Wright State vs Butler | Preview, Predictions, Odds

NCAA Basketball Free Pick, March 9, 2010

Wright State Raiders (20-11) vs. #12 Butler Bulldogs (27-4)

The No. 12 Butler Bulldogs will be seeking their fifth tournament title when they host the Wright State Raiders this evening in the Horizon League Tournament Championship Game at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

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The last time these two teams met in the championship game was back in 2007.The Raiders beat the Bulldogs by a narrow five-point margin to claim the title. The Bulldogs own a 22-15 edge in the all-time series that includes two victories during the regular season.

Wright State finished the regular season with a respectable 12-6 mark in league play, and defeated seventh-seeded Detroit in the conference tournament semifinals by a margin of 69-50 on Saturday. Junior forward Ronnie Thomas scored a team-best 18 points, while Troy Tabler posted 16 points and Vaughn Duggins, the raiders leading scorer (14.4ppg), posted 12 points in the win. The Raiders used their tenacious defensive to hold Detroit to a meager 39.1 percent shooting effort, the same defensive that has been limiting opponents to just 60.6 ppg all season. Todd Brown is the only other player netting double figures on the season, and comes into this game with 13.0 ppg.

As for the Bulldogs, they finished the regular season with a perfect 18-0 Horizon League record, while maintaining an unblemished 14-0 record at home. They are coming off a 68-59 conference semifinal win over Milwaukee on Saturday. All five starters for the Bulldogs scored in double figures as Matt Howard led the way with 18 points, followed by Ronald Nored with 13 points and eight rebounds, while Shelvin Mack and Willie Veasley tallied 12 and 11 points, respectively. Gordon Hayward, who paces the team with 15.6 ppg and 8.6 rpg, posted a double double of 10 points and 13 rebounds in the win. Butler shot 47.7 percent from the floor, and also connected on 22-of-32 shots from behind the arc.

The odd makers have the Bulldogs as –7 ½ -point favorites in this one.

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Despite a suffocating defense, the Raiders will have a tough time trying to shut down the offensive power of the Bulldogs.

You can expect the Bulldogs to continue their unbeaten streak in this one, beating the Raiders by 9-points.