Can the Butler Bulldogs really be the glorified underdog of the NCAA Tournament for two years in a row? That’s the question of the week, but Matt Howard and his ‘Dogs have some competition in vying for Underdog of the Year with the VCU Rams. VCU, the 11th seed in the Southwest, is another Cinderella team this year, and it will all come down to a battle between the Bulldogs and Rams in Houston tomorrow as the Final Four whittles four teams to two for the national title.
In getting to the Final Four, Butler, the eighth seed in the Southeast, beat a hefty crop of tough teams. Butler almost didn’t get out of the second round of the tournament, skating past Old Dominion in a very close 60-58 contest. The Bulldogs went on to beat top seed Pitt in the third round of the tournament, next beating No. 4 Wisconsin and then No. 2 Florida in making it to the Final Four. VCU had a similarly tough road en route to a Final Four berth. The Rams beat No. 6 Georgetown, No. 3 Purdue, No. 10 FSU and No. 1 Kansas in the Southwest.
Last year, the Butler Bulldogs made it to the national championship game, falling to Duke in the final seconds of the game. Matt Howard missed a buzzer shot and the Bulldogs came up just short of a national championship, but this year they’re out to be the last team standing. Will the Bulldogs get a shot at redemption this year? Stick around for Saturday’s game against VCU to find out.
To get NCAA basketball tickets, go to StubHub.
