Butler relies on continuity to make tourney run
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - When Matt Howard arrived at Butler, he was just trying to fit in.
There were nuances and playbooks to learn, and upperclassmen were trying to teach him how to win the Butler way.
Now, after spending one season adjusting and another re-teaching those lessons to his young teammates, the junior center is reaping the benefits of college basketball's rarest commodity - continuity.
"When you get used to people, you can get into a rhythm," Howard said Tuesday before leaving with his teammates for the West Regional semifinals in Salt Lake.
He certainly knows what to expect from his teammates now.
What Butler has done over the past two seasons defies the conventional wisdom of today's game. At a time when one-and-done recruits dominate the national stage and mid-major programs rely heavily on seniors, Butler has gone down a different road.
It did not lose a single player off last season's roster, and coach Brad Stevens has used the same starting lineup - Howard, Gordon Hayward, Shelvin Mack, Ronald Nored and Willie Veasley - for 61 of the last 66 games. That's three sophomores, a junior and one senior. The only time Stevens changed the lineup was because of injuries.
And they got even more playing time together on last summer's trip to Italy, which means the Butler five have started the equivalent of 2 1/2 to three seasons together.
The dividends are priceless.
"As a point guard, it really makes it easy when you know where everybody is going to be and what everyone is going to do," Nored said. "You still have to work on things at practice, but it makes it a lot harder as a point guard when you don't know where they're going to be."
Butler can see the results.
A year ago, with three freshmen and a sophomore starting, the Bulldogs struggled in February and March and wound up losing to LSU in the first round of the NCAA tournament. In November, when Nored was trying to play his way back from a stress fracture in his left leg, the Bulldogs lost twice in California.
Since Nored's recovery, the Bulldogs (30-4) have been virtually unbeatable.
They have won 22 straight games, the Horizon League regular-season and tourney titles and on Saturday reached their third regional semifinal since 2003. They haven't lost since Dec. 22 at Alabama-Birmingham, and a win Thursday over top-seeded Syracuse would move Butler within one victory of returning home for the Final Four.
Players insist they wouldn't have made it here without all those shared experiences and point to Hayward's late gamble against Murray State as the perfect example.
The Horizon League player of the year first started to trap Racers guard Isaiah Canaan, then backed off and jumped into the passing lane where he deflected the pass into the backcourt to run out the clock. Butler 54, Murray State 52.
It was a gamble Hayward took, in part, because he knew how his teammates would react.
"A lot of it was instinctual, but playing with each other, I knew the guys would have my back," he said. "I didn't have to think 'Is my teammate going to be there?' "
Building that kind of unconditional trust takes time, something that has always been in great supply at Butler - a school that has never produced an NBA player.
But the 33-year-old Stevens warns that continuity can create pitfalls, too.
"There is a lot of consistency in game-planning and understanding their roles, which is good," Stevens said. "But I think one of the potential disadvantages, and it hasn't happened with our team, is that they become very accepting of a lesser role and you want them to continue to grow and get better."
The Bulldogs haven't fallen into the trap.
Instead, they've gotten stronger physically, more aggressive and confident mentally and now have a better understanding of expectations from their teammates.
The combination helped put Butler on the college basketball map and kept them there even in the midst of a major rebuilding project last season.
"We know each other well, we've bonded well, we have high expectations," said Veasley, the only senior in the starting lineup. "It's always easier when you know what the other four people are doing."
Copyright 2010 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press.
North Texas Makes It: Potential Cinderella in NCAA
It would be an understatement to say that this is a big deal for the fans of the University of North Texas.
Finishing with an impressive 24-8 record, this will be the third time ever the North Texas Mean Green Eagles Men's basketball team will appear in the NCAA tournament. Being the 15th seed in this year's dance, they will go on to face Kansas State (26-7) tomorrow.
Despite this only being their third time making it to the tournament, head coach Johnny Jones truly has transformed this North Texas basketball team into something that was not previously considered a conference threat.
Before Jones' arrival, North Texas was underneath the leadership of Coach Vic Trilli who finished 20-87 overall, including an embarrassing 4-24 season, before being fired.
