Projo College Hoops

Sanity in the midst of March Madness . . .

DIdn't like Horizon League regular-season champ Butler's chances against LSU, whose 13-3 conference record was the best in the SEC, because the Bulldogs started three freshmen, including both guards, and also because Butler lost in the finals of its conference tournament to Cleveland State.

But Butler, after a slow start, battled back and led in the second half before losing a close one, 75-71.

Year after year, the Bulldogs play well in the NCAA tourney. This was Butler's third straight appearance in the tourney, their 8th in 13 seasons.

The Bulldogs beat South Alabama in the opening round of last year's tourney before losing to Tennesee in round two.

In 2007, the Bulldogs had Billy Donovan's Florida Gators on the ropes in the Sweet 16. Having advanced by beating Old Dominion and Maryland, Butler led Florida with less than four minutes to play before losing, 65-57. The Gators then went on to win a second straight NCAA championship.

In 2003, Butler was a 12th-seed, but reached the Sweet 16 by beating Mississippi State and Louisville. The Bulldogs were eliminated by top-seeded Oklahoma, which then lost to eventual national champion Syracuse in the regional final.

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