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Butler vs Michigan State
4/3/10
Could this be the year of the underdog? The Butler Bulldogs and Michigan
State Spartans hope so. Admittedly both are tough teams, but neither entered the
NCAA Tournament ranked with the top echelon of teams. Butler and Michigan State
both received a 5 seed. Both teams have overcome good teams and plenty of
adversity to reach this point. Butler has the good fortune to be playing just a
few miles from their campus in Indianapolis, IN. Michigan State enjoyed that
same luxury last year, and isn’t too far away this year either. Only one will
get to keep playing. Will it be the hometown darlings Butler, or the Izzo led
Spartans? Only time will tell!
The Bulldogs of Butler find themselves in the Final Four after a hard fought
battle against Kansas State. They led for much of the game and held off a late
rally attempt by the Wildcats. It’s possible that Kansas State was gassed after
playing 2OT against Xavier two days prior. Butler had to take down Syrcause in
the Sweet Sixteen. Many thought Syracuse would crush them like a bug, but the
Bulldogs played with ice in their veins. They led for a large portion of the
game, but lost the lead late in the second half. Most would have figured
Syracuse would put them away, but Butler came back won the game.
The Butler Bulldogs have never had a player make it to the NBA. That will end
very soon. Gordon Hayward is practically a lock to go in the first 15 picks of
the NBA Draft. The sophomore swingman picks up 15.5 PPG and 8.2 RPG. He had 24
points against Ohio State during the regular season and put up 22 on Kansas
State in the Elite Eight. Shelvin Mack, Matt Howard, and Willie Veasley are also
integral cogs to this Bulldogs team. They combine for 36.1 PPG. Howard and Mack
are both forces in the paint combining to pick up 9.1 RPG. Butler needs a big
game from both of them against this physical Michigan State Spartans team.
Does the name Tom Izzo sound familiar? It should. The Spartans Coach has led his
team to the Final Four for the sixth team. Upperclassmen playing for Izzo have
had the chance to play in the Final Four for thirteen consecutive years. Izzo is
truly one of the greatest coaches of all time. Michigan State wouldn’t have
reached this point without him. They narrowly overcame New Mexico State in the
first round. After that they beat the Maryland Terrapins on a buzzer beating
three pointer. In their third game they downed white hot Northern Iowa. In the
Elite Eight they disposed of Tennessee. With the exception of Northern Iowa, the
Spartans have won their games in the Big Dance by 3 points or less.
Losing G Kalin Lucas was tough for Michigan State, but Korie Lucious has gone an
excellent job filling his shoes. He even scored the buzzer beating shot against
Maryland. Durrell Summers has been lights out in the Big Dance. He had 21 points
against the Tennessee Volunteers and 26 when the Spartans downed the Terrapins
in the second round. Raymar Morgan has been a bit off his regular season numbers
which were 11.5 PPG and 6.2 RPG. Michigan State needs a big game from him here.
Both of these teams are lucky to be here. They beat teams that were bigger,
faster, and probably better than they are. Michigan State is without its best
player and something has to give sooner or later. Butler is playing great and
will be effectively be playing a home game just a few miles from their campus.
How can you not root for Butler here. Butler landing in the Title game would be
great for college hoops and for all the Cinderella teams to come. There is no
betting edge that we can come up with. The game is a true toss up. So no
official play. However, we'll be rooting for Butler here, and for college hoops
in general. Butler by 2.