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Butler headed back to NCAA tournament
By Steve Herman, AP Sports Writer
Wednesday, March 12, 2008 | No comments posted.
INDIANAPOLIS — Now that Butler’s back in the NCAA tournament, speculation can begin: What seed will the Horizon League champions be assigned on Selection Sunday?
Of course, just because beating Cleveland State 70-55 Tuesday night in the tournament final left the Bulldogs with four days to think about where they’ll be sent doesn’t mean they actually plan on doing so.
“One of the things about this team the last two years, we don’t have guys looking at the projections and getting caught up in the hype,” coach Brad Stevens said. “We just have guys who when they win or lose, they come back to work the next day.
“That even-keel approach has been very good.”
Butler, seeded fifth last year, earned its first automatic bid since 2001 with the win. Mike Green matched his career high with 24 points.
On Tuesday, Butler blew a 14-point lead in the first half but pulled away again midway through the second half and took control with a 17-3 run while Cleveland State’s Cedrick Jackson was out with an ankle injury.
“We stuck to our game plan,” Green said. “We’ve been here before. We took everything they could throw at us, and we had the experience to carry it off.”
The Bulldogs took a 60-44 lead with six minutes to go on consecutive 3-pointers by Drew Streicher and reserve Zach Hahn.
J’Nathan Bullock, who led Cleveland State (21-12) with 21 points, scored the next five for the Vikings, but they never came closer than 13 points the rest of the game.
Matt Howard added 16 points and Streicher scored a season-high 11 for the Bulldogs.
Cleveland State, which split a pair of close games with Butler in the regular season this year, came in as the Horizon’s No. 2 seed behind the top-seeded Bulldogs and reached the championship game for the first time. The loss left the Vikings needing help from the selection committee on Sunday to make their first tournament appearance since 1986.
An NIT selection is more likely, coach Gary Waters said.
“If we go to the NCAA, God is really shining on us,” he said.
Summit League
Oral Roberts 71, IUPUI 64
In Tulsa, Okla., Moses Ehambe hit seven 3-pointers and scored 25 points, and Oral Roberts earned an automatic NCAA tournament berth with its third straight tournament title.
Robert Jarvis added 16 points and Shawn King scored 10, and the two teamed up to lead the Golden Eagles (24-8) down the stretch.
After losing the title game on a 3-pointer with 1.3 seconds left in 2005, Oral Roberts has swept the conference tournament in its hometown the past three years.
George Hill had 24 points to lead the Jaguars (26-7), Austin Montgomery scored 16 and Gary Patterson added 14.
Sun Belt
Western Kentucky 67, Middle Tennessee 57
At Mobile, Ala., Jeremy Evans had 20 points and 14 rebounds as Western Kentucky won the Sun Belt for the sixth time.
Tyrone Brazelton and Courtney Lee added 13 points apiece for Western Kentucky (27-6).
Desmond Yates had 16 points for Middle Tennessee (17-15), Demetrus Green scored 12 points and Theryn Hudson added 10 for the Blue Raiders.
Big Sky
Portland State 72, Idaho State 61
At Portland, the Portland State Vikings held their ground, and find themselves one step away from earning an NCAA tournament bid.
After falling short in the Big Sky Conference tournament semifinals three years ago, the last time they hosted the event, the Vikings defeated Idaho State 72-61 on Tuesday to advance to their first Big Sky final.
They will take on Northern Arizona in the championship game tonight.
Deonte Huff scored 20 points to lead Portland State to the victory. Jeremiah Dominguez added 16 points for the Vikings (22-9, 15-2 Big Sky), who won their 13th straight Big Sky contest and ninth consecutive home game. Andre Murray scored 11 points for PSU.
Matt Stucki led Idaho State (12-19, 8-9) with 22 points while Lucas Steijn and Amorrow Morgan each added 10 points for the Bengals.
Northern Arizona 75, Weber State 70
Kyle Landry scored 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead Northern Arizona to a 75-70 over Weber State on Tuesday night in the semifinals of the Big Sky Conference tournament.
Nate Geiser and Nick Larson each added nine points for the Lumberjacks (21-10). Josh Wilson chipped in eight points.
