The Butler Bulldogs and UConn Huskies will face each other in the 2011 NCAA Basketball National Championship Game Monday night in Houston Texas.
Butler advanced after a 70-62 victory over Cinderella Virginia Commonwealth while UConn was able to edge out John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats 56-55.
For Butler this marks the second year that they’ve advanced to the National Championship game. Last year the Bulldogs faced Michigan State in the National semi-finals before falling to Duke on the last shot in the National Championship game in their home city of Indianapolis.
UConn last made the final four in 2009 and won the National Championship back in 2004. However this season hasn’t been easy for the Huskies and their head coach Jim Calhoun was cited by the NCAA this past February for failing to create an atmosphere of compliance within his program and was suspended for the first three Big East games during the 2011-2012 season. The NCAA also hit UConn with scholarship reductions for three academic years, recruiting restrictions, permanent disassociation of a booster and three years’ probation.
Either way neither one of these teams were heavy favorites to be playing in the National Championship game.
So who has the edge and what will the game plans look like going into Monday night?
For UConn they must find a way to stop Shelvin Mack who like Kemba Walker has been very dominant in this year’s tournament. UConn may turn to 6-6 freshman Jeremy Lamb to try and stop the surging Mack.
Next UConn may look to keep up the pace against Butler with rebound and run fast breaks to better penetrate the Bulldog defense. UConn may also look at what VCU couldn’t do with their full court pressure.
Finally UConn is going to need get the lead and keep the lead. The Huskies can simply look no further than the Florida and Old Dominion games on why it’s vital to NOT be in a close game with Butler.
I’ve already mentioned the importance of UConn controlling Shelvin Mack. On the other side of the court, Butler needs to make sure they do the same thing in containing Kemba Walker. If Walker starts going off, which he is very capable of doing, Butler is in for a long night and will more than likely come out on the losing end in Houston.
Next, Butler needs to execute on offense. Everyone’s heard that old cliché that defense wins championships well you also can’t win if your performing poor on offense. Go ask Kentucky. Butler runs a very nice half court offense that should play well into their game plan going into Monday night.
Finally, I’m a firm believer that experience trumps talent any day of the week. Butler has six of eight players in their rotation that played in the National Championship game last season. If the Bulldogs can use the experience factor in their favor then things will be looking very good for them to bring home their first National Championship in the schools history.
