Dawgs Gators Elite 8

From the Rueff Manor here we go Andrew Smith playing and Florida gains the tip

Hat on backward

Tyus from the corner, we gotta get over quicker on the defensive rotation

Mack banks a 3 - it was called and member FDIC

Macklin was so wide open didn't what to do

Off. rebound Mack 3! That's 2

We have got to rotate over better!

Mack from the elbow - Mack 8, Gators 4

Vanzant had a good shot and we got to keep them thinking

we have to separate this game into the 4:00 segments and win the majority

Vanzant rebound here we go...Stigall has missed both shots

Vanzant coming down to get the pass that's what I am talking about getting over on defensive rotation

Macklin is going to be a force we gotta keep fresh bodies on him

Smith missed the hook

The under 16:00 media timeout - started out well but tied now so no team wins that stretch! Macklin, we have to find a way to get down to him quicker and double him on the post

gotta break and not able to take care of the ball but got a shot and missed; Macklin out right now

Marshall Plan and the AND 1!

nice ball movement by the Gators to get Parsons the 3

Marshall has such a quick first step; Macklin back in

Howard's first shot of the game and it's a miss 3

Macklin with the power move - we have to double down on him!

Donovan going 2-3 zone going show a lot of different looks today; nice move by Mack to go up and get fouled

but we got hit all the free throws at least he got one; how has no one fouled out for Florida in any game this season

under 12:00 media timeout, Florida wins this segment and has the 14-11 lead; we have got to make an adjustment and find a way to contain Macklin. Shows Smith why he needs to bulk up this summer!

and the shooting slump continues...

it's the shirt, Hahn wore an undershirt last year and he's not this season

Now Tyus is getting it going down low - that's trouble

one field goal in almost eight minutes - that's not good

the Warrior missed the bunny got fouled

Butcher is in and now Macklin coming back in for the Gators; got em both

we should have blocked out there how does he get his own rebound?

Howard forces it up and got it come on get a stop there

that's caused by not getting back over in the defensive rotation

here's comes the press and we got it up - Vanzant misses the 3 man Florida has had a chance to blow this thing wide open fortunately they haven't

use the baseline as your friend on defense; The Warrior misses the 3 again foul on Butcher - Gators really looking strong here; UGH!

Gators win the that segment as well - 2-0-1 if you are keeping track of that

nice spin move by Chandler...and fouls on the rebound

where was that pass going

no answer for Macklin we gotta be able to spin baseline and get help over quickly

HAHN! We need that the rest of the game

22-6 points in the paint for Florida

Vanzant in the lane - 25-20 come now getta stop here

Love it when Mack takes it to the rack

already at the foul line with 5:07 to play in the half got them both

now Mack turned is ankle going around Walker - dang it and here we are making the run!

"Looked like he literally blew a tire." Len Elmore

Warrior lost control of the ball and turnover and dunk for Florida

inside-outside and Hahn with 2 3s!

Walker just broke Hahn's ankles on that drive

under 4:00 media timeout and we'll give the segment to the Dawgs! The Gators stopped going down low!

Walker got the first coming out of the timeout; and the second

shelvin back in the game

MARSHALL! DUNK!

MARSHALL! With the charge!

Full-court press by the Gators

Warrior just picked up his second foul! Four points and two fouls!

We gotta get him to shoot off the right shoulder! Macklin can't do that

good time out here; but we need a bucket on this possession;

looks man-to-man by Gators; double dribble by Smith to end the possession;

Smith being the backup warrior

Mack for 3 32-31

15-6 run by the Dawgs; Walker gets the first; and the second

MARSHALL!

give that segment to Butler as well - Howard only 4 points and we are down 1, I'll take that; be interesting to see what adjustments are made during the halftime; I would suspect Florida to come out pressing in the first four minutes of the second half; I really like where Butler's at right now, but you gotta wonder if Tyus and Macklin get going again if we can handle that storm one more time.

just realized that after each loss to Florida in the tournament we lost the head coach! I don't think that will happen with Stevens

the Dawgs are outrebounding the Gators at the half - Gators points in the paint though have been the big difference; I still think if they can double down on the post or find a way to rotate over if Macklin gets by the first line will be huge here to start the second half

yes taking away the tendencies, let's see if we can do that to begin the second half

Dawgs get the ball to begin the half; the Warrior has not made a 3

Warrior for 3! Dawgs lead!

Macklin just got away with a pushoff on the rebound!

Stigall misses

gotta block out! Macklin with 19

Mack has got to make free throws!

Smith with the foul; can handle that as long as they don't score on this out of bounds play;

under 16:00 media timeout and no advantage just like we had in the first half

beginning to double down on the post though before he gets the ball; let's see if they can shoot the 3 today they have only attempted four and made 1

Vanzant with the leaner inside the lane to tie it back up

the high-low got us there! nice look

Hahn wasn't set to shoot that one!

you get that high-low going like Florida just did that on two straight possessions and it's going to be tough to stop

just need to regroup - good time out by the professor

Mack trying to force contact and that's not going to happen!

Macklin is getting away with pushing off on rebounds!

MARSHALL! and Macklin with 3 fouls; one of two from the freshmen; he'll get better

Walker scores and here comes the press again; that's too deep for the Warrior

now the guards are warming up for the Gators!

under 12:00 media timeout and that one definitely goes to the Gators! They get the backcourt scoring going along with the frontcourt and it's going to be awfully tough to comeback

the 3s just aren't going for the Warrior today! Nored picks up the foul on the rebound

Butler is 1 for last 12 from 3

Need a stop here boys and got it with the player control foul

steal from Florida on the press; so now we gotta get the stop here; Tyus got the first; they are very quick moving the ball; if these other teams are so much more athletic and bigger than us why don't they do what Florida has done to us

it's a 9-point lead; breaks the press and now 12 misses of last 13

Tyus with the drive as he blows by Nored and hte lead is 11

; nice out of bounds play for the Warrior to score and get to the line and missed the free throw and Macklin has four and we got the ball off the missed catching of the ball

Tyus with the foul on the rebound; wonder if the ankle is beginning to bother Mack?

Smith with the tip in off the miss free throw come on boys; Tyus got the roll - UGH!

partially blocked with the 15 footer by the Warrior - fake and go next time

offensive foul against Florida - come on guys we got one more run in us!

Under 8:00 we'll call it advantage Butler, but Florida still in control of the game - we need to look at Howard more and seeing if that might be able to open Mack and Hahn up some more

Hopkins is in! What? Got it to Howard though - good look now can he play D

Hopkins for 3! Could he be the answer to get this thing going? Florida calling timeout - Billy D didn't see that coming!

Now you got two freshmen in with Marshall and Hopkins; but a little bit ahead of himself ther eon that play

Vanzant got the roll for 3 55-52 stop here; need a stop here;

they got two free throws; Smith kept it alive and got fouled on the missed 3 going to the line got the first; missed the second - UGH!

nice hands by Nored - gotta keep the looks at a minimum for them

Vanzant skies for the board!

Macklin's been doing that all game - CALL IT BOTH WAYS!

and if you switched off and watching something else you have officially jumped off the bandwagon no need coming back to it when we win this game!

Mack went around Walker with the European move down 2

mack to the bucket tied game!

reach in foul on Smith; Dawgs coming back there's no giving up in us! Macklin going to the line - we can do this; would like to think we have them right where we want them; time for the tournament experience to come up big here;

46% and he's making everyone so far!

Macklin too strong - FOUL HIM!

Nice take by Mack got fouled but we gotta finish and get the 3-point the old fashioned way

got the first; and the second

under :10 to shoot and calls timeout; need a nice play on the out of bounds to score

Can we pull it off here

Warrior going to the foul line - Billy the Kid going to try and ice the Warrior here

tie game! Now for the lead - missed

OVERTIME!

Gators win the tip here we go

Smith with the foul and has fouled out of the game;

Boykin got one of two and it's a one point lead

Howard with the reverse up 1

Hack a Macklin!

Man he's looking like Steve Alford on the line today

MARSHALL PLAN!

hit the free throw!

move your feet! Move your feet! made the first and the second

Nored fouled - he makes me so nervous when he dribbles to the lane;

Ron5 got the first; got the roll on the second up 3 again

3 by Florida!

Nored fouled again - come on get 'em both again! swish! and the second swish

Walker with the 3

Mack comes back!

Walker misses the first and the second - got the second

we really really really need a good possession here and a basket or a foul to get to the line for points!

needed that bucket - Gators came out in the zone and we didn't react accordingly; Mack got forced to force the 3

now the D has to be ready I say let em get it down to Macklin and then Hack him!

what was that from Florida! Warrior with the rebound here comes the press from the Gators!

Mack gets the first and now get the second - and the second

foul them! Foul them! Missed three a rebound throws it down court and...

BUTLER BACK TO THE FINAL FOUR!

Butler vs. Wisconsin Sweet 16

It's a Thursday! It's 15 minutes from tip time! The Dawgs have taken the floor and the winner of the faces Florida in the regional final for the right to go to Houston next Saturday.

We come to you tonight from the Butler alumni and friends gathering at the best place for brew and food on the southside - Oaken Barrel. If you have never been here - you are missing out! Regardless of what happens a late-night run to Steak & Shake will be in order for ice cream to continue the weekly Thursday tradition. The problem is by the time the game gets over with it will be early Friday morning.

