Waiting for someone to defend Butler as a play....

25 in a row is not a fluke Butler has been a top 10 team all year. I believe they have been a giant killer because of their perimeter defense and their ability to take good teams out of their offense. They keep the score close and make good steals in crucial situations. Butler is Cornell with better atheletes, they play smart crisp team basketball. I would throw some stats at you, but I dont roll like that. The eyeball test tells me that Dukes 3 point shooting will not rain like it has in previous games. The smart play for me would be Butler +7 and the Under 128

CNBC reports that Duke spent $394,068 per player last year.

Butler spent $347,108 — on the entire team.

Therefore I believe spending less money per player is a huge negative.

I believe they should not even play this game--there is too much intimidation.

Coach K+all the tradition+3 great players who will play pro ball+DUKE on their jersey and they play in the ACC

FUCK IT!!!!!!!!!!

GIVE THE TROPHY TO DUKE--THEY'VE EARNED IT!!!

DON'T EVEN BOTHER PLAYING THE FUCKING GAME

THE REAL REASON TO NOT BET BUTLER IS?????

SPECIAL K HAS A LARGE PLAY ON THE DUKIES

Dook is highly overrated, see miami vs duke game on neutral court in acc tourney

Duke's strengths are off. rebounding and 3 point shooting.  Butler hits the defensive glass very well and they have some of the best defensive guards around.  Boeheim called them "the best pair of defensive guards he's seen in 10 years" (were the other 2 Mateen Cleaves and Charlie Bell?) ... Duke has been vulnerable this year, although they have been on a roll in the tournament.  I think people are putting too much stock in the last games.  Duke played the best game of their season and Butler played their first game in a dome against a tough defense.  They should be much more adjusted to the dome... it was obvious in their practice Friday that they were having trouble shooting and were visibly frustrated. 

Butler is tougher and better defensively than they look.  I think 7 or 7.5 is a ton of points for a team like Butler.  Duke was only a 6 point fave over Cal.  I'll probably play Butler small, and partially just because it's the last game of the season/Championship game... but there's a few reasons to support Butler.

1) They didn't play WVU

2) That 12 minute scoring drought was the first and last time you're going to see that happen. It's not even an issue tonite.

3) Butler stands a far greater chance of losing but covering than winning.

I am already locked in on Duke as well.

The biggest thing going for Butler is steller man to man defense from their gaurds.  I do believe they will guard the 3 point line better than West Virginia.  However, their guards will be planted on the 3 point line, and that will limit the help they can provide inside on help defense and rebounding.  Singler and Smith will provide and inside/outside combo attack that will be hard for Butler to defend.  Overall, Butler should do alright on the defensive end.

As a Butler backer, I would be more concerned about the offensive end.  Hayward and Mack are both very good scorers, but Butler will need more production from the rest of the team if they want to keep up with Duke bucket for bucket.

Should be a good game, don't see a blow out, but Duke should have enough fire power to pull away in the second half.

Point well made< I was thinkin the same thing, Duke has shooters and Coach K is determined to get Duke back to the top of the hill!!