Wednesday, March 31, 2010

News On The Horizon 3/31/2010


Bringing back the spirit of Butler--Honolulu Advertiser
In Indianapolis, Butler is one of the big boys--USA Today
Did Mighty Oaks confront NCAA champion at Butler?--Princeton Daily Clarion
Butler close to Indiana hoops lore--USA Today
Butler presence adds spice to Final Four--St. Louis Post-Dispatch
How much will Indianapolis lose from Butler?--Rivals.com
Final Four Welcomes Butler To Its Own Hometown--NPR
Butler fans, students and even the governor relish regional win--USA Today
A tough out: Butler primed to prove it belongs among elite--USA Today
Final Four Likability Index--ESPN.com
The Butler bonus: compatibility--ESPN.com
The Document--The Mid-Majority
Does Home Court at the Final Four Help?--Rush The Court
Tournament Preview--Basketball Prospectus
Butler's Hayward in Final Four's most important player--Sporting News
Butler the team, now the time for major mid-major breakthrough--CBSSports.com
The six most outrageous styles from the NCAA tournament--Rivals.com

THE 'STACHE

Butler players all originally planned to grow mustaches for a late-season game against Valparaiso, but they abandoned the plan immediately upon realizing how ridiculous they looked. Well, all except junior Matt Howard, who opted to keep his wispy mustache for the remainder of the season.

Howard's 'stache has developed somewhat of a cult following, evoking comparisons to Adam Morrison and even earning a facebook page in its honor.

"The mustache is awesome," guard Ronald Nored said. "I love it."

Four players who've raised their games en route to Final Four--Sporting News
Storylines from the Final Four--Ballin' is a Habit
Final Four has team-oriented look--Fanhouse
Five reasons why Butler won’t win it all--College Hoops Journal
Tourney Thoughts: A Final Four of smartest, toughest -- and luckiest--Sports Illustrated
Indiana legend Plump connects Butler with “Hoosiers”--The Chicago Tribune
Hayward has made a habit out of making key plays--The Post-Tribune
Six-Mile Road--The NWI Times
Butler students get 2nd chance to score tickets--The Indy Star
Players, Stevens trade trash talk--The Indy Star
New Castle pipeline has been good for Butler--The Indy Star
Bulldogs keep hitting the books--The Indy Star
Butler's newfound fame: Everyone's a fan now--The Indy Star
NCAA blog 19: All Butler, all the time--Indy Star Butler Insider
SOLD OUT: Final Four Student Tickets--ButlerSports.com
TUESDAY'S PRESS CONFERENCE VIDEO--ButlerSports.com
Final Four Press Conference Coverage--ButlerSports.com

Looking ahead: With extra size, Cleveland State basketball hopes for big things in 2010-11--Cleveland Plain Dealer

Klein To Participate in WNBA Free Agent Camp--csuvikings.com

How MSU can put the Bulldogs back on a leash--The Detroit Free Press

Follow Mulroy to Indianapolis For The 22nd Annual State Farm Three Point Championships--detroittitans.com

Former Loyola captain recalls social significance of 1963 national title--The Chicago Tribune
Rival Horizon League coaches hope to capitalize on Butler’s success--The Chicago Tribune

Maggie McCloskey To Compete At 22nd Annual State Farm College Slam Dunk And Three-Point Championships--LoyolaRamblers.com

Photos: Tod Kowalczyk's UWGB coaching career--Green Bay Press Gazette
Who'll follow Kowalczyk as UWGB's coach?--Green Bay Press Gazette
Mike Vandermause column: Kowalczyk leaves, underappreciated--Green Bay Press Gazette
Kowalczyk leaves UWGB for 'better opportunity' at Toledo--Green Bay Press Gazette
UWGB's Kowalczyk takes Toledo job--UWGB Basketball
Kowalczyk: Toledo is "a better opportunity to be successful"--UWGB Basketball
UWGB recruit Cerroni sticking by the Phoenix--UWGB Basketball
Candidates for UWGB lining up already--UWGB Basketball
Wrapping up day one of UWGB's coaching search--UWGB Basketball
Green Bay to Begin Men's Basketball Head Coaching Search--uwgbathletics.com