Two similar teams. Watching games of Wisconsin during the Big 1(1)0 Tournament, they can do a lot of different variations with the swing offense. The key for the Bulldogs tonight - be able to get over helpside on defense and also rotate fast enough to cover the 3-point shooters of the Badgers.

Offensively if Hahn is to break out of what seems like a season-long-shooting slump this is the game to come out firing. Mack and Howard will get their points and Andrew Smith along with the supporting cast of Andrew Smith and Khyle Marshall must provide a much needed spark in key moments. Mainly though it comes down to the defense of Ronald Nored and Shawn Vanzant. If they can contain Taylor, then the Dawgs could see a rematch and payback time against the arch nemesis the Florida Gators. Bill Donovan's crew has eliminated Butler twice in the NCAAs and advance to the national championship both times. The heartbreaking overtime win in 2000 and the regional semifinal in 2007.

That incentive for the Dawgs to come through tonight.

So...

Let's get it on!

Ah is there anything better than having Gus Johnson calling the game? I had to play Madden '11 last night just to get my Gus Johnson fix in between watching some Butler and Wisconsin games on DVR. Some day I hope to hear him call The Masters on CBS especially the 18th green. Now that would be awesome.

What no Sam Ryan? No Jaime Maggio? UGH!

Too much dribbling offensively; Wisconsin got a shot on the wing to take the early lead; Smith gets one of two from the free throw line

Luer gets a foul and that's a good thing

Traveling? Did see the pivot foot move!

We just can't get a shot; good move to the basket by the Warrior though

Luer hit a 3 and it's 5-1 and that's not good

Shack with the step back swish; now get a stop here

Under 16:00 media timeout - good defense there as the ball sails out of bounds; Butler ball in its front court when we comeback

Both teams still trying to feel each other out it looks like (we have begun chowing down on Idaho Nachos btw); Will be interesting to see what Stevens calls for coming out of this elongated media timeout

Vanzant for 3 and a steal and the Dawgs have a 3-point lead

look at that defense by Vanzant on Taylor - can't do anything as long as you got a hand in their face

Andrew Smith with the tip back HUGE!

Must be playing NBA with that call on the continuation!

Vanzant called for Holding and that brings Hahn into the game; people wanting a foul on the rebound but it was straight up and no breaking the plane of vertical

Running the Cross out of bounds play here on the great blocking call

and the season long shooting slump continues for Hahn

nice move by Taylor against great D

overthrown pass and we go to the under 12:00 media timeout with the Dawgs leading 11-10

Dawgs really pushing the issue offensively and being aggressive getting to the basket; the defense has been what we need it to be, but when Wisconsin hits with hands in their face that's awfully tough.

Dawgs winning the boards 6-4

Nored got up in the air and Taylor makes him pay by the foul on the shot - UGH! Best shooting team in the tournament can't have him doing that and he MISSED! Made the second and we are tied

The Warrior for 3!

got them to work hard on the shot clock and then a rebounding foul; three fouls apiece;

Vanzant off the elbow - SWISH!

steal and layup - Dawgs definitely being more aggressive and a timeout by Bo and the Badgers!

What a great start; the defense has been just what we expected it to be from the Dawgs; Vanzant has been all over the floor going for the bounce passes;

Dawgs up seven; and they come out and hits a 3; that's huge

Vanzant a little off balance on that jumper

5-0 run now by the Badgers; Smith answers with a nice post move!

Reggie "That's a blueprint of how Wisconsin should be playing in its halfcourt"

too much dribbling by Mack - btw Badgers with five turnovers

Hey a sniper from New Castle has shown up in Chase Stigall!

nice up and under move by Taylor; at least he didn't get fouled by Vanzant on that Ally oop to my boy Marshall!

The under 8:00 media timeout and the Dawgs are up seven again!

Dawgs with 10 points off five turnovers!

Jarvis a 3 and we gotta get out on them from 3

Marshall Plan with the putback!

BLOCKOUT! and silly fouls like that won't happen

Are you serious missed two free throws! REALLY?

Stigall has rushed the last two shots and the Dawgs have not had really good offense flow

that was a charge there sir!

great steal by Howard and off to Nored; Howard with the trailing follow on the miss layup

Badgers already at season average on turnovers

Ronald we gotta hit the layups and we have to recover defensively on the rotation with their ball movement!

Under 4:00 media timeout and the Dawgs are still leading and playing like they want it more than the Badgers!

We have got to do a better job on blocking out - Wisconsin is killing us on the glass

Smith has to convert on those shots! But he is going to the line; Got one of two

Jiminy Christmas! REBOUND!

The Warrior again for 3!

sending Taylor back to the line gotta stop that

would have liked to have gotten that shot off

THE MARSHALL PLAN WITH THE BLOCK TO END THE HALF!  33-24 at half

"try to contest as many jump shots as possible." - Butler coach Brad Stevens.

What an unreal first half! How can Taylor be missing those free throws? The Dawgs just seem to be better aggressive team right now, which is what I thought they needed to do to win; they have done a great job as well coming over on the helpside defense; after the under 16:00 media timeout, I really thought the Dawgs offense got into sync the best it has all season. 20:00 more minutes boys...20:00 more! 15-1 points off turnovers advantage! That's huge!

Memo to Turner/CBS - next year bring the ESPN College basketball guys in and who know the college game - Kenny Smith and Sir Charles are making complete fools of themselves with their analysis.

Getting ready for the second half now from the Big Easy! For the first time in a long time I can see the first few minutes before the under 16:00 media timeout really being the telltale of this game

Hey don't forget after Late Night with the Dawgs, it's Conan on TBS.

 Reggie just called Jordan Taylor a great second half player

Marty Snider showing his sideline reporting expertise with that dumb question to Bo Ryan

Mack to the rack!

What did I say Bo would do down low

Andrew - DUNK THE BALL AND MAKE SURE IT'S OVER THE RIM!

cheap block call against the Warrior! First foul of the GAME!

Smith just got undercut and NO CALL! Really! it doesn't look good there looks like either an ankle or knee

the replay showed it as an ankle! KHYLE MARSHALL TIME TO BE A SOPHOMORE! He is putting bearing weight on it hopefully we can walk this off somewhat and be there in the end!

KHYLE MARSHALL - YOUR SHINING MOMENT IS NOW!

Wisconsin can't hit a shot!

Mack great move to get fouled; looks like an ankle for Smith; looks like a tape job and we might seem again

one of two for Zona

I don't think the Badgers post players know how to post-up on the blocks!

really? Gonna let Carrot top get away with that!

Khyle Marshall with the bucket!

17 straight misses by the Badgers

Marshall picks up his third; and Carrot top finally got a shot to fall!

thought he lowered the shoulder there

Smith back in the game! Stigall hasn't it since his first 3

Carrot top with a taste of his own medicine

The WARRIOR! HUGE 3!

the under 12:00 media timeout and the Dawgs scrapping and clawing their way!

Gotta give Charles credit - he called the run by Zona in the second half!

what a play to show Smith is back! and it's a 20-point lead!

nice hustle Vanzant! That's a great play, but how does the ref see that from the other side of the court?

gotta move your feet Ron5!

almost 15:00 minutes with just one field goal!

Already in the bonus with 10:49 to go; these free throws are huge!

nice backdoor by the Badgers - now let's get a bucket to make it up here

Taylor's warming up!

maybe slowing it down would be a good thing

The Warrior with a nice post move now that's how you do it!

Stay your ground boys!

Mack was a good take but we should work the clock some

pushing foul on Stigall on the rebound; letting them score with the clock stopped is not a good thing

just a little too wide; Mack with the rebounding foul!

Zona thumps Duke! What the heck!

cut the lead to 13! No more free throws!

9-2 Badger run

needed that bunny from the Warrior!

moving screen against Taylor! That's huge - now let's get a bucket here boys or to the foul line!

Warrior to the foul line - makes the first; and the second - that's better

Matt should have stayed as Taylor drove the lane cost Mack a foul

Howard with the post up and going back to the foul - Reggie - "They (Butler) are going to their bread and butter." Howard missed the first; got the shooter's roll on the second

Nored come on! Don't let them score with the clock stopped!

KHYLE MARSHALL WITH THE HUSTLE!

WARRIOR with his own rebound!

Dawgs 20-2 points in the paint - Wisconsin 24% from the field

Marshall with a rebound and now needs to hit the free throws; freshmen jitters in a big moment; come on hit the second got it

had to let Carrot top drive with almost everyone having four fouls!

here comes the Wisconsin press; take care of the ball boys; take care of the ball

we have got to run an offense and not give them anything here; steal by the Warrior!

had Howard wide open and turn the ball over! Come on don't relax here guys! Weather the storm for 2:00+

take care of the ball!

TAKE CARE OF THE BALL AND STOP PLAYING TO LOSE! UGH!

MACK WITH THE BIG BUCKET! WHEW!

Great stop fellas - Warrior with the rebound!

another stop here!

Taylor warming up! Taylor WARMING UP!

At least we got the ball! Mack hit both...please!

don't throw the ball in the corners - listen to Reggie!

THE WARRIOR! REBOUND AND GOING TO THE LINE!

seven point lead - stop here!

Turnover! where was that pass going?

hold onto the ball! since when did Hahn become such a liability?

gotta it into Howard - IT'S OVER!

DAWGS! DAWGS! DAWGS!

It's been a rough March

Thought I could make it through the tournament without mentioning it. Then Butler had to go and make another remarkable run to the Sweet 16.

