Remember the Butler Bulldogs? Came within an unkind rim of beating the Duke Blue Devils for the national title in 2010? They're making another run at it with or without their mascot, starting with the Old Dominion Monarchs just after noon on March 17. This one could be a classic -- these might be the two most evenly matched teams in the entire first ("second") round.
NCAA Bracket Preview, Predictions: No. 8 Butler Vs. No. 9 Old Dominion
Star Watch: Matt Howard is the biggest name, averaging darn-near a double-double nightly. He can bang inside, and he's efficient from outside, hitting five of six three-point attempts in one game this year. His counterpart, ODU's big Frank Hassell, will not be doing any work from beyond the arc, thank you very much. He will, however, go for his 16th double-double of the season.
Prediction: Are people overvaluing Butler's 2010 spree, or are they overvaluing the talent the Bulldogs lost? I'll go with something as nebulous as postseason experience here and pick a Butler victory.
More Reading: Butler fans should check in at SB Nation Indiana frequently, while Old Dominion fans (and Butler fans!) should subscribe to everything Mid Major Madness publishes.
Need help picking your bracket? Check out SB Nation's full 2011 NCAA Tournament bracket predictions, picking every game of March Madness, or our region by region breakdowns for the East Region, West Region, Southeast Region, and Southwest Region.
Did your team miss the 2011 NCAA Tournament? We have you covered: check out the 2011 NIT bracket.
See More:
