VCU Rams vs. Butler Bulldogs (-2.5, 133.5)
VCU’s 3-point shooting vs. Butler’s 3-point defense
The No. 11 Rams have been a decent 3-point shooting squad all season, averaging 37 percent from beyond the arc. But they’ve absolutely thrived on the 3-ball in the NCAA tournament, hitting 53 of 121 - a sterling 43 percent.
On the flip side, Butler has allowed opponents to hit just 32.6 percent from long range this season and has clamped down even more in the NCAA. The Bulldogs’ four opponents have made just 21-of-69 3-pointers - a 30.4 percent clip. In the Sweet 16 upset of Wisconsin, Butler forced the Badgers into a dismal 7-for-29 performance from 3-point range.
The Bulldogs defense often doesn’t allow foes to get off many 3-pointers. Virginia Commonwealth has fired up an average of 24.2 3-point chucks per game in the tourney, with a low of 21. Butler is allowing 17.25 and that number is skewed by Wisconsin, which was down by 20 points midway through the second half and had to fire the ball up constantly to claw back in. Old Dominion got off just 15 3-point attempts in the second round against the Bulldogs, Pitt had 11 in the third round and Florida shot 14 3-point attempts in the Elite Eight.
Butler’s Final Four experience vs. VCU’s wide-eyed enthusiasm
Both these teams can fit into Cinderella’s slippers – perhaps VCU more so this year, as only the third No. 11 seed to reach the Final Four. Butler, however, has the benefit of knowing exactly what to expect out of this weekend.
The Bulldogs, seeded eighth this year, were a No. 5 seed in the 2010 tournament. They barked all the way to the national championship game and gave Duke all it could handle. Butler came within an eyelash of victory, as Gordon Hayward’s buzzer-beater from beyond halfcourt rimmed out.
Even though Hayward, their top player, bolted early for the NBA, the Bulldogs still got back to the Final Four. So it’s clear last year’s experience, and the coaching of Brad Stevens, played a role in Butler becoming the first mid-major team to reach the national semifinals two years in a row.
Virginia Commonwealth, on the other hand, has never been anywhere near this point, getting no further than the second round in eight previous appearances. Sure, the Rams are playing with house money right now, so they are definitely loose. But the Bulldogs are playing with house money too, and they’ve got the benefit of having been here before, just one year ago.
Kentucky Wildcats vs. UConn Huskies (+2, 140)
Junior PG Kemba Walker vs. Freshman PG Brandon Knight
Brandon Knight has put together a nice little tournament for Kentucky. He’s got a pair of game-winning shots and he hung 30 points on West Virginia and 22 points on North Carolina in the regional final. But he’s got a little problem: He’s very hit-and-miss in the Big Dance.
He had the game-winner against Princeton, but that was his only score of the entire game. In a 59-57 victory against a team from the Ivy League, he mustered just two points on 1-for-8 shooting. In the 62-60 upset of overall No. 1 seed Ohio State in the Sweet 16, Knight had just nine points on 3-for-10 shooting. And it’s not like he had double-digit assists to make up for it, registering only five assists against Princeton and four against Ohio State. Knight is feast or famine.
Kemba Walker, meanwhile, is more like feast or all-you-can-eat buffet. He’s averaging a stellar 26.8 ppg in the tournament and his lowest output was against Bucknell, when he scored 18 points in the second round - but he had a dozen assists. Then, he racked up 33 points in the third-round win over Cincinnati and went a step farther with 36 points in the against San Diego State in the Sweet 16. He had 20 points and seven assists in the thrilling 65-63 victory over Arizona in the regional final.
And his effort in the NCAA comes on the heels of an amazing five-wins-in-five-days run through the Big East tournament, in which he averaged 26 points.
Kentucky’s 3-point shooting vs. UConn’s 3-point shooting
For all Kemba Walker’s heroics, the Huskies have hit just 33.7 percent from 3-point range this season. They’ve hovered around that area in the NCAA as well, going 9 for 24 in the second round, 6 for 16 in the third round and 5 for 17 in the Elite Eight. The only exception is an 8-for-16 effort in the Sweet 16.
The Wildcats are among the best shooting teams in the country. Kentucky is hitting at a 40-percent clip from long distance this season. John Calipari’s troops have done even better in the tournament, knocking down 42.6 percent of their shots from beyond the arc.
That includes a big night in last weekend’s region final against North Carolina, when the Wildcats went 12 for 22 from outside (54.5 percent). That’s a quick and efficient way to get 36 points.