Considering these facts, it is obvious that Jones is on the right path with this new, revamped North Texas team.
The question now is whether or not North Texas will be able to assume their Cinderella role and pull off quite the upset tomorrow. Seasonal statistics show that this would not be too unbelievable.
North Texas has shown its improvements defensively as well shooting the ball inside, as opposed to Kansas State's tendency to play outside this season.
In this match-up, size will matter. North Texas forwards, George Odufuwa (6'10") and Eric Tramiel (6'7"), will have to prove who the larger team is.
In order for North Texas to shock the nation and pull off this upset they are going to need to do a number of things.
First, they will need to keep Kansas State Guard, Rodney McGruder, from staying open on the outside. Instead, they will have to force the game towards the inside near the key, where North Texas Defense is strongest.
Secondly, the "Mean Green" will have to limit their number of turnovers, and stick to the style of play that has been working for them this season.
No one said it was going to be easy, but this March Madness could start with the unexpected.
Copyright 2010 Bleacher Report, Inc.
NCAAB Tennessee Volunteers vs LSU Tigers
The Volunteers are up against the worst team in the conference as they face the LSU Tigers tonight in SEC basketball action.
The Tennessee Volunteers need a road victory tonight and they are fortunate to be playing the LSU Tigers, who are the conference’s worst team.
NCAA hoops betting odds have the Vols listed as 7-point favorites.
Sunday's win over Florida kept the Vols within 1 1/2 games of Kentucky in the SEC East, but they play five of their next seven away from home. The stretch features back-to-back road games against No. 18 Vanderbilt on Feb. 9 and the fourth-ranked Wildcats on Feb. 13.
LSU led the SEC West with 74.8 points per game in 2008-09, but the Tigers are averaging a league-worst 63.5 points this season. The Tigers have averaged 56.7 points on 39.5 percent shooting during their seven-game losing streak.
LSU has not dropped eight in a row since 2008. The Tigers, winners of five of the past eight meetings with Tennessee, beat the Vols 79-73 in Knoxville last Jan. 28.
(c) CRUNCH SPORTS.
Kansas Favored On The Road Against Rival Kansas State
In a sense of vanity, the Kansas Jayhawks probably owe their rivals from Kansas State a bit of gratitude for last week's pounding of the Texas Longhorns, because it made their ascent back to the top of the rankings all that quicker.
In a sense of reality, thought, they probably could have lived without the Wildcats gaining that little bit of momentum. For the second-straight week, Kansas State will attempt to knock off a top-two team as they host their in-state rivals this Saturday.
Kansas, after falling to fourth on a loss to Tennessee, has risen back up to second, and looks poised to reclaim the top spot next week after a loss to current-no. 1 Kentucky.
The Jayhawks are four-point favorites in the College Basketball Betting Lines, according to BetUS, with a 175-point total..
Although rankings don't do a lick of good until seeding in the NCAA Tournament comes around, being back at the top means Kansas responded well to the ugly loss to the Volunteers back on Jan. 10. They shot well below 40-percent, and got bleak performances from Sherron Collins and Xavier Henry.
Since then Collins has turned it around, and the Jayhawks have won five-straight conference games by an average of 17 points per.
Center Cole Aldrich, who is projected to be an early first round pick in this summer's NBA Draft, has scored in double-digits four games in-a-row, and has a double-double in two-straight.
Four Jayhawks are scoring in double-digits this season, led by Collins' 15.5.
The Wildcats have won four of their last five since losing to Missouri on Jan. 9th, including a gritty 76-74 win over Baylor on Tuesday.
Jacob Pullen scored 25 points in that game on six three-pointers and hit two game-winning free throws at the tail end.
"It was no big deal to me," Pullen told ESPN after the game. "It was mental and mechanical. I felt great, like I got back into my rhythm."
Pullen, who leads the team with 19.2 points per game, is the most polarizing figure in Manhattan with his signature beard tracing is jaw line that has become a fashion trend around campus. Students packed the arena during Kansas State's win over Texas, many of them wearing faux beards in his honor.
The Wildcats won despite shooting 38-percent from the floor, but have since rebounded with back-to-back plus-45-percent nights, including a 50-percent game against Baylor.
