Duke vs. Butler preview
The 2010 National Title game was expected by most brackets to pin Kansas against Kentucky, but when the brackets had been played this is what the game was; Duke vs. Butler.
Now, the Butler Bulldogs are a Cinderella team who has won 25 straight from the Horizon League. They tripped up Syracuse and Kansas State, as well as UTEP, Murray State, and Michigan State in this tournament. But even though they are 5.6 miles from their home city, Hooisers (filmed at Butler's Hinkle Fieldhouse) might not be filmed again.
The Duke Blue Devils were the only 1 seed to make the Final Four, but they had an easy road. They beat Arkansas Pine-Bluff 73-44, then Cal 68-53. Purdue challenged them but lost by 13 (70-57) and they staved off Baylor 78-71. In the semis Saturday they beat West Virginia 78-57, led by 63 points from their Big Three.
Nolan Smith, the 6-2 Duke guard, leads the team in scoring with 18.6 PPG. He can knock down the three and a jumper, and he can start a drive. Brian Zoubek is a 7-1 center who averages 10 rebounds per game and can grab offensive rebounds on missed free throws. Butler's tallest player is 6-9 Gordon Hayward, who averages 16.6 points per game, 6.8 rebounds per game, and .8 blocks per game.
Shelvin Mack, Gordon Hayward, and Willie Veasley can all knock down threes, and Ronald Nored averages 3.8 assists per game and 3 steals per game. He held Kansas State's Jacob Pullen and Denis Clemente (stars) to 2 first half points combined. But Duke is harder, and the three will have to be knocked down for Butler if they want to win.
But Duke has a real height advantage and Butler will have to stop the three with defense. Butler has exploited their opponents weakness and taken advantage of that to win the 5 tourney games and the 25 straight games, the nations longest streak. Duke will need Jon Scheyer and Nolan Smith to take advantage of the extra possessions.
But if Brian Zoubek gets into foul trouble, then it could be big. The Bulldogs would be able to drive in and kick out with Gordon Hayward, and grab rebounds. But if Scheyer, Smith, and Kyle Singler, who has heated up this tournament, can knock down threes, then Duke will win.
I think Zoubek will miss some time and the threes will be even, but I think those extra possessions off of missed free throws and offensive rebounds will give Duke the 66-58 edge. Scheyer scores 19, Smith and Singler 16.
Now, the Butler Bulldogs are a Cinderella team who has won 25 straight from the Horizon League. They tripped up Syracuse and Kansas State, as well as UTEP, Murray State, and Michigan State in this tournament. But even though they are 5.6 miles from their home city, Hooisers (filmed at Butler's Hinkle Fieldhouse) might not be filmed again.
The Duke Blue Devils were the only 1 seed to make the Final Four, but they had an easy road. They beat Arkansas Pine-Bluff 73-44, then Cal 68-53. Purdue challenged them but lost by 13 (70-57) and they staved off Baylor 78-71. In the semis Saturday they beat West Virginia 78-57, led by 63 points from their Big Three.
Nolan Smith, the 6-2 Duke guard, leads the team in scoring with 18.6 PPG. He can knock down the three and a jumper, and he can start a drive. Brian Zoubek is a 7-1 center who averages 10 rebounds per game and can grab offensive rebounds on missed free throws. Butler's tallest player is 6-9 Gordon Hayward, who averages 16.6 points per game, 6.8 rebounds per game, and .8 blocks per game.
Shelvin Mack, Gordon Hayward, and Willie Veasley can all knock down threes, and Ronald Nored averages 3.8 assists per game and 3 steals per game. He held Kansas State's Jacob Pullen and Denis Clemente (stars) to 2 first half points combined. But Duke is harder, and the three will have to be knocked down for Butler if they want to win.
But Duke has a real height advantage and Butler will have to stop the three with defense. Butler has exploited their opponents weakness and taken advantage of that to win the 5 tourney games and the 25 straight games, the nations longest streak. Duke will need Jon Scheyer and Nolan Smith to take advantage of the extra possessions.
But if Brian Zoubek gets into foul trouble, then it could be big. The Bulldogs would be able to drive in and kick out with Gordon Hayward, and grab rebounds. But if Scheyer, Smith, and Kyle Singler, who has heated up this tournament, can knock down threes, then Duke will win.
I think Zoubek will miss some time and the threes will be even, but I think those extra possessions off of missed free throws and offensive rebounds will give Duke the 66-58 edge. Scheyer scores 19, Smith and Singler 16.
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