Butler vs Syracuse 3/25/10

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The Bulldogs defense looks to slow the potent Orange offense in a 3rd round tilt.

College Basketball 3/25/10 NCAA Sweet 16
Butler Bulldogs (30-4) (Horizon)-Syracuse Orange (30-4) (Big East)

By Mark-Thursday, March 25th 2010 7:05 PM EST
Line-Syracuse-6.5

In a game of spurts and big plays, a Butler steal with seconds remaining propelled them to 54-52 win over Murray State. The boxscore tells of a Bulldogs team that was easily handled in this one as they suffered through one of their poorest offensive days of the entire season with just 36% shooting and an 11 of 19 mark from the line. Combined with getting dominated on the glass by a healthy 39-22 margin and a Butler win here is boderline miraculous. Their best weapon against Murray State happened to be the Racers themselves who literally handed the game away with 18 turnovers. Sloppy ball handling led to their demise as the Bulldogs took advantage of the 'gifts' that sent them to the next round. Despite a lack luster offensive day, the Bulldogs still managed a balanced attack with four players cracking double figures in the scoring column led by 15 points from Ronald Norad on six of nine shooting.

Gonzaga found the Syracuse zone too difficult to crack while the Orange scored at will as they embarassed the WCC regular season champions, 87-65. The Bulldogs finished at a lack luster 42% from the floor and just as as bad 12 of 20 from the stripe as there was little they did well. On the flip side, Syracuse did little wrong finding the bottom of the net early and often as they finished at 55% shooting and a phenominal 12 of 25 from long distance. The Orange cleaned the glass with a 38-27 margin and the never let up as HC Jim Boeheim played his first team almost as if this were a one point game. Wes Johnson poured in a career high 31 points followed by Leo Rautin's 24 while the duo shot a combined nine of 15 from distance. Lost in the shuffle was the job Syracuse did defensively on Gonzaga star Matt Bouldin who was held to just eight points on three of 13 from the floor and 0 of six on threes.

Syracuse offense: 81 ppg 20 apg 38 rpg 52%
Syracuse defense: 66 ppg 16 apg 34 rpg 40%
Butler offense: 70 ppg 13 apg 33 rpg 45%
Butler defense: 60 ppg 11 apg 30 rpg 42%

Butler is more of a nose to the grindstone team that emphasizes defense to win games while the Orange have a multitude of weapons they can turn to on the attack. Syracuse can play defense when they put their mind to it and if Onauku plays it's just another bullet in the gun. The way the Orange ran over Gonzaga makes them tough to go against.