Final Four Team Analysis: Butler Bulldogs

All throughout this March, low seeded teams have provided some interesting upsets and some stellar ball. Several teams won tournament games for the first time in decades, and at least one had their very first championship tourney win. The last of these "Cinderella" teams is Butler. The Bulldogs were not a long shot going into the tournament, but hardly anyone predicted them to make the "Elite Eight", let alone the Final Four. After a long and hard road, Butler has made it to the dance. The big question is whether they will make it all the way. It may still be a long shot, but the boys from Butler have shown that they are not going home without a fight.

With the tournament being held in Indianapolis, the Bulldogs may have a hometown advantage. Only having to travel about seven miles from their locker room to the Lucas Oil Stadium, they are sure to have a few extra fans in the stands. These boys from the cornfields of Indiana are already gaining statewide support, as they head into the last games on their own soil. The fact that a large part of this team's talent is from the Hoosier state adds a little more loyalty from Indianapolis. This may not seem like it would give a big boost, but having that many people behind you will help to boost your game a little. Not that the Bulldogs need a boost, but every little bit counts when you make it to this level.

One thing that may be more impressive than making it to the dance, is the fact that the Bulldogs haven't lost since before Christmas. December 22 was the last time this group of guys didn't celebrate their win. With this much momentum, it would not be a surprise at all to see them hoisting the trophy in the end. All of these wins have shown a desire to go all the way, and a team that is this hungry is sure to fight to the death for nothing less than the whole tamale. Their ability to thump number 2 Kansas State is another testimony to their desire to win this tournament. With Kansas predicated to go all the way by every major poll, this may have been their biggest hurdle. It will certainly go a long way in the confidence column and boost their spirits even higher.

All the impressive stats and wins are not the only thing that this team is based on. There is a lot of talent and desire with this team as well. With a lot of deja-vu coming from Butler's past, the Bulldogs seem to be setting themselves up for a tournament victory. This small school being led by a very young coach that is relatively new to the position and being led by a native star is a story from several years back when another Indiana team had marked success at this tournament under the same conditions. Once again, the team is having the same success under the same circumstances.

There are several things that point to the Butler Bulldogs winning this tournament this year. Whether you believe in symbolism and history repeats, or whether you base your selections on pure talent and impressive numbers, the Bulldogs have you covered. The fact that they have been battling for this since Christmas is a one of the largest factors to base a Butler win on. No matter who takes it though, it is sure to be a battle that people will remember for many years to come. There is sure to be some very exciting basketball in this year's Final Four showdown.

Sources:

Butler Bulldogs Yahoo Sports Page

Rivals.com NCAA Tournament Bracket