March Madness 2010 | Midwest Sports Fans

Duke-Butler Preview: Spread, Analysis, and Prediction

April 4, 2010 By Jerod Morris 18 Comments

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Monday night, tiny Hickory High with battle mighty South Bend Central for the 1954 IHSAA Championship Game.

Wait…what?

If you watch enough ESPN or read enough AP reporting about the 2010 Final Four, you might start to confuse the 2010 Final Four with the 1954 Indiana high school basketball tournament.

And while Butler is an underdog, and they are an unlikely participant in the title game based on their conference affiliation and enrollment, by now the prevailing feeling about Brad Stevens’ team should be what Coach K said tonight during his press conference: ”I don’t really consider them a Cinderella.”

So let’s retire that word and simply analyze the for-all-the-marbles matchup between this season’s two best teams: the Duke Blue Devils and the Butler Bulldogs.

Butler-Duke Will Meet for 2010 NCAA Championship

April 3, 2010 By Jerod Morris Leave a Comment

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Butler was ranked #11 in the preseason poll, which has made the constant references to the Bulldogs as a Cinderella, to this point, a bit of a misnomer.

However, now that the 5th seeded Bulldogs have made it all the way to the NCAA Championship game – for the first time in school history – I think it is safe to say that the slipper fits, so to speak.

Now the Bulldogs will be facing one of the greatest college basketball programs of the last 25 years in what is sure to be one of the most historic and memorable NCAA Title games in the grand history of March Madness.

Final 4: Duke-West Virginia Analysis, Prediction, and Spread Pick

March 30, 2010 By Jerod Morris 8 Comments

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In one Final Four game we have two teams that are difficult to root against. Butler is the new kid on the block with the small enrollment that is making its first Final Four appearance. Michigan State, despite making 50% of last 12 Final Fours, somehow weaseled its way into an underdog role with an inconsistent season, #5 seed, and an injury to their point guard.

Conversely, in the other Final Four game, we have two teams that many basketball fans, for a variety reasons, find it difficult to root for.

Duke has been the most consistently excellent basketball program of my lifetime and their coach is a disciple of the man I grew up worshipping in Bloomington. This year’s Blue Devil team is a fundamentally sound and cohesive unit that any “basketball purist” should enjoy watching. Yet, I hate Duke. They are like the Yankees of college basketball. Guys like Christian Laettner and Wojo and Josh McRoberts, among many others (including Jon Scheyer), just annoy me for reasons I can’t really explain.

Similarly, I’ve never been a big fan of Bob Huggins. If you grew up in Bloomington during the late 80s and early 90s when Huggins was going to Final 4s with a Cincinnati team that was constantly in trouble and pulling graduation rates of 0%, you hated the red faced screamer with the slicked back hair from The Queen City. Huggins is now back at his alma mater West Virginia, but the stain of his reign in Cincy remains for many of us.

So, who’s going to win this game? Who the hell cares. I’ll be rooting for the Butler-Michigan State winner to take home the title. Still, I have to pick a winner in the second game on Saturday, so let’s do some analysis.

Final 4: Butler-Michigan State Analysis, Prediction, and Spread Pick

March 29, 2010 By Jerod Morris 7 Comments

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There are not too many Final Four games for which I do not care who wins and then already know that I will be rooting wholeheartedly for the winner in the title game. That is the case, however, with this half of the Final Four bracket.

Butler has been one of the most compelling stories of this tournament. They are not a Cinderella, though, as many people have described them; and it is sheer laziness or ignorance if you hear any basketball talking head refer to Butler this way over the course of the next week. Cinderellas do not start out the season ranked #10.

Rather, Butler is a terrific example of how a succession of good coaches, a system built around defense and teamwork, and a tradition of fielding a team with kids from Indiana can still be a recipe for success in college basketball. Now, if the Bulldogs can successfully navigate what will be an immensely challenging two game gauntlet against very good teams and very, very good coaches, they can capture their first ever national title in their own Indianapolis backyard.

Before Butler can even think about a national title though, they must first face a red hot, tournament tested team that is led by a man who would probably be a close to unanimous answer to the question: if your life depended on winning one NCAA Tournament game, who would you want coaching your team? I am referring, of course, to the great Tom Izzo, who will lead his Spartans against Butler on Saturday night.

Final Four TV Schedule, Announcers, and Spreads

March 28, 2010 By Jerod Morris 5 Comments

Update 3/28: This was originally posted on March 27th. In the meantime, the Final Four field and TV Schedule have been set. See table below.

Today and tomorrow, four Elite 8 games will determine the 2010 Final Four in Indianapolis.

As we have previewed over the last 48 hours here at MSF, Butler-Kansas State and Kentucky-West Virginia play today, followed by Michigan State-Tennessee and Duke-Baylor tomorrow.

The winners will have their names etched into the hallowed table below, taking their place as one of four teams competing on college basketball’s final weekend for its most esteemed prize.

And everything you need to know about the 2010 Final Four is right here.

Final Four: West Virginia-Duke Tickets, Tip Time, Preview, and Poll

March 28, 2010 By Jerod Morris 3 Comments

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People in Indiana hate Kentucky. It is the birthright of all who grow up in the Hoosier state, and especially those who root for the Hoosiers, to loathe the Big Blue from Lexington.

Thus, while Butler will obviously the fan favorite at next weekend’s Final Four, a lot of the basketball fans in Indianapolis will hold West Virginia in high regard for knocking John Calipari and the Wildcats out last night.

The win gave the Mountaineers and coach Bob Huggins a spot in the Final Four. West Virginia’s opponent was set earlier this afternoon when Duke came out on south in the South Region, setting up what should be a great Final Four matchup.

Final Four: Butler-Michigan State Tickets, Tip Time, Preview and Poll

March 28, 2010 By Jerod Morris 1 Comment

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By virtue of their win yesterday over #2 seed Kansas State, basketball fans in Indianapolis will have the opportunity to buy Butler Final Four tickets and watch their hometown team attempt to become one of the most unexpected national champions in NCAA history.

Earlier today, Michigan State won the Midwest Region by beating Tennessee 70-69 and earned the chance to meet Butler at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis next Saturday night.

Here is all of the basic information you need to know:

Elite 8: Baylor-Duke Preview and Prediction – South Region

March 26, 2010 By Jerod Morris 5 Comments

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In a game that many people – me included – thought was going to close and competitive, Baylor absolutely trashed St. Mary’s in the Sweet 16 to advance to the Elite 8.

After a hard fought battle in the second game in Houston tonight, Duke prevailed to set up an intriguing contrast of talents and styles on Sunday night in the South Regional Final.

We have all the relevant information you need, plus a complete analysis and prediction for this compelling Elite 8 battle.
[Read more...]

Filed Under: CBB, March Madness Tagged With: 2010 ncaa tournament, CBB, duke basketball, duke-baylor, elite 8, march madness 2010, Scott Drew

Elite 8: Tennessee-Michigan State Preview and Prediction – Midwest Region

March 26, 2010 By Jerod Morris 2 Comments

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It’s time to give the Volunteers their due.

Despite being one of two teams to hand the mighty Kentucky Wildcats a loss this season, many people underestimated Bruce Pearl’s club headed into the tournament. I had them getting to the Sweet 16 and losing to Ohio State; Wayne Chism, J.P. Prince and Co. had other ideas and decided to send Evan Turner home early.

In the second Sweet 16 game in the Midwest, Michigan State came out on top after an entertaining, physical battle, setting up a very interesting Elite 8 matchup.

Let’s take a look at this year’s Midwest Regional Final.

Elite 8 TV Schedule, Announcer Assignments, and Spreads

March 26, 2010 By Jerod Morris Leave a Comment

This is from 2010!!!

Click for the 2011 Elite 8 TV Schedule.

Half of the Elite 8 field is set as Kentucky-West Virginia face off in the East Regional Final while Butler-Kansas State battle in the West Regional Final.

Tonight, games between Michigan State-Northern Iowa and Ohio State-Tennessee will determine the Elite 8 participants in the Midwest Region while games between Duke-Purdue and Baylor-St. Mary’s will determine the Elite 8 participants in the South Region.

Elite 8 games will take place this weekend with the winners heading to Indianapolis for the Final Four.

Elite 8: Kentucky-West Virginia Preview and Prediction for East Regional Final

March 26, 2010 By Jerod Morris 1 Comment

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Last night, Kentucky disappointed everyone in America who is not a part of Big Blue Nation by knocking off 12th seeded Cornell in rather efficient, easy fashion. The Big Red played hard, but ultimately didn’t have the horses to run with John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, and Co.

Kentucky’s victory, along with West Virginia’s second half dominance over Washington, sets up Saturday night’s marquee primetime Elite 8 matchup that will determine the East Regional representative in the Final Four.

As we know, every Kentucky victory is just one more that will ultimately have to be wiped from the books once John Calipari’s diabolical team-building methods are uncovered. Will Big Blue Nation at least get enjoy their basketball house of cards for one more weekend? Or will the Huggy Bear and his Mountaineers travel west to Indianapolis for the Final Four?

Elite 8: Kansas State-Butler Preview and Prediction – West Regional Final

March 26, 2010 By Jerod Morris Leave a Comment

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Kansas State won a thrilling 2OT Sweet 16 game over Xavier last night hours after Butler shocked many people outside of Indianapolis by defeating mighty Syracuse.

