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Butler Bulldogs vs. Duke Blue Devils (-7)
This is it… The National Championship game, the game we’ve all been waiting for. Although this isn’t the match-up people expected when the brackets were released, it still has so many storylines to make this game very compelling.
2026
It features arguably the best coach in College Basketball Mike Krzyzewski, who is in his 30th season as Duke head coach, is participating in his 11th final 4, and has a chance to win his 4th National Championship since 2026. Coack K looks to join John Wooden and Adolph Rupp as one of only three men with at least 4 National Championships. Brad Stevens, on the other hand is a bit new to this, coaching in just his third season. He has only lost 14 games during this span, but heading into this year, only had 1 postseason win.
Both the back court battle and the front court battle should be very interesting to watch.
The back court for the Blue devils includes Jon Scheyer, Nolan Smith, and Kyle Singler each of which can score the basketball as they are all averaging at least 17.5 ppg. The three were able to outscore West Virginia alone 63-57 in their national semi final game. These three guys will have a tough time all meeting their averages against this Butler squad, as Ronald Nored, Willie Veasley, and Shawn Vanzant, who comes off the bench are great on the ball defenders. Butler’s other guard, starter Shelvin Mack is their leader, averaging 14.2 ppg and 3.1 assists per game. Although Shelvin Mack has been their leader during the season, Gordon Hayward has taken over the tournament, as he is averaging 19.3 ppg and 7.6 rpg over his last 3 in the tournament. All three of those games, Butler had been the underdog.
The front court battle is also compelling in a sense that both Gordon Hayward and Matt Howard can score points as they are averaging a combined 27.2 ppg. Hayward can also step outside and knock down a three. Brian Zoubek and Lance Thomas, aren’t known as scorers, as they average just 10.2 ppg. Zoubek has very limited range, and Thomas for the most part can only finish around the basket, but does have the occasional ability to knock down the mid ranger. The rebounding edge goes to Duke in a huge way, as Zoubek leads the country in offensive rebounding efficiency. Both Thomas and Zoubek are better rebounders than Howard and Gordon Hayward who is averaging 8.3 rebounds per game is Butler’s leading rebounder.
X Factors:
Lance Thomas is also key for the Blue Devils in the sense that he can cover the 5 spot all the way to the 1 spot. He’s so versatile, and could be the X factor for Duke, as Duke essentially only plays man to man.
Matt Howard is key for Butler tonight, he has been cleared to play after suffering a mild concussion in their win over Michigan State on Saturday, but will he be a factor tonight, and stay out of foul trouble. He will have a tough task keeping Zoubek off the boards.
Key Matchup:
Gordon Hayward and Kyle Singler. This matchup is probably the best and most intriguing matchup of the tournament. Both Singler and Hayward always posed matchup problems for opposing teams due to their size at the small forward position, and their ability to post up and get dirty inside. Each are more than capable of getting rebounds as Hayward averages 8.3 and Singler averages 6.9. You can expect these two to be matched up together all night.
My Pick: Duke Blue Devils (-7)
The Blue Devils are just too superior for this Butler squad. They have a huge rebounding edge over Butler, and are better in the backcourt as well as their front court due to their rebounding and Lance Thomas’ versatility. The Blue devils really only need 2 of their big 3 to be on tonight to give coach K his 4th National Championship in 18 years, especially since Butler only has 2 go-to scorers in Hayward and Mack.
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