A year ago I was in my comfy chair at my Dad's house watching the Butler Bulldogs taking on Syracuse in the regional semifinal. The Dawgs pulled away quickly and I kept thinking to myself - this is not happening. Butler surely isn't going to beat the top-seeded Orange and advance to the Elite 8. In the second half, Syracuse, of course, came roaring back and momentarily took the lead. Then Butler regrouped and seized the lead for good on a shot by Willie Veasley that seemed to hit the back of the rim and go to the ceiling before finally going through the basket.

I remember going hysterical as the horn sounded and Butler had won! I couldn't believe it nor could my Dad. I had so much adrenaline going through me I jumped out of my comfy chair and my head hit the beam above me on the ceiling.

Then the Dawgs would beat Kansas State and advance to the Final Four back in Indianapolis. Despite being on a business trip to Champaign, Illinois to begin the week I did all I could to get tickets for the Final Four. On my last night I got a phone call through my good friend Jen Tucker that a friend of hers still had his two tickets available. I called my friend from Butler, Rob Evola, and also talked to my Dad and was able to secure the tickets for the game. Excitement ran at the Chinese buffet I was eating at when the man informed me I could have the tickets.

We all know how it ends - Butler wins the national semifinal against Michigan State and then comes within inches of beating Duke in regardless to what anyone will ever say was the best college basketball national championship I had seen.

After all that excitement it deflated on Sept. 9, 2010. That's the day I would so much like to forget. Actually I would rather have the day before back and tried to talk my Dad into going to the hospital. But I wasn't thinking and I don't think either one of us thought anything major was wrong with him from a health standpoint. Speaking of Butler I was supposed to meet up with Lucas Howard, Matt's brother, to give him a ball to have Matt sign. Anyway, I wasn't feeling right as I left a dinner that night and called Lucas and told him I would be going to my Dad's house instead because I hadn't gotten a hold of him all day. Not to mention it was Thursday and our weekly night of watching pro wrestling and eating ice cream.

As I came around the bend on the street behind my Dad's house I noticed the lights weren't on in the living room. I opened the garage door and went back to the bedroom where I had found him. I don't remember a lot more about that night. I remember going across the street to get the Phelps to call the police and the ambulance. The next thing I remember is being in the hospital because I had passed out.

Besides my family and being able to spend time with them, Butler Basketball this season whether win or lose has been an outlet for me. It allows me to forget reality for a couple of hours while watching them. Most importantly, being able to rotate my sons and take them to the games has been a joy of fatherhood I couldn't wait to do once we got the season tickets.

As did a lot of people did I had expectations for this team. Maybe too high, but still I thought they could continue to build on last year's success.

My Dawgs have. For the most part I think a lot of it also had to deal with taking the opponents best shot throughout the season especially in the Horizon League schedule. After the Youngstown State game and some minor adjustments, Butler has played the Butler Way and never looked back especially in what my friend Don Hobbs called the "We are Butler" game against Milwaukee in the league tournament championship game.

After last Satuday's win against Pitt - another one in dramatic fashion that now too seems to be the Butler Way, I was excited again about the Dawgs making another run to the Sweet 16. Also let it be known I don't sleep much since Sept. 9, 2010. Not because of the Dawgs, but because I am afraid of not waking up much like how my Dad passed away 28 Thursdays ago. While reading pieces on the Internet about the game and also reviewing the game on DVR a zillion times, I broke down and could only wish I could have shared Saturday night with him instead of being at a restaurant with strangers at best watching the Dawgs win in one of the most bizarre ways possible. The ending was right, but where I was at watching it wasn't. Seeing Dad's face and looks at me when I went nuts during those games last year was - PRICELESS!

I probably would have hit my head on the beam three or four times in that final 7.1 seconds.

The Dawgs again are two wins away from going back to the Final Four. This time not in Indianapolis, but in Houston. With the way things have transpired in the Southeast Region - as I predicted - it could happen. And it's not too crazy thinking it could be either a Duke vs Butler rematch or even as my Dad would have had it - Ohio State vs. Butler - pitting the Dawgs against Thad and some of his staff's alma mater.

Tonight, I head back to the restaurant I watched the Dawgs last Saturday. It should be a great game between to of the most similar teams I have ever seen paired up against in the NCAA tournament. I'll have on my Butler basketball hat and probably on backward pretty much for most of the game.

Would I rather be at the original Rueff Manor watching the Dawgs with my Dad and the possible chance of hitting my head on that beam for a second year in a row - YOU BET I WOULD!

Just hope they have ice cream for the celebration afterward!

LET'S...GO...DAWGS!

Butler-Pitt

Should be another classic Butler taking on the world type of game. Cannot have a game with more turnovers than assist; Stigall and Hahn must hit from the outside; Smith and Howard stay out of foul trouble and stay their ground on defense; run when the opportunity presents itself, but also make sure to run the halfcourt and get good shots and not quick ones. I still thought Thursday there could have been more patience on the offensive end; And can Butcher do it for a third game in a row? Has Marshall shrugged off the first-tournament-game jitters to be ready to produce? The Dawgs aren't very deep. It's a nine-man rotation at best and things could get very interesting if Stevens has to go any further than past Butcher and Marshall on the bench.

Pitt comes in with something to prove as well. Coach Dixon knows the Bulldogs will be physical at every position and who can win the turnover and rebounding battle will have the inside track to win this game. The Panthers won't be looking ahead to the Sweet 16. They will switch up defenses and try to frustrate the Butler guards. They definitely are tested and been through the rugged Big East Conference.

I hate going against my Bulldogs. Sometimes you gotta look at this and think you have to, but I don't want to. This team has gotten better with every game since the end of January and come into its own. A possible rematch with in the Sweet 16 with Kansas State could await. It could be a perfect storm in Washington DC today.

Let's put it this way then - Pittsburgh vs. Butler straight up - first team to 60 wins.

Day one observations

Late-night games look to all be decided except for the final scores so let's get to it the quick recap

How great is to have four games going at once? Big screen, picture-n-picture, computer, and laptop! Amazing being able to watch all four games. Thank you CBS/Turner and of course NCAA.

Clemson came out on fire and looked to prove my theory right about a team already played in a tournament atmosphere will be more prepared than a team with in this case a superficial bye. But Huggins got the Mountaineers going it seemed toward the end of the first half. West Virginia tied and then steamrolled it through for the rest of the game.

Left that game midway through the first half - there was this other game with some school called Butler playing. I wouldn't know how that turned out.

I saw where some people were picking Morehead State over Louisville in my pool. At first I just thought OK, they just hate Louisville. Then the game began and I scoreboard watched for awhile and the Eagles were up nine. Then Louisville came back and the lead went back-and-forth and then just when you thought the Cardinals and Pitino would escape, the Eagles landed a 3 for the win.

After seeing Penn State last week in Indianapolis during the Big 1(1)0, I really thought with the No. 10 seed against Temple, the Nittany Lions could pull it off and also make some damage for brackets that had San Diego State going to the Final Four. It was the game I thought it would be and Penn State hung tough but in the end a clutch such by the Owls gave them the victory and there was no way with 0:00.4 the Nittany Lions would get a prayer to go through.

And how about Kentucky holding on for dear live against Princeton? The Wildcats can't do that against the Mountaineers Saturday and think they have a chance to the Sweet 16; Cats dodge a bullet there with Knight's runner at the end. Princeton looked prime for the upset, but couldn't hold on to their edge. This isn't your father's Princeton team either. They actually like to get out and run some and have some bigs in the frontline that could give teams some problems to play against.

Of course what' an NCAA tournament without 12 over 5 game. That's what we got with Richmond over Vanderbilt. The Spiders got 25 points from Kevin Anderson. Hard to believe it's been 13 years since Richmond's first round upset of South Carolina. Rest assured whenever I see Richmond in the field, I pick them for the first round.

Had Belmont too and well Wisconsin finally decided to play some offense tonight and squashed any idea we had of two mid majors and possible Cinderellas battling for the right to go to the Sweet 16 on Saturday.

As much as I enjoy the fact last year Butler got to the national championship game before Gonzaga and when you look at the resumes over the last five years Butler is ahead of the 'Zags, it was still impressive to see Mark Few and his team pound St. John's as they did. Obviously DJ Kennedy out with his torn ligament in his knee was bigger than first thought for the Red Storm. Then again though the Johnnies weren't playing at Madison Square Garden either. Gonzaga impressed me tonight. I think they are going to make life difficult for the Jimmer and BYU on Saturday.

Michigan State and UCLA - the roller coaster game of the day. UCLA jumps out big and Michigan State looks to be done; then the Spartans comeback; then UCLA builds the lead back up; and in the final four minutes of the game Michigan State's flurry looks like it will catch the Bruins. Unfortunately the rally didn't begin at the under 8:00 timeout or they would have. UCLA survives for a date with No. 2 Florida.

Utah State, which on paper looked to be better than a 12 seed against Kansas State. The Wildcats, who lost to Butler in the regional final last year, came out and looked every bit like that team from a year ago. Kansas State had struggled through the year but looked to be getting things on the right track especially in this one. The Aggies big men got in foul trouble early and the Wildcats took full advantage and held on for the seven point win.

Not going to go into great detail about the other games. They all pretty much went the way I thought they would except the Cincinnati-Missouri game. It began with Missouri jumping out quickly, but Mick Cronin's team (which I saw more as a 8-9 seed than I did a six) went on a run and forced the Tigers to play catch up the rest of the game and they never did.

The afternoon games led to all the excitement of this March Madness beginning. In all three buzzer beaters, two upsets and a couple of shocking outcomes that I didn't even see coming from a blowout standpoint.

