Lets take a look ahead to Tuesday night's matchup pitting top seeded Milwaukee against 2nd seeded Butler. It is hard to ignore Butler's success from years past and think that Milwaukee has any kind of chance in this big game. Butler has now made the championship round the last 6 years. This is Milwaukee's first visit since 2006, when they defeated Butler.
In the two regular season matchups, Milwaukee has had little trouble handling the Bulldog attack. With victories of 6 in OT at Butler and 24 points at home you have to wonder what Coach Brad Stevens (pictured deep in thought) will do in the third matchup of the year. The obvious answer is find a way to slow down Anthony Hill. He has been a man amongst boys in the paint this season and if Butler can't find a way to contain him they could be in trouble. The Panthers shoot the ball well enough from the outside that it is hard to justify running double teams at Hill, who is a decent enough passer to find the open man. Can Matt Howard or Andrew Smith stay out of foul trouble and keep Hill in check? I thought in the semi final round that Valparaiso had it's best success when Michael Rogers was on Hill, you may see a Khyle Marshall getting an opportunity to try and slow down the big man for Milwaukee.
Besides defending Hill, Howard's three point shooting is the other big thing I'll be watching. I think Butler can get Hill in foul trouble by attacking him, either with Howard on some dribble penetration or with Smith on the inside. If Howard can make Hill (assuming he defends Howard) come out on the defense that will open the paint for Smith to go to work or Vanzant and Mack for some drives the cup.
Prediction: Butler finds a way and wins the big game 77-71.
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