year, All-League Second Team member and Horizon League leading scorer Brandon Wood, who averaged 17.5 points per game. The Crusaders' Cory Johnson also earned a spot on the All-Newcomer Team, scoring 15.3 points per game.

Valpo almost knocked off Butler in their last game when the Bulldogs were missing Gordon Hayward, who was out with back spasms. The Crusaders can put the ball in the basket, averaging 1.08 points per possession, second best in the league. Valpo just can't stop anybody from scoring, allowing a league worst 1.08 points per possession.

Detroit was the toughest challenger to Butler's undefeated league mark. The Titans lost by two points in overtime to Butler on Jan. 10 in Detroit. Detroit also played the Bulldogs tough in Indianapolis, losing only 63-58.

The Titans totally revamped their team that only won two league games last season. Three players from Detroit, Chase Simon, Eli Holman, and Xavier Keeling, made the All-Newcomer Team in the Horizon League this season. Valpo and Detroit split the season series, each winning their home game. So Valpo gets the slight edge as the home team in this matchup.

Although an upset is unlikely, bubble teams from around the country will be keeping a close eye on the proceedings this year. A Butler loss will send a bubble team home as Butler is all but assured an at-large berth if the Bulldogs fail to claim the Horizon League's automatic bid.

Horizon League Tournament Bracket

First Round (at home sites)

Tuesday, March 2

No. 8 Loyola (Chicago) (14-15, 5-13) at No. 5 Cleveland State (15-16, 10-8), 7 PM EST

No. 9 UIC (8-21, 3-15) at No. 4 Wisconsin-Milwaukee (18-13, 10-8), 8 PM EST

No. 10 Youngstown State (8-21, 2-16) at No. 3 Wisconsin-Green Bay (20-11, 11-7), 8 PM EST

No. 7 Detroit (18-13, 9-9) at No. 6 Valparaiso (15-16, 10-8), 8 PM EST

Quarterfinals (at Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis)

Friday, March 5

Detroit/Valparaiso winner vs. Youngstown State/Wisconsin-Green Bay winner, 6 PM EST

Loyola/Cleveland State winner vs. UIC/Wisconsin-Milwaukee winner, 8:20 PM EST

Semifinals (at Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis)

Saturday, March 6

Detroit/Valparaiso/Youngstown State/Wisconsin-Green Bay vs. Wright State (19-11, 12-6), 5:15 PM EST

Loyola/Cleveland State/UIC/Wisconsin-Milwaukee vs. Butler (26-4, 18-0), 8 PM EST

Final (at higher remaining seed)

Tuesday, March 9

9 PM. EST