Tomorrow's game should be just as interesting especially with games from seeds 3 through 14.

The Warriors Save the Day

What more can be said about Matt Howard's remarkable tip in at the buzzer to propel Butler to its 60-58 win earlier this afternoon against No. 9-seed Old Dominion.

NOTHING!

Other than this - it saved the Bulldogs season. It extends the career of the Warrior's senior year by one game and hopefully more.

A Warrior comes in and makes those special plays to save the day. A Warrior wills his team to win despite the odds.

On this day when the ultimate Butler Warrior saved the day - he had help from his other warrior teammates.

Garrett Butcher came off the bench and gave a defensive effort everyone knows he can provide when healthy. His scrappiness and effort on the low post against Frank Hassell kept the Dawgs either close, tied or ahead throughout the second half.

Andrew Smith, despite playing with four fouls, made the daring move of cutting off the baseline and took a charge midway through the second half.

Ronald Nored, the one with the rods in his ankles and a robot in the Dawg Pound named after him, showed the defense he had played with for that magical NCAA Tournament run just a year ago. He also drained a crucial 3-pointer in the second half that swayed the tide of momentum to Butler.

Shelvin Mack came out like the gunslinger in the old west firing back-to-back 3s. Mack also had key stretches where he drove to the basket and even took some help from his teammates driving off a couple of stunted screens against the Monarchs zone defense.

And then there's Vanzant. Who in there right mind has the mental process to know just to throw the ball up there for grabs after seeing an opposing defender come over to help on his drive to the basket. That is something that can't be taught. That's pure basketball intellect. As it has been throughout this now five-year run that's what Butler basketball is.

Collectively as all warriors do they won the battles that needed be won. All week long we heard "The battle of rebounding" "How can Butler win the glass" They did. They outrebounded the best rebounding team in the nation by three - 32-29. They even had five more offensive boards than the Monarchs 18-13 and Garrett Butcher himself had five with his hustle to keep the ball alive in crucial situations. Of course the most important one of them all - Matt Howard's for the buzzer beater.

Of course the game plan by the professor Butler coach Brad Stevens and his brain trust of assistants was back to its usual self that we remembered from last year. ODU coach Blaine Taylor backed up what he said in the press conference yesterday during the shootarounds - he was going to mix things up defensively against Butler. Stevens and his assistants prepared for it  for it the best they could.

The Monarchs ways of mixing up the zone in the halfcourt and then sometimes meeting the guards man-to-man fullcourt or in a floating zone press would drive any team fits. It frustrated Butler, but the Bulldogs still found ways to set up their offensive sets and make the plays. Too bad this was a round of 64 game because I would have like to see what ODU could have done the rest of the tournament.

The one thing I have always admired about Stevens is his demeanor on the sideline. Even when Howard's jumper went through, he stayed stoic as he watched the officials go to the monitor at the scorers' table. Then after the confirmation he calmly met ODU coach Blaine Taylor at midcourt for the end-of-game handshake. Just like a warrior who just got the job done and knows there's more battles to be won.

Warriors make the plays with hard work and hustle. They are rewarded in the end. Today those warriors wore white jerseys with BUTLER embroidered in blue with black trim.

Butler vs. Old Dominion

Gearing up for the first game for the Bulldogs into today's round of 64 against Old Dominion. Of course this is a rematch of the 2007 first round that propelled the Dawgs to a Sweet 16 appearance.

Right now as we prepare watching the first game to tip - Clemson vs. West Virginia - the Tigers proving me right again that having a bye can be a bad thing come tournament time.

Diet Mountain Dew is ready - I'll probably go through six of those in the two hours of the game; sandwich ready; nachos and my wife's AWESOME nacho dip has been prepared - we are ready to go in just a few moments.

Tim Brando on truTV just called this a classic No. 8 vs. No. 9 seed matchup; he'll be joined by Mike Gminski.

The young professor - Brad Stevens with the glasses look again.

Brando calling Andrew Smith the difference maker

tip to the Monarchs and the Dawgs in man-to-man; Cooper got in for the layup

Mack from deep! SWISH! get them to come out of that zone!

Wait a second they weren't supposed to be a good 3 shooting team!

MACK AGAIN! The basket must look huge - nice pick by Howard

Smith stayed his ground but they still were able to get the offensive rebound bucket

great defense by Smith and Mack coming over on the low post; great hustle; when Hazzell gets the ball inside we have to double down on the post!

Brando - how can Stigall and Butcher both be in the game?

Under 16:00 media timeout and the Monarchs lead but I do like how we have played defensively. 9-6

Just some overall thoughts - we are blocking out and we look to be in good sync with the offense; it's just been a couple of lapses of not getting down on a double team on the low block; We still need to get them to extend the zone and get the ball into Smith; did that once, but didn't finish.

Howard with the rebound tip; Nored in after the media timeout

Smith with the steal and got the run going; Mack missed the 3; stayed ground but broke the vertical plane and foul was called; Finney got one of the two;

Howard with 3! Dawgs retake the lead amazing what a summer can do for a ball player

It's one thing to double team up top, but you got to get back and recover when they get the ball to their shooter

Smith nice little turnaround tied 13-13

Didn't someone write last night - get them to work deep into the shot clock? Hmmm...looks like I know what I am talking about sometimes

Mack picked up a bad holding foul 90 feet away; Smith I just wish he would DUNK THE BALL that close to the basket;

Suddenly ODU has found the long range. 16-13;

Fake and then go up; when you get the ball in the corner and you are doubled team by two taller players, you're trouble!

Hahn from way deep; just saw Marshall is into the game; under 12:00 media timeout 18-13 ODU!

ODU is just so strong and then a turnover out of the timeout! Nored dribbled it right off his foot

ball goes low post everyone collapse - great job on the defense

Marshall with his own rebound; Butler missed last five shots and Howard had a nice look to Marshall, but ODU hands too quick;

here they are picking up Nored full court; told you different looks is what we will see from them

cross court passing and we have to be able to get back over when the ball swings like that;

What a look from Howard to Smith - great court awareness; is there a weakness in Matt Howard's game?

Steal by Nored layup! 18-17

Copper misses Dawgs with the rebound; now we can't buy a 3.

Meanwhile in Tampa - Clemson proving me right!

It's one thing to rotate but when they swing we have to get back over; I think ODU has only missed two 3s so far.

Still like how we are rebounding and we are attacking the zone and finding the hi-lo with Howard and Smith; I believe we need to exploit that a little bit more

down 21-17 at the under 8:00 media timeout- 4-for-8 from 3 for ODU

Shawn inside through the zone for a jumper to cut the lead to 21-19

Smith picked up a second foul, but wow what a block by Howard getting over on the post

great pushoff foul called; we are doing a great job on Hazzell;

Howard taking the CHARGE! That's a extra-large milkshake for the Warrior in my book

Shawn rattles it home and the Dawgs have the lead

Howard just picked up his second foul - that's HUGE! Leaves with five points; now nice hands by Nored; Butcher got the rebound and then got it stolen

Going to be interesting to see how we defend down low now; Marshall with the steal of the inbounds

Butler calls timeout to design a play; will be interesting to see what the Professor has in store coming out of the timeout

remember truTV - not reality - actuality

Monarchs three points in last 7:30

Marshall develops a mid-range game over this summer and he's going to be dangerous

Nored picks up the holding foul coming across the lane

under 4:00 media timeout Dawgs 22, Monarchs 21

Smith back in with two fouls

Mack with the drive; I'm telling you working the clock and making them work on defense is to our advantage; Hassell only has four points

Mack is MONEY again five straight points - he is a scorer!

great steal by Nored under 2:00 in the half - let's work a good set here; Palming? Really in college? he didn't even gain an advantage doing it

Hassell jump hook under a minute and tied; it's beeen a great game so far

We had no direction on offense that time and Mack had to force up the shot from 3

ODU going for last shot; Brazemore missed the running jumper and Hassell there for the putback at the horn

Monarchs 29, Dawgs 27 at half

Winning the battle of the boards right now; it's just a matter now of keeping that up; I still look for ODU to show some different defensive looks in the second half and I am sure they are going to work it down low more and try to get the third fouls on Howard and Smith; It's been the slugfest I thought it would be and now it will be interesting to see what adjustments will be made for the second half; usually you get here and the first four minutes can be huge; I think this one comes down to the middle stretch of the game after seeing what changes were made and who adapts the best out of that.

Tom Crean in the studio - wonder if we can get him and Seth Davis to really get into it at each other today

 Dawgs have yet to go to the foul line

Andrew with the DUNK! That's how you do it!

and Stigall with the steal and out to Mack

tied up different look by ODU on defense a floating zone and VanZant for 3 and the 13th lead change of the game and Dawgs up 3

Offense board for Finney and a foul by Stigall and a made bucket for the Monarchs! UGH!

tied again

we penetrated that zone and got it down low; just hold on to the ball and then go up

wide open 3 didn't fall for Stigall

ODU gets down and Smith picked up 3rd foul; ODU back up two

when you go baseline you gotta make sure you know what you're going to do with the ball
Carter called for the hook - offensive foul back to the Dawgs

Smith with the hook and tied again

Smith got burned but Howard recovered but fouled Hassell; both now with 3 fouls, need to stay with them, I don't think they can go small and win this game

Hassell has scored nine of the 12 points for ODU

Smith with another hook and the Dawgs up 1

Smith just picked up his fourth foul and Hassell suddenly has taken over this game

15:56 to go and ODU up 1

It was a gamble, but I believe Stevens had no choice but to leave the bigs in because Hassell is just owning the inside now; whoever he brings in now has to come up big and I really think we need to make sure to double down on the post; I have said it all season long that's what we needed to do; we did it well against UW-Milwaukee and need to do it here as well. It is what is going to be the determining factor in this game

jiminy Christmas I am tired of saying 3s are our strength

reverse layup by the Warrior tied again

we have to stop bailing them out with stupid shooting fouls

Mack has went cold again but we worked well on the halfcourt set

ball goes down low - everyone collapse down and quick hands - that's what happens a steal

Howard is having a great look just wish Butcher was quicker

We are doing a decent job still on the defensive glass; Cooper called for displacement; Butler still has NOT shot a free throw and Mack hasn't scored in the second half.

