NCAA Sweet 16: (5) Butler vs (1) Syracuse

• Azubuike24

  

  Another awesome game. I'm not sure Butler has shown the firepower to match Syracuse offensively, and Howard is going to have his hands full with Johnson, Jackson, Joseph and even Onuaku if he returns. It will be interesting to see Butler with an advantage, IMO, in the backcourt, and it will be even more interesting to see Wesley Johnson go up against Gordon Hayward. That might be the best individual match-up of the weekend.
  
  Thoughts on this one? Does Butler have what it takes to get back home to Indianapolis? I like their chances in the regional final against KSU or Xavier if they can somehow beat Syracuse.
• Cleveland Buck

  

  I like Butler, but Syracuse is too much. If Butler can slow the game down they can stay in it. If not, Orange by double digits.
• CinciX12

  

  Butler beats Syracuse and X beats Kansas State, all I will say is hello Final Four. You guys have no idea how badly Xavier wants to beat the ass of anything that is Butler after that clock BS earlier this season.
  
  Thats a moot point. Syracuse will flatten them.
• Laley23

  

  Syracuse big imo. Butler is gonna have to really slow the game down for it to be close...but unfortunately I think a half court game vs that zone is going to make it tough.
• Non

  

  Syracuse was rockin and rollin last weekend. They fed off the crowd support.
  
  I'm interested to see how well they traveled to Salt Lake City.
• trackandccrunner

  Cuse by 14.
• reclegend22

  

  It's good to see that a lot of people wanted to attend the game.
• Mulva

  

  Weak crowd.
• Non

  

  Yeah that's terrible. Can't even fill the first few rows.
• Non

  

  Butler has won 22 in a row.
  
  I think they can hang around while. Pesky team that can shoot 3s.
  
  But Syracuse should make a run and win by about 10.
  
  This Orange squad is kind of a showtime team, when they get rolling they're awesome.
  
  But if it's a dull atmosphere they could fall into a trap, I think.
• Non

  

  10-1 Butler
  
  Hayward from 3
• SQ_Crazies

  

  This is one of those games that when I looked at my bracket I said Butler instantly yet picked Cuse just based on averages. Dumb. I thought Butler was the better team then, I definitely think they are now and they couldn't have hoped for a better start.
• september63

  

  10-1 Butler. The longer Butler stays in the game. Who knows? Ask G'town bout that.
• DeyDurkie5

  

  SQ_Crazies wrote: This is one of those games that when I looked at my bracket I said Butler instantly yet picked Cuse just based on averages. Dumb. I thought Butler was the better team then, I definitely think they are now and they couldn't have hoped for a better start.

  I mean they could've hoped for a 10-0 start...
• Non

  

  Syracuse crushed Gonzaga so no doubt some overconfidence to start.
  
  Butler may lack the overall talent but clearly a tough customer coming in with a long win streak, good work ethic and again, the ability to make shots.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  They could have hoped for a 40-0 start. But 10-1 is about as good as you could realistically hope for.
• Non

  

  Syracuse is doing pretty well defensively though
  
  they're real close to the shooters just with their long arms
  
  that's good against Butler
• SQ_Crazies

  

  That dude in the corner just traveled like crazy.
• ou1980

  Whose idea was it to have this in Salt Lake City???
  
  
  FAIL!
• killer_ewok

  

  Butler is playing outstanding defense right now and that's the difference in the game.
• Non

  

  Howard can move around all he wants, he really is going to have a tough time catching the ball and getting in for an easy basket.
  
  Johnson or whoever should block him pretty easily.
  
  and then the rebounds will be owned by Syracuse
  
  so I think Syracuse has the defense set up pretty well, just get out and contest those shots a little bit
• Non

  

  Mack is on fire
  
  9 points
• Non

  

  24-14
  
  Butler playing smart
  
  not settling for the three as I posted above
  
  driving into the soft spot, foul line and elbow area and knocking down jumpers
• Non

  

  Mack leading the way
  
  26-17 for Butler
• Mulva

  

  What a couple of garbage starts to the sweet 16. Every time Rick Jackson touches the ball it ends up in Butler hands.