By Paul Gotham Two wins earns a spot in the Sweet 16. Two more victories finds the Final Four. Then, if all goes well, two triumphs in Indy for the title. How can something that looks so simple be so difficult? Coaches and their teams have bunkered down feverishly making plans. They have been and will continue to pour over scouting reports and game tapes looking for … [Read more...] about Four Role Players Who Could Make The Difference
Butler Bulldogs
College Basketball Splinters | March 1, 2010
By Paul Gotham Here come the Irish What was once thought to be an aberration is looking more and more like reality. The Notre Dame Fightin' Irish knocked out a pair of Big East contenders: Pittsburgh 68-53 and Georgetown 78-64. A quick look at the box scores shows that the Irish are doing more with less. Notre Dame shot 22 of 44 from the field, including 10 of 18 … [Read more...] about College Basketball Splinters | March 1, 2010
Siena-Butler: Tale Of The Tape
By Paul Gotham Setting: The Metro-Atlantic Athletic Conference clashes with the Horizon League when Fran McCaffery takes his Siena Saints (22-5) west for a non-conference showdown with Brad Stevens and his Butler Bulldogs (24-4). Plot: Seeds are on the line. With a win Butler could be in position for a four seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Siena could secure an … [Read more...] about Siena-Butler: Tale Of The Tape
CBB Splinters | December 22nd, 2009
By Paul Gotham Down to the wire Semester's end brought a buffet of college hoops on Saturday. Serendipity, a clock infarction, upsets, and upsets avoided provided another shake up of the polls. When the dust settled, six ranked teams had fallen. One Atlantic 10 team lost at the buzzer, and another won. Butler and Xavier gave everyone the weekly dose of … [Read more...] about CBB Splinters | December 22nd, 2009
Xavier – Butler: Tale of the Tape
By Paul Gotham Setting: With final exams in the rear view mirror, it's the Atlantic 10 versus the Horizon League at the Hinkle Field House as Chris Mack's Xavier Musketeers (6-3) come a calling on Brad Stevens and his #21 Butler Bulldogs (7-3). Plot: Both teams are coming off big wins. Butler toppled Ohio State, 74-66 while Xavier knocked off Cincinnati in double OT, … [Read more...] about Xavier – Butler: Tale of the Tape