Nored from the White House! 14th lead change

and already ODU shooting in the bonus; this is what happens when you have a team that plays man-to-man against a zone; it's because Butler is more aggressive

Butcher with the rebound bucket off the Howard misss

Blaine's not happy and a timeout called; 19 lead changes so far and the Dawgs up 1 43-42

Time for this upset alert - Louisville is losing to Morehead State 19-10

let them shoot the 3 now with the smaller lineup that's to our advantage

I can't stand this being called the second round

so when will Butler shoot free throws?

Hey I think we are going to the foul line!

Look it's not because the officials aren't calling the fouls, it's because when you play man you're going to commit more fouls than a team that plays zone; it's just a given fact of basketball

get a stop here off the made FREE THROWS

Hassell misses a bunny and we swat at it! Grab the ball

six straight misses for the Monarchs and Mack picks up the foul on the offensive rebound; missed free throw now time to stretch this lead

Butcher with the rebound pass-tip from Howard off the Mack 3 miss YES Butcher showing he's NEXT MAN UP!

Carter with the push off Mack and Mack to the line and bonus from here on out - Dawgs up 49-43

Huge 3 by the Monarchs

Stigall with the tripping foul; chance to cut the lead to 1

Smith coming back into the game - just play smart and stay the ground Butcher came up huge in subbing

now full court press by ODU - told you different looks by the Monarchs on their defense and we have to adjust to them

Cooper with the push-off foul; how many layups has ODU missed so far? With the free throws and those combined they should be up 10

ODU is 3-for-15 from the field and 1 of last 11

and we keep making wild passes because we aren't looking to see EXACTLY what ODU is doing defensively;

under 8:00 media timeout Dawgs 49, Monarchs 48

full court press by ODU and the Monarchs have a 1 point lead

now back into a zone looks to be a 2-3; Howard slips in pass from Mack for the layup nice seal

Dawgs up 1 again

Mack with his fourth foul now - UGH! Mack and Smith both with three; gotta keep him in Bazemore for a guard he just bricked that; Mack probably out here until the under 4:00 media timeout

missed them both; another empty possession for ODU

Hahn has been in a shooting slump all season; great offensive rebounding by Butler and now Howard going to the free throw line

great defense by Howard; Hahn still couldn't hit; Smith at the line got the first; four-point lead; Howard almost had the miss; get a stop here;

great coming over and getting set Andrew! That's worth an extra-large-monster shake from Musaliami's in Columbus. BTW - can't wait to meet up with Sam Simmermaker and Jeff Hester to have one of those this summer. YUM! And he drew blood! and now they are showing the elbow Howard got in the UIC game back in February.

Smith coming out since they can't stop the cut; now a zone press that floats by ODU;

Hahn misses again, Howard got the rebound and an errant pass;

Well West Virginia comes back and proves me wrong about the bye factor - 84-76 win over Clemson

up two after the two free throws and that floating zone press by ODU

BUTCHER HAS BEEN HUGE! Dawgs PLUS 5 on the boards!

Timeout to get Smith back in; two point lead; can it get any more intense in the first round (I don't care what the NCAA wants me to call it)!

stunted the screen allowing Mack to go to the basket for the layup

Defense wins games - rebounding wins championships

Howard with both and the lead is six 58-52

Hassell finally got open; UGH!

ODU now in man-to-man; Vanzant just a little off on the 3; ODU :30 timeout. This game has gone as I thought it would; Hassell again beginning to take over

nice thought but Hassell right there; gotta get a stop here

BUTCHER! The defense has keeps getting better every game and today they really have stepped up; the defense has created the offense for most of the game; now does ODU go for the final shot? They haven't been too good outside; I'd go inside and Hassell if I ws Blaine Taylor

Bazemore missed his last two and now sinks the first...and...the second

tied up at 58-58

10 ties and 21 lead changes in this one; Mack going one on one nope

Vanzant throwing something up and a tip in by Howard! 

Now did it go? That's the million of dollars question;

YES!

LET ME DECOMPRESS AND I'LL WRITE DOWN THOUGHTS IN A FEW.

DAWGS 60

MONARCHS 58

Almost game time

Just under 12 hours now from what I consider the official tipoff of March Madness. My picks are now finalized and I have vowed to not change them again; I did go back and make some minor adjustments. None that I don't think will crush me to horribly much, but we will see when things begin tomorrow. Even with Irving possibly playing for Duke, the Blue Devils have burned me enough times when it gets to the Sweet 16 round and I really don't feel sure about them I pick against them. Thus after much debate and trying to decide I went with my gut and took Rick Barnes and the Texas Longhorns for the upset in the round of 16. My Final Four is locked then with Ohio State vs. Texas and Kansas vs. Florida. I would assume Texas-Ohio State will be the second game on Final Four Saturday night on CBS.

Now we get down to business about my Butler Bulldogs. What a game this will be later today at 12:40 p.m. on truTV. From reading the shoot around press-conference transcripts earlier it sounds to me like Blaine Taylor not only plays a zone but various forms of it. He plans to give Butler a bunch of different looks tomorrow. You gotta figure Stevens will go back to what worked against Syracuse in the Sweet 16 round last year in Salt Lake City and see what the guards can do to penetrate and either dish on the blocks or kick it out for mid-range to long-range jumpers. One thing is for certain, the Dawgs will need consistency from the outside tomorrow at somepoint during the game to pull through.

I don't know what is about me and not like Butler in transition. It seems to me this team does best regardless of who they are playing if they get into a halfcourt set. I am reading Butler needs to exploit Old Dominion when they get a rebound since the Monarchs send everyone to the glass. I like the concept, but it just seems to me when Butler runs like that way it tends to get out of hand sometimes. Maybe that's just me. Now if it's a controlled break (if there really is such a thing) then that strategy might be able to work. But the key is going to be each defender finding a body and blocking out to get the rebound in order to begin the break.

Defensively, it's about rotating over when the ball gets into the post and Hassell has it. You can't let him get the ball on the block and be one-on-one with either Smith, Marshall, or Howard. That will spell certain doom for Butler. If Smith and Howard get in foul trouble that's another sign it's going to be a long afternoon for the Dawgs. Honestly though Matt has done a great job not picking up silly fouls most of the season. Plus his hustle fouls have been less of factor than they were in year's past and that's a great sign of improvement.

The key to the game tomorrow is the guard play - keep the ODU guards from getting the ball inside and make them shoot; get them deep into the shot clock. On offense the Dawgs need be able to have control transition for one and two recognize what the Monarchs are doing defensively when they set up in the halfcourt sets. As previously said ODU is going throw several looks and don't be shocked if they come out with some sort of junk defense against Howard and Mack or Howard and Nored. Tomorrow the shooter's roll has to return for Hahn. He's due. Been due since the Hawai'i games during Christmas.

This game is such a tossup it could go either way. I see it being medium range scoring somewhere in the low 60s to low 50s. When the smoke settles on this one I'll go with my heart - give me the Dawgs 61-57

continuing the breakdown

Now less than 36 hours from the 12:15 tipoff of West Virginia vs. Clemson as the first game on Thursday and suddenly my picks are all over the place. I can't tell you how many times today alone I changed the picks and looked at the "experts" and made some other changes.

So let's see what I have changed since my first look at the brackets Sunday night

In the East - I still like Ohio State even though the more I look through Sagarin's ratings the Buckeyes of Thad Matta have a very tough road in order to get to Houston.

I changed the the 8-9 game in this one and went with George Mason; I am taking Clemson over West Virginia. Why? Because now they have a game under their belt and the point differential in Sagarin between these two is close enough I think the Tigers can pull off the usual 12 over 5 upset; I am still undecided on Marquette v. Xavier. I like X and think they can do it, yet something just tells me the Golden Eagles can make some noise and gain some momentum with a win over the Musketeers; everything else from the first round stayed the same.

In the second round I stayed with Thad's team to advance, by taking Clemson in the first round I changed the pick and went UK to the second round to face the Buckeyes; still like Syracuse and Carolina

Regional Semis - Ohio State gets the slight edge on this one because I believe when it comes to in-game adjustments Thad's better than Calipari. In the other matchup it's still the Coca Cola kid Roy Williams over Boeheim

Regional final - Ohio State over the Tar Heels

To the west
Can it get any crazier now in this bracket as I continue to look at it and digest it? Irving coming back to Duke really has me thinking that this team could be primed for a repeat, but I still see danger lurking because the Blue Devils for some reason lately find ways to lose in the Regional semifinals and seeing a possible matchup with Texas has me really wondering that won't be the case this tournament as well; and of course speaking of Texas the Longhorns first round opponent - Oakland really looks interesting because they have a couple of transfers you could say mask this team as a mid-major and could really be something more.

The lower half of the bracket got me thinking a little more. From a friend who is as big a numbers man as I am, I see his point about the poor shooting of Missouri and have to take that into consideration with the Tigers playing Cincinnati. So, I am going to switch and take the Bearcats in that first round game; UCONN gets by Bucknell, but come the second round I really wonder if they Huskies will be mentally and physically drained. Five games in five days can take a lot out of you. Plus compare it when Butler went over to Hawai'i during Christmas. It took something out of them as well. It cost the Bulldogs dearly I believe and forced them to play catch up during the league part of the schedule. Same thing happens here with UCONN. Those five games last week in New York comeback to haunt them playing Big East rival Cincinnati in the second round. Bearcats advance; Not sure what is about Penn State, but they really impressed me last week in Indianapolis during the Big 1(1)0 tournament. Look for the Nittany Lions to make some damage and end up in the round of 16.

If I take it for what it is right now Duke gets beat by Texas; but if I take Oakland that changes things a tad and if Irving does play for the Blue Devils that really makes things tough because I think with him the Blue Devils are one of the best teams in country.

To the southwest - nothing really changes here but I am definitely thinking about switching Notre Dame and going with Purdue; although Kelsey Barlow for the Boilers has been suspended and that definitely makes things a little interesting to wonder what's going on internally with Matt Painter's ballclub heading into the tournament.

Southeast - just torch my bracket because no matter how I pick it, it won't go the way I have it. I still think Pitt is the first No. 1 seed to go down and I believe Butler does it. Now looking at some things in the Utah State-Kansas State game, the more I am thinking the Aggies can pull off the upset and according to Sagarin it won't really be that big of an upset; thus it doesn't bother me picking that one. Wisconsin-Belmont is the other one; remember the Badgers struggled against Penn State in the Big 1(1)0 tournament last weekend. Thirty-three points - that's wasn't in a half that was total for Wisconsin. Belmont can suffocate you defensively and they come out firing from deep and average more than nine 3s a game. That could spell doom for the Badgers. We got friends who just moved to Nashville a few months ago so with that I am taking Belmont.

Lower half of the bracket - I still see Gonzaga getting through to the second weekend with wins over St. John's and BYU; but now I am backtracking on the Michigan State over Florida pick. Michigan State is usually tourney ready but thinking about it the Gators are out to prove they aren't a weak No. 2 seed. I can see Billy Donovan using that as motivation. Gators to the elite eight; the Gators to beat my Dawgs AGAIN! UGH! Billy the Kid to the Final Four for the fourth time while leading the Gators.

National semifinals - Ohio State advances if it's Texas, if it's Duke what a game it will be especially if Irving returns to the lineup; the other semifinal - Kansas walks through

National Championship game - a great game will be played, not as good as last year's - it will take a lot the rest of my life to top that one - still it will be the national championship game on as always a Monday night.

The Brackets

Let me begin by saying the NCAA Selection Committee for the field of 68 still doesn't get it. Those First Four games should be set aside for the final four at-large teams to make the tournament. UNC Ashville, Arkansas Little Rock, UT San Antonio and Alabama State won its conference tournaments and the automatic bid. To me that says they deserve the right to play on Thursday or Friday and not have to play into the now so-called second round of the tournament.

I totally agree with USC, VCU, UAB and Clemson being put into a "Round 1" game. I would also say Memphis, Richmond, Missouri and Marquette should also be playing in Tuesday or Wednesday games to "play in" to the field of the 64 for Thursday or Friday.

I also wish the committee would stick to its original rules of the maximum number of teams a conference can get into the tournament is eight and cannot meet until the regional final. So what if the Big East has 20,000 teams, the rule was eight and they should stick to it.

Seriously this has to be one of the weaker fields we have seen in awhile. How else can you justify Butler an eight seed? What about Florida as a two in the same region? If there's any region where the bracket is going to be torched beyond recognition the Southeast is it. Hear me now, believe me later a four or lower seed will advance to Houston out of this bracket.

So let's get to the brackets and we'll begin in the land of the overall No. 1 seed the East with Thad Matta's THE Ohio State Buckeyes

First Round
OSU over play-in opponent
Villanova over George Mason
West Virginia over play-in opponent
Kentucky over Princeton
Marquette over Xavier
Syracuse over Indiana State
Washington over Georgia
North Carolina over Long Island

Second round
Ohio State over Nova
West Virginia over Kentucky (in a rematch of last year's regional final)
Syracuse over Marquette
North Carolina over Washington

Regional Semifinals
Ohio State over West Virginia
North Carolina over Syracuse

Regional Final
Ohio State over North Carolina

Thad and the Bucks advance to the Final Four for the first time in four years.

Now to the West and the land of the defending National Champion Duke Blue Devils

A lot of people questioned Duke and whether the Blue Devils would get a No. 1 seed. Let's put it this way when it comes to the NCAA and its Big Dance, Duke is its prom queen.

First round
Duke over Hampton
Michigan over Tennessee
Memphis over Arizona (And yet I said Memphis should be in a play-in game)
Texas over Oakland
Missouri over Cincinnati
UCONN over Bucknell
Penn State over Temple
San Diego State over No. Colorado

Second Round
Duke over Michigan (Duke still owns the Wolverines)
Memphis over Texas (Again remember what I said about Memphis should have been in a play-in game and now I got 'em going to the Sweet 16)
UCONN over Mizzou
San Diego State over Penn State

Regional Semifinals
Duke over Memphis
UCONN over San Diego State

Regional Final
Duke over UCONN (Coach K finally beats Jim Calhoun in the NCAA Tournament) UCONN has THE weapon in Kembra Walker, but Duke has too many other ones to negate him

Now to the Southwest Region and Walk...Chalk...Jayhawks

First round
Kansas over Boston
Illinois over UNLV
Richmond over Vanderbilt
Louisville over Morehead State
Georgetown over Play-in opponent
Purdue over St. Peter's
Texas A&M over Florida State
Notre Dame over Akron

Second round
Kansas over Illnois
Louisville over Richmond
Purdue over Georgetown
Notre Dame over Texas A&M

Regional Semifinals
Kansas over Louisville
Oohhhh...the match up a lot of us have always wanted to see in the REGULAR SEASON because for some reason there are roads that lead between South Bend and West Lafayette, Indiana for football but they mysteriously disappear when it comes to hoops. Notre Dame and Purdue! What a great game this has the chances of being on paper. A clear toss up here...here's where having Robbie Hummel would be huge for the Boilers. With that - the IRISH to the Elite 8

Regional Final
Kansas over Notre Dame


Finally the Southeast Region - go ahead and just torched this bracket because anything any of us has will be destroyed by this time next week. Despite my Dawgs being in this region and I would like to think they have as realistic a chance of making some serious noise, I still can't seem to put my pulse on the offense. It's very inconsistent. It's going to need to be very consistent next weekend to advance to the second weekend of the tournament. The defense has been tremendous the last nine games. I believe they can keep that up. Old Dominion looks to go inside a lot with it's 6-9 center. It's going to be a matter of Andrew Smith playing smart defensively and the rest of the team rotating over quickly as they did against Milwaukee for Butler to advance to a possible match up with No. 1 seed Pittsburgh.


I say this region will be toast by the weekend because it is by far the weakest of the four regions. My goodness Florida a No. 2? Really? If I am Tom Izzo and Michigan State, I'm licking my chops because UCLA is prime for the picking and so will Florida in the second round.

So here we go


First round
Pitt over play-in opponent
Butler over ODU
Kansas State over Utah State
Wisconsin over Belmont
Gonzaga over St. John's
BYU over Wofford
Michigan State over UCLA
Florida over UC Santa Barabara (Sorry Jim Rome)

Second Round
Butler over Pitt (Yeah I am leading with my heart on this one, but if a No. 1 is going to go down in the first weekend this is the game it will happen)
Kansas State over Wisconsin
Gonzaga over BYU
Michigan State over Florida

Regional Semifinals
Kills me saying this - Kansas State gets revenge from last year's Elite 8 loss and beats Butler
Michigan State over Gonzaga

Regional Final
Michigan State over Kansas State

Final Four
National Semifinal No. 1
Ohio State vs. Duke

You gotta look at this match-up and know it's going to be the late game on CBS Final Four Saturday night. Both can go inside and outside. It will come down to who can make the best adjustments throughout the game. I believe Duke has the guard play, but Ohio State has the inside play that can cause havoc against the Blue Devils.

Thad gets revenge for his alma mater from last year's national championship game - Buckeyes over the Blue Devils

National Semifinal No. 2
Kansas vs. Michigan State

What's a Final Four without Michigan State? And for the second time being in a Final Four opposite of Ohio State?

Somehow, some way Tom Izzo finds ways to get Michigan State playing its best at the right time. It has been a struggle for the Spartans all season long, but alas March comes and Michigan State recently put together a couple of solid games before falling to Penn State in the Big 1(1)0 tournament this weekend.

But Sparty is playing Kansas. A team which began the season 18-0 and has looked the part of a national champion for most of the season. Of course I look for the Jayhawks to make their fourth Final Four appearance since 2000.

I see the Spartans trying to slow it down and have a semifinal as it did against Butler last year here in Indianapolis. Unfortuantely, I don't think they stop the running style of Kansas and beat the Jayhawks in transition. Kansas moves on

Then it comes to this - Monday night April 4 in Houston, Texas...