McCafferty Trophy Update--Panther Blog Zone
A Few Men's Basketball Things--Panther Blog Zone

Head Coach Homer Drew, Bryce Drew And Valparaiso University Score A Recruiting Coup, And Land Class Of 2010 Oswego East Star Jay Harris Of Illinois Old School--ChicagoHoops.com
Gueye backs off commitment to play at Valpo--The Post-Tribune
Moussa Gueye decommits from Valparaiso--Off The Mark
NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament--The NWI Times

Horizon League commish says home-court tournament likely to stay--Mark Katz's Blog

Comeback Player: YSU's Blocker gets national award for cancer fight--Youngstown Vindicator

Horizon League puts its stamp on Indianapolis with permanent signage--The Horizon League
Horizon League Network airing exclusive NCAA Final Four Coverage--The Horizon League
YSU's Dallas Blocker Named Recipient of V Foundation Comeback Award--The Horizon League
Men's Basketball Final Four Update--The Horizon League

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

News On The Horizon 3/30/2010


Final Four Chat Block--The Mid-Majority
That’s Debatable: Looking Back at Regional Weekend--Rush The Court
Final Four Team-By-Team Previews: Butler--Rush The Court
ATB: Selected Thoughts on the Final Four Teams--Rush The Court
Diary From Salt Lake: West Regional--Rush The Court
RTC Final Four Tidbits: 03.29.10--Rush The Court
The 10 prevalent storylines of Final Four week--College Hoops Journal
No longer far-fetched to think of Butler as a champion--The Indy Star
Butler fans line up at ticket office--The Indy Star
These early birds catch a berth in the Final Four--The Indy Star
Butler's statement on the ticket situation--The Indy Star
Butler student tix go quick; many shut out--The Indy Star
Hiring a young Stevens pays for Butler--The Indy Star
Butler isn't exactly real-life 'Hoosiers'--The Detroit News
Butler’s amazing run recalls “Hoosiers,” Larry Bird--The Chicago Tribune
Smack: Butler or Hickory, Hoosier Cinderella?--The Chicago Tribune
Images of Butler in the NCAA tournament--Daily Herald
Big Time Players Make Plays--SLAM Online
NCAA blog 18: Welcome home 'overwhelming'--Indy Star Butler Insider
Final Four Ticket Update--ButlerSports.com
Final Four Student Ticket Sales Information from Butler--ButlerSports.com

Does Cleveland State Get Behind the Right Team?--The Cauldron

Men's basketball: Kowalczyk might make move to Toledo--Green Bay Press Gazette
UWGB's Kowalczyk will interview at Toledo--UWGB Basketball

Butler's Final Four success hardly surprises UWM's Jeter--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Valparaiso lands Oswego East's Harris--YourSeason.com
Q&A with Oswego East's Jay Harris--YourSeason.com
Oswego East recruit to sign with VU--The Post-Tribune
Oswego East guard commits to Valparaiso--Off The Mark
Crusaders mindful of Butler's Final Four run--The NWI Times
Valparaiso men’s basketball update--Region Sports Extra