(c) 2009 USAplayer.com - All Rights Reserved.
#4 Villanova vs St Johns Red Storm Game Odds
No. 4 Villanova Wildcats (17-1 SU, 13-4 ATS) at St. Johns Red Storm (12-6 SU, 9-6 ATS)
Here are some NCAA Betting Trends which may impact this game:
Villanova: 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games
Villanova: Total has gone OVER in last 5 games
St. John's: 3-1 ATS in their last 4 games
St. John's: Total has gone UNDER in 4 of last 5 games
There might not be a hotter in college basketball to bet on right now than the No. 4 ranked Villanova Wildcats. They take their undefeated Big East record on the road Saturday afternoon to play the St. Johns Red Storm.
Villanova is one of the highest scoring teams in college basketball this season, thanks a backcourt that might be the deepest in the game.
Leading the way is senior Scottie Reynolds, who chose to put off NBA riches to return to Villanova for his senior season. It seems like a good choice, as Reynolds numbers are up across the board in 2010, and leads this team with 18.7 points per game. Reynolds has scored 25 or more points in two of his last three games.
But Reynolds is certainly not the only contributing guard on this roster, as Corey Fisher and Reggie Redding both add double-digit points per contest, with Fisher leading this team in assists. Although the Wildcats frontline is a bit undersized, both Antonio Pena and Taylor King are having excellent seasons, combining to average 20 points and 14 rebounds per game. Villanova ranks third in college basketball averaging 85 points per game.
As for their opposition Saturday, St. Johns biggest problem in 2010 has been putting the ball in the basket themselves. On the season they rank just 219th in college basketball, scoring just 67 points per game. Even more alarming is that in six conference games, they have scored under 60 points in four of them.
The Red Storm's most dangerous player this season has been guard D.J. Kennedy. Kennedy, a junior from Pittsburgh, is a versatile player, averaging 15 points per game. Kennedy was the only player who stepped up in St. Johns 75-59 loss to UConn Wednesday night, scoring a team high 17 points.
If there is one highly ranked team that Red Storm match up with in the Big East however, it might be these Villanova Wildcats. St. Johns themselves aren't particularly big on the interior, but do have more size than Villanova. For the Red Storm to have any chance in this game, they'll need to slow down the tempo, and force the ball inside. They should be expose to expose Villanova's small lineup, but whether their big guys can finish at the rim will be the difference.
And as easy as it is to say that St. Johns needs to slow tempo against the Wildcats, that's usually easier said than done. Villanova has scored 90 or more points in five of their last eight games.
While they might not get to that magic number, they should get pretty close, and cover Saturday's betting odds.
Aaron's Pick: Villanova by 16
(c) 1994-2009 BetUS.com. All Rights Reserved.
College Basketball Saturday Picks - #23 Ole Miss vs. #10 Tennessee
No. 23 Ole Miss Rebels (13-3 SU, 7-4-1 ATS) at No. 10 Tennessee Volunteers (13-2 SU, 7-4-1 ATS)
Here are some NCAA Betting Trends which may impact this game:
Ole Miss: 1-3 ATS in their last 4 games
Ole Miss: Total has gone OVER in 3 of their last 4 games
Tennessee: 9-1 SU in their last 10 home games
Tennessee: 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games
One of college basketball's hottest teams will hit the floor again Saturday afternoon for an SEC showdown, when the Tennessee Volunteers host the Ole Miss Rebels.
For Tennessee it's been a crazy last couple weeks, as the Volunteers were forced to kick Tyler Smith, their second leading scorer, off the team. However, they've responded by ripping off three wins in a row since then, including a shocking home court victory last week over No. 1 ranked Kansas.
With only six scholarship players now on their roster (Tennessee suspended three other players indefinitely), other guys have had to step up, none bigger than sophomore guard Scotty Hopson. Hopson, is finally starting to fulfill the promise that he brought with him to Tennessee, as he is a former high school All-American. On the season he is leading the Vols in scoring, and has scored in double figures every game since Smith's suspension.
