Duke prevails; Butler had their chances.

The National Championship game was a game of close calls. Butler had many opportunities to score. Duke had many opportunities to pull away. Gordon Hayward came within inches of what would have been one of the greatest college basketball shots of all time. Duke gets the close win, 61-59.

Despite the game being close, Butler couldn’t hit field goals down the stretch. They missed seven of nine attempts, including a 3-pointer to tie, a two-pointer to go ahead and a 3-pointer to win in the final minute. The Butler three, Hayward, Shelvin Mack and Matt Howard, shot 10-34 from the field. Duke’s three, Jon Scheyer, Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith, shot 17-40 from the field.

Duke also began using their size in the second half. They won the offensive rebound battle eight to two after losing 10-3 in the first half.

Although Duke won, Butler played an amazing game. They did everything they needed to do, except make the shots at the end. Butler had their chances, but in the end, Duke was the better team. It was a great March Madness, and the title game couldn’t have been better.

Note: Alanna Medearis wins the I Am Sportacus bracket challenge with 123 points. She successfully chose Duke as the champion. Congratulations.

Duke beginning to rebound; Butler in foul trouble

Duke has averaged 73.4 pointes per game, but Butler’s defense is limiting them to one shot on most possessions. The result is a close game with l3 minutes to go.

Duke is beginning to get more second chance opportunities, however. They had two offensive rebounds on one series and couldn’t score, and they had a tip-in with the shot clock winding down in another. The Blue Devils will need to continue to pound the glass.

Butler’s Matt Howard is now sitting with four fouls, and the Bulldogs will need to keep up the defensive pressure. Howard is a great presence down low, and Duke will be looking to drive and pass now.

Duke is winning 45-43. Can Butler overcome the loss of size and continue to keep Duke off the glass? The game depends on it.

Butler winning offensive rebound battle; keeping close with 3-pointer

With Ronald Nored and Matt Howard on the bench, the starting point guard and center respectively, the Butler Bulldogs have used second chance opportunities and the 3-pointer to stay close with Duke. The Blue Devils are shooting 51 percent from the field, but Butler has ten offensive rebounds and five 3-pointers.

On the defensive side, Butler has held Duke to only three offensive rebounds. Duke has been the best offensive rebounding team of the tournament, and they have made it here with the strength of their second chance opportunities.

If Butler can continue to hold Duke away from the offensive glass, they can shorten the game and give themselves a chance in the final minutes of the game. Look for Duke to try and assert their big players on the boards in the second half, and Butler to use more dribble penetration to open up open looks for the hot outside shooters. Duke 33, Butler 32.

Early missed shots could haunt Butler

Early on, Butler has proven they intend to play with a lot of intensity. If they hope to have success, however, the Bulldog’s intensity cannot become anxiety.

Butler has gotten several good looks under the basket, but none of the shot have fallen. Two 3-pointer by Shelvin Mack has kept the score close, but Butler needs to take advantage of their opportunities in the early portion of the game.

Matt Howard has missed 3-of-4 free throws, which aren’t helping either.

Nolan Smith looks good early for Duke, hitting his first two field goals of the game and pulling down a rebound. Jon Scheyer’s hustle to block a fast break, shows the Blue Devils are willing to match Butler’s tempo.

Butler sets first round 3-point record with 13 as they crush UTEP

Butler sets the 3-point record in a first round game with 13, including 10 in the second half, and it helped them start the second half on a 22-4 run. The University of Texas- El Paso couldn’t defend Butler, who was 23 for 50 from the field in the second half.

UTEP wasn’t nearly as good from the 3-point line. They were four of 18 from beyond the arc, and Butler contained Derick Caracter in the second half, who finished with 20 points.

The Bulldogs also only had two turnovers in the second half, which helped fuel the big run. UTEP had fewer opportunities to score and, when they fell behind, they started to abandon the paint for outside jump shots. Matt Howard played great defense in the paint in the second half for Butler, limiting Caracter to tough shots.

Butler avoids the upset with an 77-59 win over UTEP. The Bulldogs will face Murray State, the No. 13 seed, in the second round on Saturday.