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!