Daviin Davis led Weber State (16-14) with 19 points. Dezmon Harris scored 15 points for the Wildcats and Arturas Valeika had 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Of course, just because beating Cleveland State 70-55 Tuesday night in the tournament final left the Bulldogs with four days to think about where they’ll be sent doesn’t mean they actually plan on doing so.
“One of the things about this team the last two years, we don’t have guys looking at the projections and getting caught up in the hype,” coach Brad Stevens said. “We just have guys who when they win or lose, they come back to work the next day.
“That even-keel approach has been very good.”
Butler, seeded fifth last year, earned its first automatic bid since 2001 with the win. Mike Green matched his career high with 24 points.
On Tuesday, Butler blew a 14-point lead in the first half but pulled away again midway through the second half and took control with a 17-3 run while Cleveland State’s Cedrick Jackson was out with an ankle injury.
“We stuck to our game plan,” Green said. “We’ve been here before. We took everything they could throw at us, and we had the experience to carry it off.”
The Bulldogs took a 60-44 lead with six minutes to go on consecutive 3-pointers by Drew Streicher and reserve Zach Hahn.
J’Nathan Bullock, who led Cleveland State (21-12) with 21 points, scored the next five for the Vikings, but they never came closer than 13 points the rest of the game.
Matt Howard added 16 points and Streicher scored a season-high 11 for the Bulldogs.
Cleveland State, which split a pair of close games with Butler in the regular season this year, came in as the Horizon’s No. 2 seed behind the top-seeded Bulldogs and reached the championship game for the first time. The loss left the Vikings needing help from the selection committee on Sunday to make their first tournament appearance since 1986.
An NIT selection is more likely, coach Gary Waters said.
“If we go to the NCAA, God is really shining on us,” he said.
Summit League
Oral Roberts 71, IUPUI 64
In Tulsa, Okla., Moses Ehambe hit seven 3-pointers and scored 25 points, and Oral Roberts earned an automatic NCAA tournament berth with its third straight tournament title.
Robert Jarvis added 16 points and Shawn King scored 10, and the two teamed up to lead the Golden Eagles (24-8) down the stretch.
After losing the title game on a 3-pointer with 1.3 seconds left in 2005, Oral Roberts has swept the conference tournament in its hometown the past three years.
George Hill had 24 points to lead the Jaguars (26-7), Austin Montgomery scored 16 and Gary Patterson added 14.
Sun Belt
Western Kentucky 67, Middle Tennessee 57
At Mobile, Ala., Jeremy Evans had 20 points and 14 rebounds as Western Kentucky won the Sun Belt for the sixth time.
Tyrone Brazelton and Courtney Lee added 13 points apiece for Western Kentucky (27-6).
Desmond Yates had 16 points for Middle Tennessee (17-15), Demetrus Green scored 12 points and Theryn Hudson added 10 for the Blue Raiders.
Big Sky
Portland State 72, Idaho State 61
At Portland, the Portland State Vikings held their ground, and find themselves one step away from earning an NCAA tournament bid.
After falling short in the Big Sky Conference tournament semifinals three years ago, the last time they hosted the event, the Vikings defeated Idaho State 72-61 on Tuesday to advance to their first Big Sky final.
They will take on Northern Arizona in the championship game tonight.
Deonte Huff scored 20 points to lead Portland State to the victory. Jeremiah Dominguez added 16 points for the Vikings (22-9, 15-2 Big Sky), who won their 13th straight Big Sky contest and ninth consecutive home game. Andre Murray scored 11 points for PSU.
Matt Stucki led Idaho State (12-19, 8-9) with 22 points while Lucas Steijn and Amorrow Morgan each added 10 points for the Bengals.
Northern Arizona 75, Weber State 70
Kyle Landry scored 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead Northern Arizona to a 75-70 over Weber State on Tuesday night in the semifinals of the Big Sky Conference tournament.
Nate Geiser and Nick Larson each added nine points for the Lumberjacks (21-10). Josh Wilson chipped in eight points.
Daviin Davis led Weber State (16-14) with 19 points. Dezmon Harris scored 15 points for the Wildcats and Arturas Valeika had 12 points and 11 rebounds.
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