Butler is the Talk of the Town--Horizon League Network

Sunday, March 28, 2010

News On The Horizon 3/28/2010


Final Four finally gives Butler reason to party--MICentralSports.com
Butler did it, beats KSU 63-56 to make Final Four--MICentralSports.com
Names and numbers from the regional finals--MICentralSports.com
Butler Basketball to Final Four Opus from a Great Butler Fan--Kent Sterling
Kentucky Basketball Loses to West Virginia and America Wins--Kent Sterling
Butler Goes Home to Indianapolis for Final Four--The New York Times
Exhausted Kansas State on losing end of game, scheduling--Gregg Doyel
Butler Back in the Big Time--The Quad Blog
Homeward Bound: Butler to the Final Four--Luke Winn at the Tourney
The Way Back Home--The Mid-Majority
RTC Region by Region Analysis: 03.27.10--Rush The Court
ATB: Butler and West Virginia Punch Tickets to Indy--Rush The Court
Butler beats Kansas State, is going to the Final Four--Ballin' is a Habit
Brad Stevens has hops--Ballin' is a Habit
Butler blows past Gonzaga as March’s perennial non-major March player--College Hoops Journal
Two Final Four Tickets Punched: Butler and West Virginia are Going to Indianapolis--The Big Lead
Smith lends a hand on Butler's frontline--The Indy Star
Sophomores are winners--The Indy Star
THE ROAD WINDS HOME--The Indy Star
NCAA blog 16: Beginning of a Butler Nation--Indy Star Butler Insider
NCAA blog 17: Let Blue II appear in Final Four--Indy Star Butler Insider
Elite Eight: Salt Lake City stunner! Butler into the Final Four--Deseret News
Butler at home for Final Four--Salt Lake Tribune
BUTLER 63, KANSAS STATE 56--THE unOFFICIAL BUTLER BULLDOGS MEN'S BASKETBALL PAGE
BU's NEXT STOP: Final Four In Indy!--ButlerSports.com
Final Four Ticket Information--ButlerSports.com

Butler did it for every small school that just needed a chance--ChicagoNow.com
Butler hits a home run in NCAA tournament--The Chicago Tribune

Iowa hires new coach not named Brownell--Mark Katz's Blog

Butler knocks off Kansas State for first Final Four berth in Horizon League history--The Horizon League
Butler Makes History--Horizon League Network
Butler In the Final Four--Horizon League Network

Saturday, March 27, 2010

News On The Horizon 3/27/2010


Names and numbers from the regional semifinals--MICentralSports.com
Butler one win from heading home for Final Four--MICentralSports.com
There's a Basketball Game Today at 4:30 PM ET--The Mid-Majority
RTC Region by Region Tidbits: 03.26.10--Rush The Court

West Region (Andrew Murawa)
...
* Butler is coming off an emotional win over top-seeded Syracuse, but their regional final opponent, Kansas State, is also coming off a wild win, one being measured against the best college basketball games ever. Both teams are ready for more. It should be a game of conflicting tempos, with Butler wanting to play slow and the Wildcats wanting to get out and run, and whoever gets the pace their way will have a significant edge.

Elite Eight Game Analysis: Saturday Night--Rush The Court
RTC (Sorta) Live: The Elite Eight – Saturday 03.27.10 Edition--Rush The Court
Saturday's Elite 8 preview--Ballin' is a Habit
Video recap from Thursday night--College Hoops Journal
Wildcats: We're excited, not weary--The Indy Star
Hayward should be in no hurry to take step to professional level--The Indy Star
Bulldogs, Wildcats battle today at 4:30 p.m.--The Indy Star
Butler's Region athletes pumped for regional finals--The NWI Times
NCAA blog 15: Butler is last of the little guys--Indy Star Butler Insider
Bulldogs Face Kansas State In West Regional Final--ButlerSports.com

Listen To Kenny Williams On ESPN Radio 1000 This Saturday--uicflames.com

UW-Milwaukee looks to junior colleges for point guard--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Go Dawgs!!--Milwaukee Panther Tracks

Iowa wants Wright State's Brownell?--Dayton Daily News
Report: Iowa interviews Brownell--Mark Katz's Blog

NCAA Tournament 4th Round - Butler vs. Kansas State--Horizon League Network

Friday, March 26, 2010

News On The Horizon 3/26/2010


Butler rallies to beat top-seeded Syracuse 63-59--MICentralSports.com
K-State, Butler, Kentucky, West Virginia advance--MICentralSports.com
RTC (Sorta) Live: Sweet Sixteen Day One--Rush The Court
RTC Region by Region Tidbits: 03.25.10--Rush The Court

West Region (Andrew Murawa)
...
* With Butler knocking off Syracuse on Thursday night, they are now one game away from playing in the Final Four in their hometown, and regardless of the outcome on Saturday, they’ll be heading back to Indianapolis. The Bulldogs got several huge (and somewhat fortunate) plays by senior Willie Veasley down the stretch.

