Butler Bulldogs
Location: Indianapolis
Conference: Horizon
Coach: Brad Stevens
Pre-Tournament Record: 26-5, 15-4
RPI: 44
SOS: 11
Outlook: Butler's a perennial mid-major power, but this team isn't as good as last year's squad that outplayed Tennessee during a second-round NCAA tournament game. Matt Howard is a mobile big man who rebounds, blocks shots, and scores, but the Bulldogs' freshmen may be their downfall. They're going to be terrific players, but the cuts and shots are not as crisp. Howard should be motivated after his foul trouble hurt Butler in the Tennessee loss in 2008. This team shares the ball, but it is still too young to expect a tournament thrill.
Starter Stats:
Matt Howard, So.
Forward, 6-8
14.3 ppg 6.9 rpg.,
Gordon Hayward, Fr.
Forward, 6-8
13.8 ppg 6.3 rpg.,
Willie Veasley, Jr.
Guard, 6-3
9.1 ppg 4.4 rpg.,
Ronald Nored, Fr.
Guard, 6-0
4.2 ppg 3.1 rpg.,
Shelvin Mack, Fr.
Guard, 6-3
11.7 ppg 4.1 apg. |
LSU Tigers
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Conference: Southeastern
Coach: Trent Johnson
Pre-Tournament Record: 26-7, 13-3
RPI: 37
SOS: 84
Outlook: Marcus Thornton is a lottery pick. He can shoot it, pass, cut to get open, and he has some muscle. Tasmin Mitchell can be a good player, too, maybe late first, early second. That’s two good players. Enough to win a game, maybe not enough to win two. The Tigers were 13-3 in the SEC, but the conference was down. What they do well, and what might pull them through to the Sweet 16, is follow their roles.
Garrett Temple locked down J.J. Redick in the 2006 regionals and he can do that to a lot of guards. If the opponent’s offense revolves around a guard Temple can handle -- not a 6-8 wing -- LSU can reach the second weekend. Trent Johnson is a veteran of the NCAA tournament, he knows how to win in March (Nevada, Stanford), so there is nothing that will be new to him.
Starter Stats:
Garrett Temple, Sr. Guard, 6-6 7.1 ppg 4.5 ppg,
Bo Spencer, So. Guard, 6-1 11.7 ppg 2.6 apg,
Marcus Thornton, Sr. Guard, 6-4 20.9 ppg 5.5 rpg,
Tasmin Mitchell, Jr. Forward, 6-7 16.4 ppg 7.3 rpg,
Chris Johnson, Sr. Forward, 6-117.9 ppg 7.4 rpg |