SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2010
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AT INDIANAPOLIS
No. 5 Butler Bulldogs (33-4, 18-0 Horizon) vs. No. 1 Duke Blue Devils (35-5, 13-3 ACC)
If the slipper still fits, wear it. While some are calling them this year’s Cinderella story, Coach Kryzezwski has aptly named his squad one of the best teams in the country. The Bulldogs extended their win-streak to 25 by knocking off the heavily favored Michigan State Spartans 52-50 on Saturday night. Gordon Hayward scored a team-high 19 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks, including Butler’s only field goal in the final 12 minutes and a critical swat of Draymond Green’s potential game tying bucket in the final seconds. Shelvin Mack, limited by both fouls and injuries in the second half, contributed 14 points for Butler, which shot just 5-of-21 from three-point range and a miserable 30.6 percent from the field.
In the meantime, the No. 1 three-time national champion Blue Devils made quick work of the West Virginia Mountaineers, pummeling them 78-57 in the Final Four. The victory pushed Duke’s win streak to nine and back into the Finals for the first time since 2001. Duke’s “three-o” of Nolan Smith, Jon Scheyer, and Kyle Singler combined for a total 63 points on 12-23 shooting from beyond the arc. Scheyer had 23 points and six assists, Singler chipped in 21 points along with nine rebounds, and Smith contributed 19 points and six assists in the win. The key to wining the game was definitely the defense of Singler against Da’Sean Butler, combined with Bryan Zoubek and Lance Thomas’ dominating presence in the paint. Zoubek grabbed 10 rebounds while Thomas had a pair of takeaways outmuscling the Mountaineers down low.
Duke is going to be the heavy favorite against Butler, but they are not taking them lightly, which is key. The odds makers currently have the Blue Devils as -7 ½ -point favorites. But Butler, the first Horizon League program to reach the national finals, should have the intangible advantage of playing in front of the hometown crowd.
While the Devils have the size advantage in the interior, and the strong perimeter presence of Smith, Scheyer, and Singler, two words come to mind — stingy defense. What the Bulldogs will face and what they will need to play if they are going to become the first number five seed to ever win it all. Butler has held every opponent in this year’s NCAA Tournament to under 60 points per game, including Michigan in the their last outing. But now they will face their biggest challenge thus far in the tournament, as they try to keep track of Duke’s wide array of offensive weapons, and own brand of in-your-face defense. The same offense that sliced through a tough defensive-minded West Virginia squad like warm butter, beating them by a 21-point margin, while holding the Mountaineers to the fewest points they had scored the entire 2010 season.
The Bulldogs will need a balanced scoring attack, force turnovers — something Duke does not do often, and take better care of the boards. They will also want to have a healthy Shelvin Mack and Matt Howard, both of whom are suffering nagging injuries and could see minimal playing time in Monday’s big contest.
Take no credit away from the Bulldogs, as the road to the finals has been no picnic. Now David will meet their toughest Goliath yet. I expect the Bulldogs to keep this one close, but the inside–outside punch of the Blue Devils will prove to be too much when the clock strikes midnight.
Butler Bulldogs Basketball Betting Trends:
Butler is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Duke Blue Devils Basketball Betting Trends:
Duke is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
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