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9:00pm EDT - BUTLER @ utah, PAC-12 Network
Line: Utah +2.5 O/U 142.5

KenPom:
#17 Butler 72 - #48 Utah 71 (53.0%)

I could be wrong, but I get the feeling Butler gets pounded tonight. Coming off of a big win. They're probably tired as hell, and the program historically struggles in road non-conference games. Still, I am thrilled that the team will be at least 2-1 on their road trip.

DAWGS - 61
utes - 72

Yeah, this game will be a tough one to win.

Butler did its part with the Zona win. This would just be the cherry on top.

Georgetown on the other hand....

milksteak wrote:9:00pm EDT - BUTLER @ utah, PAC-12 Network
Line: Utah +2.5 O/U 142.5

KenPom:
#17 Butler 72 - #48 Utah 71 (53.0%)

I could be wrong, but I get the feeling Butler gets pounded tonight. Coming off of a big win. They're probably tired as hell, and the program historically struggles in road non-conference games. Still, I am thrilled that the team will be at least 2-1 on their road trip.

DAWGS - 61
utes - 72

I'll actually go the other way on this one, Milk Steak. I think that this projects as a close game that should go down to the wire and either team could win.

But I think that the schedule behind them actually favors Butler. They've now had a few days off and I think that's plenty of time for a group of 20 year olds to get over any fatigue and get their legs back. They didn't have to get back on campus and go to class, so it's been a full 3 days off between games.

In many ways, Butler is beginning to approach mid season form with 6 games under their belt and having faced several quality opponents. Utah OTOH has played nobody - 2 teams outside the top 250. Butler always plays a physical brand of basketball, so Utah may not know what hit them 8 minutes into the game. You can't simulate that in practice and they just haven't played anyone yet to get them ready for This caliber of opponent. Plus I love Chris Holtmann's coaching, so I give them an edge there too. He'll have his kids ready.

I'm picking Butler in a close game.

Bill Marsh wrote:

milksteak wrote:9:00pm EDT - BUTLER @ utah, PAC-12 Network
Line: Utah +2.5 O/U 142.5

KenPom:
#17 Butler 72 - #48 Utah 71 (53.0%)

I could be wrong, but I get the feeling Butler gets pounded tonight. Coming off of a big win. They're probably tired as hell, and the program historically struggles in road non-conference games. Still, I am thrilled that the team will be at least 2-1 on their road trip.

DAWGS - 61
utes - 72

I'll actually go the other way on this one, Milk Steak. I think that this projects as a close game that should go down to the wire and either team could win.

But I think that the schedule behind them actually favors Butler. They've now had a few days off and I think that's plenty of time for a group of 20 year olds to get over any fatigue and get their legs back. They didn't have to get back on campus and go to class, so it's been a full 3 days off between games.

In many ways, Butler is beginning to approach mid season form with 6 games under their belt and having faced several quality opponents. Utah OTOH has played nobody - 2 teams outside the top 250. Butler always plays a physical brand of basketball, so Utah may not know what hit them 8 minutes into the game. You can't simulate that in practice and they just haven't played anyone yet to get them ready for This caliber of opponent. Plus I love Chris Holtmann's coaching, so I give them an edge there too. He'll have his kids ready.

I'm picking Butler in a close game.

Here's the problem though that Butler could have that Utah won't- altitude. You talk about not being able to simulate something in practice.

Kuzma is a stud, but they lost a ton from last year's team. Looking at their schedule they haven't seen anything close to Butler's talent level this year. They have played UC Irvine, Coppin St, and 2 non D1 schools. I think Butler is the better team on paper, but Utah is a tough place to play. Really interested to watch this game as Xavier has Utah in a couple weeks at Cintas.

stever20 wrote:

Bill Marsh wrote:

milksteak wrote:9:00pm EDT - BUTLER @ utah, PAC-12 Network
Line: Utah +2.5 O/U 142.5

KenPom:
#17 Butler 72 - #48 Utah 71 (53.0%)

I could be wrong, but I get the feeling Butler gets pounded tonight. Coming off of a big win. They're probably tired as hell, and the program historically struggles in road non-conference games. Still, I am thrilled that the team will be at least 2-1 on their road trip.

DAWGS - 61
utes - 72

I'll actually go the other way on this one, Milk Steak. I think that this projects as a close game that should go down to the wire and either team could win.

But I think that the schedule behind them actually favors Butler. They've now had a few days off and I think that's plenty of time for a group of 20 year olds to get over any fatigue and get their legs back. They didn't have to get back on campus and go to class, so it's been a full 3 days off between games.

In many ways, Butler is beginning to approach mid season form with 6 games under their belt and having faced several quality opponents. Utah OTOH has played nobody - 2 teams outside the top 250. Butler always plays a physical brand of basketball, so Utah may not know what hit them 8 minutes into the game. You can't simulate that in practice and they just haven't played anyone yet to get them ready for This caliber of opponent. Plus I love Chris Holtmann's coaching, so I give them an edge there too. He'll have his kids ready.

I'm picking Butler in a close game.

Here's the problem though that Butler could have that Utah won't- altitude. You talk about not being able to simulate something in practice.

Excellent point, but I don't agree and here's why.

Butler's already been out west for a week. It's a short flight from Vegas (2000' alt) to Provo (4500' alt). I'm guessing that Holtmann had the team fly out after the game to a hotel in Provo, giving them 3 full days to adjust to the difference in altitude, which isn't that great an adjustment after you're already up at 2000' to start with.

They've been playing at the Jazz facility the last couple of days.

https://twitter.com/ButlerMBB/status/802710362000916480

The Jazz have former Butler players Gordon Hayward and Shelvin Mack.

The last time Butler played in Salt Lake City they beat Syracuse and Kansas State to go to the Final Four.

Don't have the Pac-12 network so can't see it, but Utah is up at 20-19 with 5 minutes left in the first half.

Glancing through the stats, the only thing that jumps out is that Utah is 2-11 from 3 and Butler has 9 fouls while Utah only has 5.

Cio wrote:Don't have the Pac-12 network so can't see it, but Utah is up at 20-19 with 5 minutes left in the first half.

Glancing through the stats, the only thing that jumps out is that Utah is 2-11 from 3 and Butler has 9 fouls while Utah only has 5.

Here's the link if you want to watch

http://oklivetv.com/pac-12-network-live/