ATB: Where to Begin? Another Tremendous Thursday…--Rush The Court
NCAA Tournament 2010: Why Cornell, Butler, Washington and Xavier Have a Chance--College Hoops Journal
Butler wins, but did Syracuse beat themselves?--Ballin' is a Habit
This was the breakthrough victory Butler has been seeking--Rivals.com
Big game for Mack's mom--The Indy Star
Butler advances to Elite Eight for 1st time--The Indy Star
Forget 'Hoosiers'; these 'Dogs are for real--The Indy Star
NCAA blog 13: Butler students boycott 'Orange'--Indy Star Butler Insider
NCAA blog 14: Hinkle paved path to Elite 8--Indy Star Butler Insider
BUTLER 63, SYRACUSE 59--THE unOFFICIAL BUTLER BULLDOGS MEN'S BASKETBALL PAGE
Butler Headed To Elite Eight--ButlerSports.com

Women'sBasketball Players Honored At Annual Banquet--detroittitans.com

Men's basketball: Toledo reportedly interested in Kowalczyk--Green Bay Press Gazette
UWGB's Kowalczyk could be a candidate at Toledo--UWGB Basketball

UWGB women basketball get to the second round--UWGB Fourth Estate

Current, Future Panthers Collect Postseason Honors--uwmpanthers.com

Butler knocks of Syracuse 63-59 to reach Regional Finals for first time--The Horizon League
NCAA Tournament 3rd Round - Butler vs. Syracuse--Horizon League Network
Butler's Defense: Underrated--Horizon League Network
Impressive Show of Support for Butler--Horizon League Network

Thursday, March 25, 2010

News On The Horizon 3/25/2010


Butler: Continuum--The Mid-Majority
Boeheim familiar with Butler's best--Salt Lake Tribune
Sweet Sixteen Game Analysis: Thursday Night--Rush The Court
Sweet 16 Breakdown: The West Region--Ballin' is a Habit

Thursday 7:07 pm: (1) Syracuse vs. (5) Butler

On paper, this looks like a terrible matchup for the Bulldogs. A lot of people wrote off Butler early in the season after watching them struggle against much of their premiere competition. The knock? The Bulldogs can't handle the size and athleticism of the best teams in the country.

Butler is probably the smallest team left in the tournament. Gordon Hayward, their three man, is the tallest player that sees minutes. Their center -- Matt Howard -- is 6'8", a land warrior, and as foul prone as any player in the country. Their power forward is the same height as the Syracuse back court.

As you might imagine, that's a problem.

Syracuse is big. Even if Arinze Onuaku's quad isn't ready to go on Thursday, they are big (UPDATE: Jim Boeheim has announced that Onuaku will not, in fact, be playing tomorrow). Rick Jackson was one of the most underrated players in the Big East this past season. A lefty, Jackson is a good rebounder and a solid post scorer. He blocks his share of shots, and shouldn't have an issue matching up with Howard. If Onuaku is ready to go, Butler is going to be in some trouble. How are they going to defend and rebound against that much size?

The paint isn't the only place Syracuse is big.

Wes Johnson and Kris Joseph are both 6'7" and athletic with long arms. Andy Rautins, Scoop Jardine, and Brandon Triche are all big, physical guards that love to get in the passing lanes on the perimeter. Add in the fact that Butler doesn't have a lot of great shooter, and you can see how this team might struggle against a zone with that much length that can force turnovers.

Should I even mention that Johnson played his best game of the season on Sunday? He went for 31 points and 14 boards, hit a season high four threes, and was as aggressive offensively as we have seen him.

Having said all of that, Butler is a tough team that plays hard, smart basketball. But eventually, athletic talent will outweigh effort.

