Sweet 16 Brackets: Matt Howard Helps Butler Survive Against Wisconsin's Comeback

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Final Score: Butler 61, Wisconsin 54

Who would have thought that Butler would last longer in this NCAA Tournament than Duke? After meeting in the championship game last year the Blue Devils added a bunch of talent and the Bulldogs seemed to lose talent. However the play of Matt Howard and Shelvin Mack sealed the deal for the No. 8 seed to advance past the bigger Wisconsin Badgers.

I don’t thing enough can be said about Howard. He is a real treat to watch as someone who is a fan of lunch-pail basketball. He just seems to do all the little things you want to see from your best player. He hits the boards, can stretch the court and is an outstanding post defender.

I also think head coach Brad Stevens deserves a great deal of credit. Not many saw the Bulldogs as a threat to reach the Final Four for a second straight season after losing Gordon Hayward to the NBA but after seeing them advance this far I wonder how many doubters they have turned into believers.

The will certainly have their work cut out for them in the Elite Eight against Florida. However the Gators seem to struggle matching up with solid post players. They got by UCLA with solid guard play and beat BYU in overtime because Jimmer Fredette has a poor shooting night and the Cougars didn’t have anyone to matchup with Alex Tyus.

I am riding the Bulldogs in that matchup.

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