Those two wins set up Saturday’s Butler-Kansas State Elite 8 matchups that will determine the West Regional representative in the Final Four.

We have all the basic schedule schedule information below, plus a preview and prediction for which of these two teams will be heading to Indianapolis.

Sweet 16: West Virginia-Washington Preview and Prediction

March 23, 2010 By Jerod Morris Leave a Comment

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When I hit the publish button after writing this post, it will conclude my series of eight Sweet 16 previews. So far, other than my pick of Northern Iowa over Michigan State because of the loss of Kalin Lucas, I’ve played it safe and gone with the favorites.

I love the stories of St. Mary’s and Cornell, but I think their Sweet 16 matchups dictate a planr flight home after one game this weekend.

Washington, on the other hand, is a double-digit seed that could very well play on after Thursday night. That is not a knock on their opponent, West Virginia, which is an outstanding team led by a superlative player in Da’Sean Butler.

Rather, it is a testament to just hot Washington is right now and to the benefit of having a duo like Isaiah Thomas and Quincy Pondexter, probably the most underrated 1-2 punch in the nation.

Can the Huskies pull off their third straight upset and make the Elite 8? Let’s analyze.

Sweet 16: Baylor-St. Mary’s Preview and Prediction

March 23, 2010 By Jerod Morris Leave a Comment

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Six of the eight Sweet 16 games involve teams from the Midwest (or just outside the Midwest) that are right in our MSF wheelhouse. Previews and predictions for those six games have been completed, leaving me with two more previews that at first glance might not have much of a Midwest connection.

But, on the contrary, natives of the Hoosier state like myself should be taking at least a little bit of pride in the job that Scott Drew has done at Baylor. The perennial Big 12 doormats are now a legitimate Final Four contender, which is what happens when you hand the reins over to a guy who graduated from Butler and cut his coaching teeth with his dad at Valparaiso.

So while the college basketball world focuses on Omar Samhan and the Gaels this week, we here at MSF highlight one of our own. Now the question is can Drew lead Baylor through the regional gauntlet all the way back to his college stomping grounds for the Final 4 in Indianapolis?

Let’s take a look at the matchup.

Sweet 16: Xavier-Kansas State Preview and Prediction

March 22, 2010 By Jerod Morris 3 Comments

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My good friends, you know me. I wear my emotions and my allegiances unabashedly on my sleeve.

If you follow MSF or if you follow me on Twitter, you know that I live and die (figuratively speaking…for the most part) by the success and failure of my Indiana Hoosiers. I grew up in an around Assembly Hall, I went to IU, I spoke passionately on the steps of the Hall to thousands of my peers the day Coach Knight got fired, and I will have cream and crimson running through my veins until the day I die.

So forgive me if I do not find it all that enjoyable to watch the Xavier Musketeers enjoy an NCAA Tournament run (next stop: Thursday night against Kansas State) while my Hoosiers wallow in the depths of 16 wins over two seasons.

Xavier’s backcourt of Terrell Holloway and Jordan Crawford, you might remember, should be showcasing their hardwood talents in Bloomington, not Cincinnati. At least, that was the plan under the Lying Snake Who Shall Not Be Named.

Then there were phone calls…and then there were rumors of marijuana use among many players…and then were F’s (and lots of them)…and then there were defections…and then there were releases granted from Letters of Intent…and then there was…

Oh to hell with it. F— you K.S. Yes, it’s two years later and I’m still bitter. F— you.

Let’s get on with the damn preview of two Sweet 16 teams not named Indiana.

Duke-Butler Preview: Spread, Analysis, and Prediction

Butler-Duke Will Meet for 2010 NCAA Championship

Final 4: Duke-West Virginia Analysis, Prediction, and Spread Pick

Final 4: Butler-Michigan State Analysis, Prediction, and Spread Pick

Final Four TV Schedule, Announcers, and Spreads

Final Four: West Virginia-Duke Tickets, Tip Time, Preview, and Poll

[Read more...]

Final Four: Butler-Michigan State Tickets, Tip Time, Preview and Poll

Elite 8: Baylor-Duke Preview and Prediction – South Region

Elite 8: Tennessee-Michigan State Preview and Prediction – Midwest Region

[Read more...]

Elite 8 TV Schedule, Announcer Assignments, and Spreads

Click for the 2011 Elite 8 TV Schedule.

Elite 8: Kentucky-West Virginia Preview and Prediction for East Regional Final

Elite 8: Kansas State-Butler Preview and Prediction – West Regional Final

Sweet 16: West Virginia-Washington Preview and Prediction

Sweet 16: Baylor-St. Mary’s Preview and Prediction

Sweet 16: Xavier-Kansas State Preview and Prediction

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