Snarky Sweet 16 preview: Xs and Oranges and more Dogs and Cats--College Hoops Journal
Why is Syracuse's zone so good? Practice--The Indy Star
Collier has 2nd wave of success with Butler--The Indy Star
Butler has opportunity to gain national prominence--The Indy Star
NCAA blog 12: Butler needs 3s by Hayward--Indy Star Butler Insider
Bulldogs Make Fourth NCAA Sweet 16 Appearance--ButlerSports.com


UWGB women's basketball notebook: Divilbiss rediscovers the joy of coaching--Green Bay Press Gazette
NCAA women's basketball: UWGB loses to Iowa State 60-56--Green Bay Press Gazette

Laur, McClain Earn All-State Recognition--uwmpanthers.com

Wheeler coach Jones first excelled as a player in Valparaiso--The NWI Times

Vacant women's coaching job attracts many applicants--The Jambar

Horizon League Network previews Butler vs. Syracuse--The Horizon League
Syracuse Beatable--Horizon League Network

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

News On The Horizon 3/24/2010


Formula For Success: Sweet 16 Edition--Rush The Court

West Region- #1 Syracuse vs. #5 Butler

If Syracuse advances: The Orange dodged this very bullet on Sunday when Rick Jackson picked up his third foul in the middle of the first half, but Syracuse absolutely must keep Jackson on the floor for 32-35 minutes of this game given Arinze Onuaku isn’t ready to play. Not that Butler has an assembly line of bruising big bodies, but Jackson is the one clear matchup advantage for Jim Boeheim and Co. If DaShonte Riley is forced into more crucial minutes and Matt Howard stays on the floor, Butler may be in line to pull off the upset. This could all be rendered moot if Syracuse shoots the lights out again. Their three main guards and swingman Wes Johnson put on an absolute clinic against Gonzaga. Just continue to do what they’ve been doing- score efficiently, knock down perimeter jumpers with Rautins and Johnson and have their two-headed point guard monster control and push at the right times.

If Butler advances: Butler needs Gordon Hayward to hit perimeter jumpers against the 2-3 zone. A 45% long range shooter as a freshman, Hayward has dipped to a woeful 28% this season and is 1-10 in the NCAA Tournament. Hayward and point guard Shelvin Mack opening up the zone by hitting from deep all of a sudden puts Butler in the driver’s seat. It’s been repeated ad nauseam by anyone that’s watched Butler on a regular basis, but they must keep Matt Howard on the floor against Rick Jackson. Howard had more foul difficulties against Murray State, but the play of Mack and Ronald Nored helped send the Bulldogs to Syracuse. Howard is the only legitimate post presence coach Brad Stevens can throw at Syracuse’s big men. Controlling the Orange transition game is also key.

RTC Region by Region Tidbits: 03.23.10--Rush The Court

West Region (Andrew Murawa)

* Here we are, a couple of days away from the start of the Sweet 16 round and Syracuse is a likely favorite to play in the national championship game in two weeks, a lofty set of expectations that were entirely unlikely four and a half months ago when expectations for the Orange were low, and got even lower with an exhibition loss to LeMoyne.
* While Syracuse is led by a Hall-of-Fame head coach, their opponent in the Sweet 16 has a coach that is younger than Jim Boeheim’s coaching career. Butler head coach Brad Stevens is 33; Boeheim is in his 34th year as the Syracuse coach. Nevertheless, Stevens has his Bulldogs a weekend away from potentially playing in the Final Four down the street from the school’s campus.

Sweet 16: Best Frontcourts and Backcourts--Ballin' is a Habit

BEST FRONTCOURTS
...
Coldest: Matt Howard, Willie Veasley, Gordon Hayward, and Avery Jukes - Butler

Butler doesn't have a great front line by any stretch of the imagination. Matt Howard has been a bit of a disappointment this season, struggling to avoid foul trouble all season long. Howard did not play well in either of the first two games, and played just 18 minutes against the smaller Murray State Racers as Butler went small for much of the second half. Gordon Hayward may be the tallest Bulldog on the court, but he is a two-guard at heart. But he has still struggled in the two games, shooting just 6-21 from the field, 1-10 from three, and averaging just 12.5 ppg. Butler is going to need Hayward and Howard to play well if they have a chance against Syracuse.