Ohio State vs. Kansas - just like the committee drew it up.

Here's why Kansas will win it - more depth along the front line and they can run or slow it down and go halfcourt; and they have last year's second-round loss to Missouri Valley's Northern Iowa to motivate them to get to the Final Four

Here's why the Jayhawks won't be cutting the nets down on a Monday night - Free throw shooting and the lack of consistent guard play. You gotta hit key free throws in stretch time late in games and you gotta have players to get the ball inside to the Morris twins. If you can't do either one of those you'll be done and that's what will happen to the Jayhawks when Thad Matta goes to game plan against them between Saturday night's win over Duke and the 9:21 p.m. EDT tip against the Jayhawks. Now if Self can get solid guard play out of Taylor and Johnson the Buckeyes could be in trouble

Here's why Ohio State will win: the Buckeyes can beat you from anywhere and everywhere - Defend inside against Jared Sullinger - no problem that opens things up for the outside shooting of Jon Diebler. Plus when the Buckeyes lockdown defensively they can contain any five that any team throws out on the floor.

Here's why not: inexperience with the freshmen in the low post and at guard plus if the offense should struggle from both the inside and the outside on any given game trying to make a six-game run to the title the Buckeyes will need to rely on the defense and as proven in its losses and close calls with Northwestern they have a tendency to forget to play defense in crucial moments. And if I am Bill Self or any other team that might face Ohio State in the tournament I'd get to looking at the second game against Purdue and the two games against Northwestern in developing a game plan to beat Buckeyes.

With that being said my national champion is...

Rock...

Chalk...

Jayhawk

Gearing up for the Madness

So my Dawgs are back in the NCAA tournament. There for a stretch in January it really seemed like Butler would not make the tournament. This team seemed to be in disarray for a better part of the Horizon League portion of the schedule. Then about the middle of February something again clicked and the Butler team everyone remembered from last year began playing like we knew it could. The tough defense - collapsing down on the post and making things tough for the opposing guards to get the ball into the scorer's hands. Now the key to the tournament will not only be the seed (looking anywhere right from a nine to a 12 if you ask me) and finding a little bit more consistency on the offensive end.

Is this Butler team as dangerous as the one last year which made that remarkable dream run back home to the Final Four at Lucas Oil Stadium? To answer that question I think this team learned a lot about itself during this season and I believe will be a tough "out" for any team it faces. Like Butler coach Brad Stevens said an Indianapolis Star article last week - "It's March. It's time to put this all together."

As far as the officiating snafu at Madison Square Garden yesterday in the St. John's-Rutgers game - nice to see the officials "man up" and admit wrong and withdraw from the rest of the tournament. Still though one of the three should have had the responsibility of seeing the travel or out of bounds and another noticing the clock and time still on it. As a now former official I have also had to take the lump and admit wrong, but with the experience those three officials had at that level of a game, they should have been aware of what was going the court and not assuming the game was over.

Looking forward to following the Big 1(1)0 Conference tournament tomorrow. Ohio State-Northwestern should be interesting for about 10 minutes. Purdue-Michigan State will also be good especially with the Spartans, who seem to make a run every March to the final destination of the Final Four, needing the win to possibly even be selected Sunday night.

Big East tournament I still believe began around Christmas. Kemba Walker - WOW! The UCONN-Syracuse sets up to be another classic. Louisville-Notre Dame in the other semifinal tomorrow night that should be a very interesting matchup especially with how surprising both teams have been this season. And NO I was not surprised to what Louisville did to Butler in the opening game of the new YUM Center in Louisville on my birthday earlier this season.

The Big 12 in its final go around together looks to be a good tournament, but pretty sure the safe bet is Kansas to win its own invitational once again.

The SEC Florida-Kentucky per usual in the final since they seem to be the only two schools which play basketball in the SEC anymore. Although Tennessee and Bruce Pearl could make things interesting.

Of course the grand-daddy of all conference tournaments - ACC will likely come down to North Carolina and Duke. For the third time this season - will depend on which one has the tougher game on Saturday as to who wins it Sunday.

As for one seeds - Kansas, Ohio State are locks - I can't convince myself of anything else until after the ACC and Big East tournaments have been completed.

Horizon League Championship

Tonight live from the couch in stately Rueff Manor it's me watching the Horizon League championship game between my Dawgs and the evil UW-Milwaukee Panthers.

The Dawgs looking avenge two losses to the Panthers this season - a blowout at US Cellular Arena where tonight's game is being played.

A win in the Dawgs in for sure and I still believe even if they lose as long as not a blowout the Dawgs will be as an at-large game as well.

OK, 9 p.m. tip - it's 9:06 get Geno off the tube the Indiana girl playing for UCONN (Kelly Faris) won another Big East tournament blah blah blah - GO TO MILWAUKEE NOW!

Oh so they held the tip and where's the crowd in Milwaukee unless it's a late arriving crowd I am seeing a lot of red seats posing as spectators.

Good golly those shoes from Adidas for UW-Milwaukee - I had to go out to my car and get my Oakleys.

good start going into Mr. Reliable Mr. Howard. Like it

Hey Howard finally hit a front end of a two-shot foul - got 'em both

I don't think that's the defense Brad wanted and again coach going with the Professor look

YIKES; Get set on the shot

WE CAN'T STOP HILL! Smith coming out; and it's Butcher coming in and it's a  free-throw shooting contest so far

settling for the first shot again as they did in some case the other night

that's going to be there all night Matt

if we are going to collapse helpside we have to be able to rotate over on the perimeter

MACK!!!

Mack got the notebook and stop the defender in his tracks

Butcher showing good hands; rotating over - it's been an issue all season long we just aren't that quick to get over

see what happens when you get set under your feet - 3s go in

there's the defense and coming over helpside - traveling at the first media timeout

yeah right Bob Wischusen rode a Harley to Milwaukee and I drove my Ferrari tonight

that shot of the Milwaukee players the one with the dreads looks so disinterested right now

Howard again I think he's got 10 already

hand in the face - RoboNored with the defensive stop

Hahn is in right now if he gets a 3 to go I will feel really comfortable

Shelvin - don't get cocky - ah - 2-for-3

hey we got over on a defensive rotation

Ah the Marshall plan is in

Nored hits both

Keep the pedal down!

Great hustle and getting on top of the ball for the timeout! Although I wasn't really sure we had possession

Smith just got his second; not up to how he played the other night

I like how we are contesting each shot

Butcher with the leaner off the mid-range

Vanzant needs to shake it off; we'll need him in the second half

'Nova just put themselves on the bubble!

Butcher slid right in there and got it

Vanzant taking the charge - if I was the coach that would be worth an extra large monster shake from Musalami's in Columbus!

I like the fact that we are hustling and being aggressive; but I think we need to settle down a little bit the last couple of possessions we're all over the place offensively

Marshall is going to be a very good Bulldog for four years;

I think the glare of those shoes distracted the officials view

Milwaukee only one field goal in the 11 minutes that have been played

now make it two with the as the kids say now days "and 1"

the roll for Howard with the turnaround - that's going to be there ALL NIGHT!

Stigall with a foul under 8:00 media timeout we gotta keep up and not let them get an ounce of confidence from here on out

Panthers 0-for-6 from 3

uh OH! Don't let them get back into this; Let's sustain here

Now Smith comes back with two fouls; here's where we find out what he's made of in clutch situations

Hahn! We need that tonight more than any he needs to regain the title "Sniper of New Castle" just like Archey before him

We've let 'em back in it

this is the best I have seen us get over on helpside all season and look at the dividends of it

silly foul but at least he missed the first and now Howard picks up his second

Smith has to come up big here;

We have to stop Boyle - put Nored or Vanzant on him NOW!

We've went cold...brrrrr....

single digits! get a good set here; Stigall for 3 and the New Castle boys at it again

contest everything

Get big down low Marshall - I think he missed it because he was so wide open on the cut to the basket

Again we are just outhustling Milwaukee; nice look inside great possession for the Dawgs and it took some time off the clock

grab the ball!

great stop to end the half - thought we did a great job getting over on rotations defensively; Is Jeter getting desperate putting Carter in there on offense and moving Hill to the top of the key for a high-low? Hill doesn't look good up top;

Shadow Boyle - Vanzant or Nored on him; I don't want him to have a 3 attempt in the second half

being aggressive and outhustling and I really like how the Dawgs have stepped it up defensively.

OK next Diet Mountain - SuperNova brought to you by Erin Andrews or Voltage by Kenny Mayne. Fabulous Rueff Boy Andrew and I tasted them both at the test taste at Hinkle about a month ago. It's one thing for VillaNova's bubble to burst, but I won't mind have bubbles of SuperNova bursting in my cup here soon.

OK before we begin the second half, I must now go and reload with a Diet Mountain Dew

one field goal for Hill that needs to continue;

collapse down and Andrew stay STRAIGHT UP!

Nice entry pass and lil hook for Andrew

Boyle got a 3 off

Meier called for displacement

Get it in and look opposite - swish

Meier gotta get on him! No more looks from deep for him or Boyle!

make sure you have the ball!

it's going to be six - we are heading into a dangerous part of the game of letting them back into it

it stinks that we could not wait until the under 16:00 media timeout and had to waste one here;

Milwaukee has picked up the intensity; What did I say - defend the 3s to begin the half! Hate it when I am right!

11-0 run by the Panthers that has to stop on this possession

nice alley-oop now let's get a stop here Dawgs!