Point guard Bobby Maze has stepped up as well, notching 17 assists in the Volunteers last two games. Although undersized, Wayne Chism has been a load to handle down low.
As for Ole Miss, coach Andy Kennedy has this team playing well also, and are looking for their first NCAA Tournament bid since the early part of last decade. The Rebels feature maybe the most underrated backcourt in college basketball: Chris Warren and Terrico White. Both average over 16 points per game, allowing Ole Miss to play a fast paced game that ranks them as the 12 th highest scoring team in college basketball. They are thin on the inside however, as they start just one player over 6'7 tall.
If fast paced, high-scoring offenses are what you like, you'd better not miss this one. The Rebels are one of college basketball's most underrated teams. Even still, I don't know that it will be enough to go on the road to Rocky Top and get a win.
Despite missing several players, the Volunteers seem to be playing better without them. Their defense is more aggressive, their offense quicker and everyone in the game playing tougher. Despite being undermanned don't be surprised by their victory over Kansas last weekend, they played harder and were the better team that day.
Look for Tennessee to keep the ball rolling Saturday, and pull out a tough SEC victory. These teams are just about equal, and the home court crowd will be the difference. Take Tennessee by the slimmest of margins in this week's college basketball betting odds.
Aaron's Pick: Tennessee by 2
(c) 1994-2009 BetUS.com. All Rights Reserved.
NCAA Hoops - #1 Kansas vs. #15 Tennessee
No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks (14-0 SU, 6-5 ATS) at No. 15 Tennessee Volunteers (11-2 SU, 5-4-1 ATS)
Here are some NCAA Basketball Betting Trends Which May Impact This Game:
Kansas: 1-2 ATS in their last 3 games
Kansas: 1-1 ATS on the road
Tennessee: 4-3 ATS at home
Tennessee: Total has gone UNDER in 4 of 6 games
Sunday, the Kansas Jayhawks, college basketball's top ranked team, hits the road to face a Tennessee squad that is filled with questions.
On the surface, it appears as everything is going well at Tennessee. They're 11-2 so far in this year's betting odds, and are ranked No. 15 in the country. However, in the last week, head coach Bruce Pearl has had to suspend four players, including the team's second leading scorer Tyler Smith, for possession of weapons. The Volunteers played their first game without Smith, fellow starter Cameron Tatum and two others on Wednesday night, and were able to pull out a victory over Charlotte, 88-71.
If Tennessee is to have any chance on Sunday, they'll need big-time production from their top two remaining players, Scotty Hopson and Wayne Chism. On the year, the two have combined to score25 points per game, with Chism also the Volunteers leading rebounder. In the absence of Smith, look for Renaldo Woolridge to get his second start of the season. He played 27 minutes on Wednesday, scoring double-digits for just the second time this season.
However, it's never easy when you're playing Kansas, even with a full roster. The Jayhawks are ranked No.1 in the country, and one of only four remaining undefeated teams.
They are led by two All-Americans, one in the frontcourt (Cole Aldrich) and Sherron Collins in the backcourt. The two turned down NBA riches last spring to return to Lawrence and try to win their second National Championship in three years. Maybe the Jayhawks biggest surprise of the season has been the play of true freshman Xavier Henry, who's actually leading this team in scoring. He's averaging 16 points per game on the season.
After struggling Wednesday night against Cornell, look for the Jayhawks to come out much more focused on Sunday in Knoxville. They are a team who play their best in big games, as they absolutely dominated a ranked Temple team on the road last Saturday. And even though Tennessee will be shorthanded, it will be Kansas' biggest test of the year.
I expect them to be ready. The Jayhawks are one of those teams that always seem to play their best when the lights are the brightest, and they'll be in front of a national TV audience Sunday. Although Collins may be held in check, look for Aldrich to have one of his best games of the season. The junior hasn't quite lived up to preseason expectations, but has improved lately, recording four double-doubles in his last five games.
Expect the Jayhawks to be ready, and to cover Sunday's college basketball betting odds. There's a reason they're the No. 1 ranked team in the country.
Aaron's Pick: Kansas by 7
(c) 1994-2009 BetUS.com. All Rights Reserved.
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