Butler relies on continuity to make tourney run--Rivals.com
Ranking and seeding the remaining 16--College Hoops Journal

8) Butler. The story line to follow with this team is that it’s based out of Indianapolis. That just so happens to be where the Final Four is. If Butler manages to beat Syracuse — and it most certainly can — then the little factoid above will really start to spread. Why Butler makes the top half of our list: dynamic play. This team can hit from outside with ridiculous efficiency but also has crafty big men in future pro Gordon Hayward and solid-but-foul-prone Matt Howard. Syracuse’s Onuaku will be needed more against Butler than any other opponent in the field except Kentucky.

Butler's Mack not eye-popping but effective--The Indy Star
No longer underdogs, Butler learns to roll with punches--The NWI Times
NCAA blog 11: No travel problems for Dawgs--Indy Star Butler Insider
Bulldogs Make Fourth NCAA Sweet 16 Appearance--ButlerSports.com

March ‘09 Edition of the Viking Report--Let's Go Vikes!

Women’s Basketball Season Ends In NCAA First Round
Vikings Win 19 Games For Third Straight Season

Cleveland State’s postseason run came to an end in the opening round of the NCAA Championships when the 15th-seeded Vikings fell at second-seeded Notre Dame, 86-58, on Sunday (March 21). It marked the second time in the last three seasons that CSU was playing in the NCAA tournament after claiming the Horizon League Championship with wins over UIC, Green Bay and Butler.

“I am so proud of my team and everything that we accomplished this season,” head coach Kate Peterson Abiad said. “The team believed in the goals we set and worked hard to accomplish them. We had an outstanding group of four seniors who carried us down the stretch and we will really miss them next year, but they showed that winning is possible at Cleveland State. They will always have a place in this program.”

Senior Kailey Klein closed her brilliant career with 31 points and eight rebounds in Sunday’s loss to the Fighting Irish. She concluded her career with 2,140 points, ranking second all-time in the Horizon League. Klein also ranked first in the CSU record books in free throws made (605), free throws attempted (762) and games started (114), while also ranking third in field goals made (686), field goals attempted (1,591), three-pointers made (163) and eighth in rebounds (733) and assists (311).

Senior Stephaine Crosley had seven points and seven rebounds in her final collegiate contest, while senior Angel Roque dished out a career-best eight assists against Notre Dame.

CSU will return seven letterwinners next season, including junior Shawnita Garland, a two-time second team All-Horizon League selection.


Iowa State escapes Wisc-Green Bay upset bid 60-56--MICentralSports.com
UWGB vs. Iowa State - NCAA Tournament (Final)--UWGB Basketball
Fearless Phoenix Falls Five Points Short of Sweet 16--uwgbathletics.com


Women's Basketball Scoreboard -- March 23 (NCAA)--The Horizon League

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

News On The Horizon 3/22/2010


Conference Report Card – Sweet Sixteen Edition--Rush The Court

Honorable Mention

Obviously, the Missouri Valley (Northern Iowa), Ivy League (Cornell) and Horizon League (Butler) are one-bid leagues that are feeling like they’ve hit the lottery with their representative’s performance so far. Only Butler was expected to win one game and two was a stretch, but they’re all still standing. The big question is whether one of them can become the next Davidson and get to the Elite Eight or, even better, channel George Mason and make the Four. All three have a reasonable shot at it in this crazy year.

2010 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16: Syracuse vs. Butler, Kansas State vs. Xavier--The Big Lead
Butler's Stevens shows signs of Syracuse coach's greatness--The Indy Star
Butler leading way in mid-major march--The Post-Tribune
NCAA blog 10: Dawgs catch up on classwork--Indy Star Butler Insider

J’Nathan Bullock in Action in Australia--Let's Go Vikes!

