Connecticut 67, Butler 65.
That’s former Gophers’ coach Jim Dutcher’s prediction on tonight’s NCAA title game between the Huskies and Bulldogs. Dutcher, who coached the Gophers to a Big Ten championship and in the NCAA tournament, is a passionate observer of college basketball and saw UConn play in person earlier in the tournament when the Huskies beat San Diego State in Anaheim.
Butler and Connecticut are physical defensive and rebounding teams. The Bulldogs on Saturday had an eye-opening 48-32 edge in rebounds, including 16 offensive rebounds, while defeating VCU in their semifinal game.
“The key in the game (tonight) is who wins the rebounding battle, wins the game,” Dutcher said.
Connecticut junior guard Kemba Walker and swingman Jeremy Lamb, a freshman, are two players Dutcher thinks could make a big difference in the game. Walker is the best player in the tournament and Lamb is a talented scorer. “I am not sure Butler matches that,” Dutcher said.
The Bulldogs, who lost in the title game a year ago by two points, are the more experienced team including junior guard Shelvin Mack and senior forward Matt Howard, both important players this season and last. Four of the Huskies’ top six players are freshmen.
In the what-might-have-been department, Butler’s best player last year was sophomore swingman Gordon Hayward who left for the NBA. His presence tonight, Dutcher said, likely would give Butler the title.
Dutcher thinks UConn wins tonight but said “I wouldn’t mortgage the house on it.”