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

• devil1197

  Butler's defense has been terrific, but not sure if they can play with this kind of intensity for 40 minutes.
• Non

  

  Mack again for 3
  
  31-19 for Butler
• NOL fan

  ou1980 wrote: Whose idea was it to have this in Salt Lake City???
  
  
  FAIL!

  fwiw, this game started at 5:00 their time. I'm guessing the 2nd game will have a better crowd
• trackandccrunner

  Syracuse is just playing terrible in every aspect of the game. They better get something turned around or else this could get very very ugly.
• Non

  

  Stevens does a good job. They play smart and make solid adjustments.
  
  They're doing some different things offensively and not falling into one style against the zone.
• Non

  

  11 turnovers for Syracuse
  
  33-23 Butler
  
  1:39
• Non

  

  35-23 Butler
  
  Mack with 14
• Mulva

  

  Syracuse looks like they're playing in molasses.
• Non

  

  halftime
  
  35-25 Butler
• SQ_Crazies

  

  Give Butler credit. They're playing great defense.
• ironman02

  Looks like 'Cuse might be in trouble. Boeheim better get 'em goin in the 2nd half.
• killer_ewok

  

  Butler playing outstanding defense as I said earlier. Too many second chances for them and not enough first chances for Syracuse as they're turning the ball over like crazy. Gotta be more careful with the passes and find a way to get Rautins the ball more. Defensively they're playing well as the zone is active but Butler is cashing in on 2nd chances.
  
  As Bill Walton would say,"Grab a rebound!"
• Non

  

  They weren't ready to play that first half.
  
  Coach Boeheim has some work to do.
  
  Dull atmosphere. A lot of empty green seats. Syracuse looked in a fog.
  
  Butler is playing hard on defense, making it tougher, but I think Syracuse is more of Syracuse's problem on offense. If they just have some possessions where they're urgent and execute they should get back in the game. They still can work it inside if they make the passes.
• Non

  

  Yahoo.com headline
  
  "Orange Slush"
• killer_ewok

  

  A huge part of Syracuse's offensive success throughout the season was transition. Butler's second chances negate that and they're doing a great job of getting back on D. They're denying Rautins the ball extremely well. Syracuse isn't as bad in the halfcourt as they look tonight but transition is their bread and butter. Credit to Butler. I think they have more to do with Syracuse's problems than Syracuse does.
• Non

  

  That's true. They do get a lot in transition and haven't so far. Butler works really hard and gets in the passing lanes and so forth, they are an excellent defensive team, but I think Syracuse can change things around just with more attention to detail within themselves. They came out overconfident thinking this would be a cruise and now have to be focused and execute the plays rather than just thinking the talent will carry them through.
  
  I think that will get them back in the game, making it close, though Butler could still pull it off because they already have a nice lead and can continue to score.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  It's definitely more of Butler's defense than Cuse beating themselves. Butler is no joke, this wouldn't be that big of an upset in my eyes.
• Non

  

  I think it's been a combination of Butler's defense and Syracuse's lack of concentration.
  
  Hard to measure that but some careless entry passes and so forth.
  
  That's not to take away from Butler at all. I've watched them in this tourney and they're a good defensive team, no doubt.
• Non

  

  I just think it's something that Boeheim can say come on guys, wake up and pay attention to what you're doing
• Non

  

  another lousy entry pass though
  
  Syracuse sucking in halfcourt
  
  they picked it up a little after Butler misses and that led to a little spurt
• Mulva

  

  Sorry, but Butler's defense has nothing to do with throwing a pass 2 feet over the head of a guy posting up, or fumbling a pass that hits you in the hands out of bounds. It's just sloppy, terrible basketball.
  
  They deserve credit for forcing Syracuse into the half court, but once it's gotten into the half court it's definitely more Syracuse beating themselves.
• Non

  

  39-35
  
  Rautins from long range
• devil1197

  Here come the Cuse
• Non

  

  Cuse in the lead
  
  40-39
  
  Johnson for 3
• Non

  

  nice dunk, too
  
  brought the pain, as Gus likes to say