13 in AP Poll

[NVBoilerFan]

Plus, they are a mid-major, playing in a major Conf

Is it really a major conference. Hard for me to consider any conference that doesn't have even one D1 BCS football team in it a major conference.

 

[BoilerBulldog]

Butler also got to play Villanova the last time when they were missing a starter in 6'9 power forward Darryl Reynolds. He had 12&8 with 2 blocks and a steal in 33 minutes against Purdue. VU only goes 7 deep, so missing a full time starter that play 25 minutes a game really hurts.

They beat XU on the road without Sumner their PG who is really good and that team was already in a free fall.

Reynolds only had 5 points in the first game that BU won. So I suspect they could've handled him again.

BU beat a healthy 9th ranked IU team in a hostile "neutral" environment a week or two after they beat two of the top 3 teams in the country. Then PU beat an injury depleted, full meltdown mode IU team two months later. We can play this game all day....

Bottom line, I've watched nearly every game for each school. I think if they played each other 10 times, the over under for either team would be 5.5 wins. I've seen both teams look like a top 5 team and I've seen them look like garbage. Both teams realistically could make the FF, while also losing in the first round.

I think BU has an easier path to a 3 seed than PU but I think both are most likely a 4. But we'll know more by Sunday....

 

[BoilerBulldog]

I would also add in the past 7-10 years or so I've always had an inherent confidence in a tight big game at the end BU would find a way to win. I always dreaded the same scenario with Purdue. That has definitely changed this year with Purdue. This is the mentally toughest team we've had since the mid 90s IMO. This team can close a game out better than we've seen in awhile.

 

[BoilerDaddy]

I would also add in the past 7-10 years or so I've always had an inherent confidence in a tight big game at the end BU would find a way to win. I always dreaded the same scenario with Purdue. That has definitely changed this year with Purdue. This is the mentally toughest team we've had since the mid 90s IMO. This team can close a game out better than we've seen in awhile.

I thought that the Boilers were mentally tough when Chris Kramer was a Boiler as well. In particular, 2009-10 was very tough before Hummel went down and that toughness seemed to return in the NCAA Tournament that year.

 

[BoilerBulldog]

I thought that the Boilers were mentally tough when Chris Kramer was a Boiler as well. In particular, 2009-10 was very tough before Hummel went down and that toughness seemed to return in the NCAA Tournament that year.

Agreed. Good point.