The majority of area boys prep basketball coaches believe the Butler Bulldogs will beat the Connecticut Huskies in today's NCAA men's championship game in Houston.
Prescott High's Adam Neely said Butler's rough-and-tumble defense will be the difference.
The Bulldogs' defense will have its hands full, especially when it comes to UConn superstar Kemba Walker.
"(Butler) will have to try to make someone else beat them," he said.
Neely's Pick: Butler 58, UConn 55
Chino Valley's Clint Cross said Butler's ability to execute under pressure will bring the title home to Indianapolis.
"I'm a big Duke fan, so I'm glad (Butler) lost last year, but it'll be great if they're able to pull it off this year," he said. "I like their coach Brad Stevens a lot. He's so calm and cool, it seems like the players (emulate him on the court)."
Cross' Pick: Butler 67, UConn 62
Mayer's Roland Medina said a mixture of fate and other intangibles weigh in the Bulldogs' favor.
'The second time's a charm, plus they seem to be in the right place at the right time," he said. 'The ball always seems to find them."
Medina's Pick: Butler 68, UConn 65
The Orme School's Todd Roe is the only dissenter in the group.
Roe, who guided the Warriors to the Class 1A state title in February, said while there's no question Butler's proven itself to be one of the nation's top programs in the past two seasons, UConn's Walker will be the difference in the game.
"Butler has a great program, but I thought coming into the season UConn had the best player in the country (in Walker), and they were the hottest team coming into the tournament, so I have to be on their side," he said.
Roe's Pick: UConn 58, Butler 50
I've got to side with Roe on this one.
Butler seems to be a charmed team this time out - if it weren't for Matt Howard's tip-in at the buzzer versus Old Dominion in the first round who knows if the Bulldogs would have even made it out of the first round - but UConn has too many weapons on offense.
My Pick: UConn 62, Butler 55
Editor's Note: Bradshaw Mountain's Doug Beilfuss could not be reached for comment.
- Why are flags at half-staff today, Feb. 9, 2019
- Teenager killed while crossing Spouse Drive in Prescott Valley
- Local fire departments frustrated with Life Line response times
- Yabba- Dabba-Done! - Fred, Wilma and the gang bid farewell as Bedrock City closes after 47 years
- ADOT: Highway 69 ‘bottleneck’ will be eliminated
- Suspect in Jan. 30 police standoff in Williams same man from PV Walmart arrest in 2018
- Multiple pedestrians struck by cars in downtown Prescott on Thursday
- Need2Know: New Frontiers interior demolition underway; Papa John’s gives back
- Pioneers’ Home superintendent resigns, effective immediately
- Substitute contract mail carrier arrested for gift card theft
- Why are flags at half-staff today, Feb. 9, 2019
- Teenager killed while crossing Spouse Drive in Prescott Valley
- ‘Prescott Valley Fire’ burns about 300 acres north of Highway 89A
- Wind-driven wildfire quickly moving northeast of Prescott
- Prescott home total loss in difficult firefight
- Young Prescott man arrested for sexual assault of teen
- Why are flags at half-staff today, Jan. 15, 2019
- 6 fentanyl cases concluded, 10 ongoing
- Local fire departments frustrated with Life Line response times
- Multiple pedestrians struck by cars in downtown Prescott on Thursday
More like this story
SUBMIT FEEDBACK
Click Below to:
This Week's Circulars
To view money-saving ads...
Community Calendar | ||
---|---|---|
SAT
16
|
Aztlan Lodge #1, F.&A.M. Family Breakfast
|
|
SAT
16
|
Family Storytime
|
|
SUN
17
|
Cowpokes, Crooks, and Cactus: Arizona in the Movies
|
|
SUN
17
|
Prescott International Folkdancers
|
|
TUE
19
|
Technology Help Hour
|
|
View More Events...
|
||