Vanzant and Mack both with three and the under 16:00; gotta keep up the defense

hat is now on backwards

must win this four-minute stretch; nice awareness of the 10-second count Williams

Mack with the floater - please don't compare Mack with Jordan over Ehlo! Had it been a last second shot - then I can see the analogy

held ball? we have got to grab control of the ball before we throw the outlet; that's two for Boyle attempts from 3; oohh I think Howard was there

need a bucket there; empty possession and then we let Hill get an offensive rebound;

we did not win that four-minute stretch!

nice steal on the in bounds and tipped by Howard;

good call and great conference to make sure by the officials

the Big East tournament - I heard it began at Christmas time as a holiday tournament this year

Boyle actually missed a free throw;

had to get that foul it was touchy but it was 7-1 on fouls until that one; need a basket here

Give it to the Warrior and he'll score

Vanzant with the change of pace and explodes to goal; nice 2-on-2 by Mack and Howard and now some breathing room; we are winning this four-minute stretch

Smart move Matt on the bench getting rest and we will becoming up on the under 8:00 media timeout

Boyle as long as it's not a 3 that's a good thing

FYI - I am a Callaway golf fan and just got a Diablo 3-wood for my bag this summer. LOVE IT

OK back to the game - yes we won that four-minute stretch now we just need to win two more;

Yes to win a championship it's about heart! People used to laugh when I coached and I said it to my players all the time

Boyle misses! That's two in a row! Ok made the second

keep taking it to Boyle; he can't handle Vanzant

Hill got the ball but Smith held position; just stay straight up and move your feet

Stigall! ahh...much needed in a clutch situation; NOW A STOP! Called it!

OK a couple of misses tonight but how important has Chase Stigall stepped up here recently?

work the clock, get the ball into a money players hands and let him do the work now another stop here

Boyle that's three attempts and three misses another stop!

Smart timeout; regroup and get composure and set up a play to not only increase the lead but also work the clock and shorten this game - worked the clock but came up empty

Smith with the tap; work the clock and Vanzant just began cramping up - OUCH!

won that stretch too - one more to go!

Can I tell you I can't wait for Tiger Woods 2012: The Masters? I pre-ordered at it Best Buy the other day

What are you doing putting the ball on the floor! Drop step and DUNK THE BALL!

Milwaukee shooting 28 percent from the field!

Hill 1-for-3 from the field and now the moving screen; who called the double team on Hill? Yeah that's right - this guy you're reading right now

Slip in and score - Hill just now scored his second field goal of the game; great defense tonight

Just stand there Shelvin and dribble the ball;

Withstood the run and

HORIZON LEAGUE CHAMPIONS!

You know I have to make this thing a more of an everyday occurrence again. Really should be all over this last March when Butler made that miraculous run to the Final Four. Let me tell you even if it were to happen again someday last season's run will always be the one which will live with me forever.

I was looking at somethings yesterday and as much as I want to stay positive about the Dawgs the one glaring statistic from last night's win over Cleveland State - assist-to-turnover ratio. Butler had 10 assists and 14 turnovers. I am not sure, but I think that's twice it has happened this season. If the Bulldogs are to have any chance against UW-Milwaukee Tuesday night, they will have to cut those down. Milwaukee is always tough at home and we realized that of course in the 2003 Horizon League tournament final.

Vanzant came up huge last night with those back-to-back 3s. Andrew Smith had another solid game against Cleveland State.

Last night's game was a big concern to me mainly because Butler had swept the Vikings and also the Vikings had two games in the tournament already under their belt. I totally understand the bye and how it supposed to reward you, bbut there just are sometimes when I would like to play a game in a tournament situation.

I still think the Horizon League needs to find an outlet which will allow them to have both semifinal games live. Last night - especially late in the game - ESPN3's choppiness and missing plays was completely frustrating.

Indiana State punching the state's first ticket into the madness. No one I think saw that coming, but congratulations to the Sycamores. Hopefully the selection committee won't stick you in a first-four game. That would be totally wrong.

Man, Ohio State is good. Could this be Thad's year? Of course I can't wait to be able to say "I knew Thad when..." That is unless he's playing the Dawgs in the final or somewhere along the line during the tournament.

So tomorrow will be somewhat of a relaxing day of hoops and then of course the Dawgs play in the league championship game against Milwaukee. Then we have the other various conference tournaments to play through before the field of 6(8)4 is revealed a week from tonight. Looking forward to another exciting tournament and hopefully another solid run by the Dawgs.

Dawgs vs. Vikes

Already been a great day of hoops watching and now time to follow my Dawgs as they look to advance to the championship game against Cleveland State. This game concerns me mainly because Butler swept the regular season games against the Vikings and Norris Cole has been tearing it up of late for CSU.

Dawgs control the tip

nice ball movement backdoor cut by smith pass from Howard and Smith is fouled. Fake and then go up son for the layup and foul or has the kids say these days "and 1"

CSU has no one who can stop Smith it's deja vu from the first meeting at Hinkle back in January

Stigall has come up huge these last few games - a 3 to give the Dawgs the lead

Cole only has 12

Khyle Marshall and Andrew Smith are/will be Butler versions of old Pacers Dale and Antonio Davis

ESPN3 again being choppy tonight!

Under 16:00 first half media timeout; Dawgs up four. ESPN3 -UGH! From what I can see the Dawgs are playing well and the defense is there.

Amazing no choppiness when ESPN3 goes to commercial!

Yeah Stevens looks like that young professor with the glasses look.

You know as this season continued everytime they show the fade away jumper and the halfcourt heave from Hayward I still think had he went straight up instead of fading away we are saying Butler Bulldogs National Champs

Stigall obviously has been working on the Steve Alford All American workout like all New Castle kids do

unfortunately the Steve Alford All American workout didn't stress defense

yep Khyle didn't get there; catch the ball and then make your move

there are times when I hate having the bye the other team always has that one game under its belt and is used to the atmpsphere and situation

already CSU in the bonus - outrage!

Shawn get under your feet; suddenly we are settling for the first shot on a touch beyond the arc! Tied at 12 at the under 12:00 media

it simply amazes me the video so clear when ESPN3 goes to commercials!

Howard drains a 3

MOVE YOUR FEET ON DEFENSE! Even the Fabulous Rueff Boys mentioned that just now!

Nored doing the smart thing and giving the ball up to Mack on the wing. Now sink these Shelvin

Dear Andrew Smith - please work on your spin dribble post move this summer!

Nored getting the ball out on the break and finding the wings! Love his guidance of the break so far tonight

Chase Stigall is playing the best I have seen him play

Nice spin around move Andrew - someone on the bench must be reading my blog or Graves and I are on the same wave length again

help-side defense has been a weakness ALL season

the Bulldogs are just outhustling and being more aggressive RIGHT now. Chance to put this game out of reach after this CLEVELAND STATE timeout

when are we ever going to get over quicker on defense

under 4:00 media timeout - Dawgs up nine; Cleveland State ball after the timeout; a run here could put the game out of reach

great we had the chance to put them away and instead the Vikes came roaring back!

sustained the run and played CSU even to finish the half; Nored's jumper off the elbow was nice; couple of adjustments defensively I think will be made at halftime. One key thing I noticed we gotta get back on defense as well; that one basket was too easy.

start of second half UGH! ESPN3!

Memo to friends at the Horizon League - re work your TV deals to get both semifinals on TV LIVE for future tournaments

why are we trying to be a run-n-gun team again?

bounce passes!

Can tell this is one of those games where I am going to wear the hat backward the entire time it looks like.

here's a concept - let's set up the half court offense and run something and get a good shot

good defensive stand there now let's get a good shot here

Vanzant's going to feel that in the morning;

we have to stop Tim Karnczyc if we are going to win this game; I think the one look they showed of Brad after Matt Howar'd errant pass summed up my thoughts about this team in January.

That took some major nerve but glad Vanzant's 3 went in

I think tired legs beginning to show for the Vikings; Vanzant shooting 3 from the line after the timeout as he was fouled by Cole

FREE THROWS!

the under 8:00 media timeout and the Dawgs up 10; but WOW! it's been some of the good and the ugly of this season all rolled up into one.

Coles got loose!

Great straight up D by Smith and then Dawgs come down in transition and Howard goes strong for a basket and is fouled

here comes the press and we are getting outhustled toward the end of the game again

What is it with the Dawgs not being able to finish off teams this season;

we don't need 3s right now; run the clock and get good shots! CSU has the mo right now

why are we having so much trouble with the press!

Vanzant though is playing with some ice in those veins!

huge back to back 3s by SV and now Smith going to the line after a solid defensive stop

12-19 from the free throw line isn't going to get it done and then a stupid foul

Howard going inside just like Fabulous Rueff Boy Luke likes to see him do

3s? Why? We don't need them - we don't need to go four-corner offense but working the clock would be nice

gotta protect the ball but at least they got back to play defense and not give up the easy 2

Smith can't get faked out that easily on an out of bounds play

Cole now with 22

ESPN3 - I can't even tell what the score is but I do think Butler is ahead

Vikes out of TOs; now we just need to take care of the ball here in the final 61 seconds

UGH again freezing up and Missed like four plays hope the SEC deal is worth it ESPN!

Ladies and gentlemen - Matt Howard doing his Curly Neal impersonation

GAME OVER Dawgs win! Dawgs WIN! Now Valpo get it done so we can play at Hinkle on Tuesday night

Oh one more thing - is that Kid or Play that Cole is trying to look like?