OK here you go Micelli:
Davidson was made to order for MD. Davidson was willing to go up and down the floor with MD, because that is what they do best, except, MD did it better for 40 min., and usually does play its best basketball in an up-tempo game. The fact is MD was at its worse this season when they played a team that utilizes a methodical half-court offense. MD lost to Miami,Fla. twice, both games played in the high 120s-low 130s. They lost to VTECH 134 total pts. They lost to BC mid 130s. They lost to VA mid 130s. This total is set at 132. That will be the lowest total MD has played to this season. Unless the odds-makers are pulling a fast one, what is that saying? This game will be featuring the type of game that MD has performed poorly in all season. Butler has played 7 teams that are in this tourney and they are 7-0. Butler is easy to play against, and hard to play on, because they are not glamourous. They win ugly, and the public does not back ugly teams. Their defense is not good, it is extremely good. here is the place to find the proof. These 7 teams, some very good offensively (Gonzaga,ND,IND,TN,PURDUE,ODU,S.ILL) had a total of 67 assists in 7 games! yes, read that again 67 in 7 games, less than 10 a game. less than 50% of their hoops were assisted. Ok wait...that means they were being defended in a way they haven't been all year, or they were turning Butler over, and scoring in fastbreak fashion, or transition. WRONG! Butler doesn't turn the ball over, but their defense turns teams over. They did not have 1 of these 7 games with a negative TO margin, in fact they were +5 or more in 6 of them. They avg. +6. That means a slow game with a 6 possession advantage on avg. I think I at least showed why MD will not only not cover today, they will lose outright!
