Analyzing the Bulldogs
The Key
Pace. The Bulldogs are a halfcourt team. They defend well, they’re efficient with the ball and they knock down free throws. Butler doesn’t want to get into an up-and-down game and give away easy points.
The Troublemaker
The Bulldogs rank ninth in scoring defense (59.6 points a game) for a reason. It’s a team effort. But even at just 6 feet tall, sophomore guard Ronald Nored hounds opposing guards into turnovers and poor decisions.
Why they’ll win it all
No one has forced Butler to play at an uncomfortable tempo yet. The Bulldogs are excellent defensively and at the free throw line. But they are solid at most aspects of the game, too, including 3-point shooting and preventing turnovers.
Why they’ll fall short
Butler has to make shots and get to the foul line. Otherwise, its meticulous gameplan starts to fray. This isn’t a particularly big team, and rebounding is sometimes a problem. Missed shots means a quicker pace, something Butler wants to avoid.
| Category | The Skinny | Rating |
| Coaching | Brad Stevens, just 33, is the latest rising star to coach at Butler. Career record: 88-14. | 2.5 |
| Frontcourt | Little beef. But Howard (11.8 ppg) and Veasley (10.1 pg) both average double figures. | 2 |
| Backcourt | Gordon Hayward (15.5 ppg) is a future pro. Shelvin Mack (14.2 ppg) shares scoring. Nored is top defender. | 3 |
| Bench | Eight-man rotation, but every starter tops 25.7 mpg. Zach Hahn is 42 percent from beyond arc. | 1.5 |
| Experience | First Final Four. Starts three sophomores and a junior. Only two seniors in rotation. |
1 |
| The rating: 1 – The chink in the armor. Teams must attack West Virginia here; 2 – Not their greatest strength. But also not their weakest link; 3 – If West Virginia wins the title, this will be the reason. |
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