Cleveland State Women Fall to Notre Dame in NCAA Tournament--Let's Go Vikes!
CSU Women’s Basketball Talk About NCAA Tournament Game Against Notre Dame--Let's Go Vikes!

Sign Up For Jimmy Collins' Basketball Day Camp--detroittitans.com

Mid-major schools make their mark--The Detroit News
St. Louis knocks UWGB men out of tournament--Green Bay Press Gazette
Men's CBI basketball: Phoenix falls in 2 OT--Green Bay Press Gazette
CBI tournament: Saint Louis 68, UWGB 62 (final, 2 overtimes)--UWGB Basketball
Double-Overtime Setback Ends Green Bay’s Season--uwgbathletics.com

Women's NCAA basketball notebook: Phoenix must contend with 6-7 center Prins--Green Bay Press Gazette
Women's NCAA basketball: UWGB defense creates buzz--Green Bay Press Gazette
NCAA Round 2: (4) Iowa State vs. (12) Green Bay--Green Bay Press Gazette

Green Bay falls to Saint Louis 68-62 in double overtime in CBI
lead photo
--The Horizon League

Women's Basketball Scoreboard -- March 23 (NCAA)--The Horizon League

Monday, March 22, 2010

News On The Horizon 3/22/2010


Mid-major uprising hardly biggest NCAA surprise--MICentralSports.com
RTC Region by Region Tidbits: 03.21.10--Rush The Court

West Region Notes (Andrew Murawa)

* Butler has advanced to their third Sweet 16 in eight years, and while they will be a big underdog to Syracuse on Thursday, they’ve shed the Cinderella label.

Redemption Weekend--Ballin' is a Habit

Butler, like Michigan State, was a sexy preseason pick that failed to live up to lifty expectations.

Or so people thought.

Butler, who is fast becoming the Gonzaga of the Midwest, loaded their non-conference schedule, and proceeded to lose to just about everyone. Yes, they beat Ohio State, but that win came without Evan Turner. Yes, they beat Xavier, but that win was marred by a decision by the officials to end the game due to a timing issue.

Prior to the start of the tournament, not many people believed that Butler had what it took to make it to the Sweet 16, let alone get out of the first round.

Yet, here the Bulldogs are. The knock on Brad Stevens' crew coming in was that they were unable to handle the athleticism of a power program. Well, they seemed to have answered those doubts by running -- or more accurately shooting -- an long and athletic UTEP team out of the gym in the second half of their first round game. Against Murray State, it was prototypical Butler, playing their stout defense and executing just well enough offensively to win a game.

The Bulldogs will have their work cut out for them in the Sweet 16, as they get a Syracuse team that seems to have rediscovered their stride. But even with a loss to the Orange, Butler has proven themselves to a lot of their detractors.

Stevens says Orange are as good as anyone--The Indy Star

Barlow shuts off Vikings' scoring machine--The Indy Star
Horizon star no match for Irish--The Post-Tribune
Cleveland State bounced from NCAA women's tourney by Notre Dame, 86-58--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Vikings Fall In NCAA First Round, 86-58 At Notre Dame--csuvikings.com

Green Bay upsets Virginia in first round--The Detroit News

Men's basketball: UWGB needs to slow Reed in CBI--Green Bay Press Gazette
Mike Vandermause column: Phoenix's Cotton is easy to root for--Green Bay Press Gazette

Women's NCAA notebook: UWGB's Ritchie shines in the spotlight--Green Bay Press Gazette
NCAA women's basketball tournament: UWGB proves it belongs, beats Virginia--Green Bay Press Gazette
NCAA Tournament -- UWGB vs. Virginia (Final)--UWGB Basketball
Green Bay Moves On With 69-67 Upset of Virginia--uwgbathletics.com

Men's Basketball National Postseason Update--The Horizon League

ESPN.com: Hoewisch heads up 'Green Bay Way'--The Horizon League