NCAA Championship Game Preview

The NCAA Championship game is tonight. Opening Day festivities are going down right now for the Reds. Life is good. What's also going to be really good, is the live blog that's happening on this site for the Butler-Duke game. That's right, a live blog. This is a great story for Butler, and let's face it, it's fun to root against Duke. Before we get to the live blogging, let's preview the game. Of course you knew that, because you read the headline. I'm excited, you should be excited, the world is excited. Let's do this.

Butler Bulldogs 33-4
Notable Ken Pom Stats: Offense: 110 (50) Off FTA/FGA: 47.5 (14) 73.8 FT% (32). Defense: 86.4 (6) Opp Offensive Rb %: 27.6 (14)

Minutes

1. Gordon Hayward 33.3
2. Willie Veasley 31.2
3. Shelvin Mack 30.9
4. Ronald Nored 30.1
5. Matt Howard 25.4

Points

1. Gordon Haywar 15.6
2. Shelvin Mack 14.2
3. Matt Howard 11.6
4. Willie Veasley 10
5. Ronald Nored 6

Rebounds

1. Gordon Hayward 8.3
2. Matt Howard 5.2
3. Willie Veasley 4.3
4. Shelvin Mack 3.7
5. Ronald Nored 2.9

Assists

• Ronald Nored 3.6
• Shelvin Mack 3.1

Steals

• Ronald Nored 1.8
• Shelvin Mack 1.4
• Willie Veasley 1.2

Duke Blue Devils 34-5
Notable Ken Pom Stats: Offense 123.8 (1) Off Reb % 40.4 (6) 3%: 38.7 (21) FT%: 76.1 (7) Defense: 85.8 (3) Effective FG%: 43.7 (7) 3%: 28.1 (1)

Minutes

1. Jon Scheyer 36.7
2. Kyle Singler 35.8
3. Nolan Smith 35.4
4. Lance Thomas 25.1
5. Brian Zoubek 18.3

Points

1. Jon Scheyer 18.3
2. Kyle Singler 17.6
3. Nolan Smith 17.5
4. Brian Zoubek 5.5
5. Miles Plumlee 5.3

Rebounds

1. Brian Zoubek 7.7
2. Kyle Singler 6.9
3. Miles Plumlee 5
4. Lance Thomas 4.9
5. Jon Scheyer 3.5

Assists

• Jon Scheyer 4.8
• Nolan Smith 3
• Kyle Singler 2.4

Steals

• Jon Scheyer 1.6
• Nolan Smith 1.2

Prediction: Butler is going to have to keep Duke off the glass. Zoubek has been a rebounding machine so far in the tournament. He was big in hurting WVU in the Final Four, and Butler's front line is going to have their hands full. It's also going to be a race to see who gets in foul trouble first, him or Matt Howard. Both squads have a handful of players that get things done. It's going to be really interesting to see what team can shut down the other. Both teams are great defensively. Duke is great offensively. Ken Pom's projector has it 66-59 Duke with a 81% chance of winning. I am thinking something similar, but I can't pick Duke.

Butler 63 Duke 62