VCU’s 3-point shooting vs. Butler’s 3-point defense
The No. 11 Rams have been a decent 3-point shooting squad all season, averaging 37 percent from beyond the arc. But they’ve absolutely thrived on the 3-ball in the NCAA tournament, hitting 53 of 121 - a sterling 43 percent.
On the flip side, Butler has allowed opponents to hit just 32.6 percent from long range this season and has clamped down even more in the NCAA. The Bulldogs’ four opponents have made just 21-of-69 3-pointers - a 30.4 percent clip. In the Sweet 16 upset of Wisconsin, Butler forced the Badgers into a dismal 7-for-29 performance from 3-point range.
The Bulldogs defense often doesn’t allow foes to get off many 3-pointers. Virginia Commonwealth has fired up an average of 24.2 3-point chucks per game in the tourney, with a low of 21. Butler is allowing 17.25 and that number is skewed by Wisconsin, which was down by 20 points midway through the second half and had to fire the ball up constantly to claw back in. Old Dominion got off just 15 3-point attempts in the second round against the Bulldogs, Pitt had 11 in the third round and Florida shot 14 3-point attempts in the Elite Eight.
Butler’s Final Four experience vs. VCU’s wide-eyed enthusiasm
Both these teams can fit into Cinderella’s slippers – perhaps VCU more so this year, as only the third No. 11 seed to reach the Final Four. Butler, however, has the benefit of knowing exactly what to expect out of this weekend.
The Bulldogs, seeded eighth this year, were a No. 5 seed in the 2010 tournament. They barked all the way to the national championship game and gave Duke all it could handle. Butler came within an eyelash of victory, as Gordon Hayward’s buzzer-beater from beyond halfcourt rimmed out.
Even though Hayward, their top player, bolted early for the NBA, the Bulldogs still got back to the Final Four. So it’s clear last year’s experience, and the coaching of Brad Stevens, played a role in Butler becoming the first mid-major team to reach the national semifinals two years in a row.
Virginia Commonwealth, on the other hand, has never been anywhere near this point, getting no further than the second round in eight previous appearances. Sure, the Rams are playing with house money right now, so they are definitely loose. But the Bulldogs are playing with house money too, and they’ve got the benefit of having been here before, just one year ago.
Kentucky Wildcats vs. UConn Huskies (+2, 140)
Junior PG Kemba Walker vs. Freshman PG Brandon Knight
Brandon Knight has put together a nice little tournament for Kentucky. He’s got a pair of game-winning shots and he hung 30 points on West Virginia and 22 points on North Carolina in the regional final. But he’s got a little problem: He’s very hit-and-miss in the Big Dance.
He had the game-winner against Princeton, but that was his only score of the entire game. In a 59-57 victory against a team from the Ivy League, he mustered just two points on 1-for-8 shooting. In the 62-60 upset of overall No. 1 seed Ohio State in the Sweet 16, Knight had just nine points on 3-for-10 shooting. And it’s not like he had double-digit assists to make up for it, registering only five assists against Princeton and four against Ohio State. Knight is feast or famine.
Kemba Walker, meanwhile, is more like feast or all-you-can-eat buffet. He’s averaging a stellar 26.8 ppg in the tournament and his lowest output was against Bucknell, when he scored 18 points in the second round - but he had a dozen assists. Then, he racked up 33 points in the third-round win over Cincinnati and went a step farther with 36 points in the against San Diego State in the Sweet 16. He had 20 points and seven assists in the thrilling 65-63 victory over Arizona in the regional final.
And his effort in the NCAA comes on the heels of an amazing five-wins-in-five-days run through the Big East tournament, in which he averaged 26 points.
Kentucky’s 3-point shooting vs. UConn’s 3-point shooting
For all Kemba Walker’s heroics, the Huskies have hit just 33.7 percent from 3-point range this season. They’ve hovered around that area in the NCAA as well, going 9 for 24 in the second round, 6 for 16 in the third round and 5 for 17 in the Elite Eight. The only exception is an 8-for-16 effort in the Sweet 16.
The Wildcats are among the best shooting teams in the country. Kentucky is hitting at a 40-percent clip from long distance this season. John Calipari’s troops have done even better in the tournament, knocking down 42.6 percent of their shots from beyond the arc.
That includes a big night in last weekend’s region final against North Carolina, when the Wildcats went 12 for 22 from outside (54.5 percent). That’s a quick and efficient way to get 36 points.
