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Post by pmb72 on Jan 1, 2011 10:26:35 GMT -5
As a Butler fan, I hope the oddsmakers are right. We have a good team but not a perfect team by any stretch. Good defense and shooting on your part can make this game very competitive. I am really looking forward to seeing the growth in your veteran players. I haven't seen you play yet this year. I hope both teams bring their best ball to the court this afternoon.
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Post by wh on Jan 1, 2011 10:39:03 GMT -5
As a Butler fan, I hope the oddsmakers are right. We have a good team but not a perfect team by any stretch. Good defense and shooting on your part can make this game very competitive. I am really looking forward to seeing the growth in your veteran players. I haven't seen you play yet this year. I hope both teams bring their best ball to the court this afternoon. Welcome to the board, pmb. Hope you come back and give us your thoughts after the game is over, as well (win or lose)...
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Post by milanmiracle on Jan 1, 2011 11:46:53 GMT -5
While I'd like to see this game go in Valpo's favor, I just don't see it happening. I've seen Butler play more than a couple of times this season, and to this point I would say that Matt Howard is the MVP of the team, if not the league. He's even managed to keep his fouling under control, though some of that is friendly refereeing (even on the road/neutral site games). IF Valpo can somehow manage to attack Howard and get him in foul trouble it could impact this game in a major way. The other problem I see for Valpo that wasn't present in the Evansville upset is Nored. He's a big part of their success. I am not quite sure what Valpo will do with whomever he guards. He's just a very good defender. I think you pressure Hahn when he's in the game. He doesn't make the greatest decisions with the ball, and certainly isn't a great ball handler. Whatever player Homer has guarding him needs to get in his jersey because I believe you can force turnovers from him. Besides that, he won't hurt you with the drive. He also tends to hang out on the wings, but can, and does get trapped easily. If all things go well for Valpo this could be an area to steal a possession or two. In the end I think VU loses, but just because Butler's a better team. There's no shame in that as long as it's not by 30, and I don't expect it will be. How's that for a glass half full analysis? Happy New Year!
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pgmado
Bench Warmer
Posts: 171
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Post by pgmado on Jan 1, 2011 13:26:44 GMT -5
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rink
Bench Warmer
Posts: 198
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Post by rink on Jan 1, 2011 14:17:56 GMT -5
ESPN's bottom ticker and ESPN.com are reporting halftime scores of 9-3 Butler and 6-3 Butler, respectively. Obviously an error, right?
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Post by valporun on Jan 1, 2011 14:19:42 GMT -5
ESPN's bottom ticker and ESPN.com are reporting halftime scores of 9-3 Butler and 6-3 Butler, respectively. Obviously an error, right? Especially since the game just got underway about 15 mins. ago.
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Post by valpo84 on Jan 1, 2011 14:24:50 GMT -5
After about 9 minutes of play, we are doing everything that we couldn't do and expect to hang with Butler. About 5 turnovers, 2 missed Fts, and missed shots. Butler defense is high intensity and has taken Wood completely out of his game so he is forcing.
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Post by wh on Jan 1, 2011 14:26:01 GMT -5
16-5 start half way through the first half. Another one of our "deer in the headlights" starts. Hard to imagine for a veteran team. Still time to turn it around.
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rink
Bench Warmer
Posts: 198
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Post by rink on Jan 1, 2011 14:32:00 GMT -5
Yeah, no idea why ESPN was reporting "Half", they've corrected it now.
Found the live feed on HLN, kinda wish I hadn't. We look depressingly inferior to this Butler team ... again.
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Post by valpo84 on Jan 1, 2011 14:33:14 GMT -5
With about 8 mins left 1st half, we settled down the last 4-5 possessions after running up turnovers to 7. Van Wijk playing well. Little picks up 3d which hurts cause he had kept Mack quiet. We tend to try to do too much in these games. Some passes were just ill-advised.
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rink
Bench Warmer
Posts: 198
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Post by rink on Jan 1, 2011 14:38:29 GMT -5
Missed free throws, missed bunnies, porous defense, and stupid fouls. A pathetic all around half with 5 min to go.
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Post by valpo84 on Jan 1, 2011 14:42:34 GMT -5
And yet, the defense is playing well enough to give them a chance to cut lead under 10 before the half with 3:48 to go. I think the defense has been solid enough for us to be in this game. Turnovers were huge early.
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Post by fwalum on Jan 1, 2011 14:42:58 GMT -5
Key play of the game. Nored strip of Wood (obvious foul shown by under basket camera) and then the coast to coast score.
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Post by browntown on Jan 1, 2011 14:43:20 GMT -5
If we can't hit free throws, we can't win this game.
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rink
Bench Warmer
Posts: 198
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Post by rink on Jan 1, 2011 14:51:48 GMT -5
Back-to-back threes by Johnson to end the half closes the gap to 11. A couple of mental breakdowns by Butler in the last 35 seconds has maybe -- just maybe -- given us new life and let us back in this one.
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