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Five Thoughts: Why Butler and Missouri aren’t as different as you think

Duquesne v Butler

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 19: Rotnei Clarke #15 of the Butler Bulldogs brings the ball up court during the game as Jerry Jones #5 of the Duquesne Dukes defends at Hinkle Fieldhouse on February 19, 2013 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Butler defeated Duquesne 68-49. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

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How come there aren’t more people questioning Butler?: Butler lost to St. Louis in Hinkle Fieldhouse on Friday night. It was the second time that they have lost to the Billikens this season (the first was a blowout that came at Chaifetz Arena) and the second time in the span of nine days that they lost at home in league play. As we continue to watch Butler play less-than-dominating basketball throughout A-10 play, it raises the question: Just how good are the Bulldogs?

I’ve had no issue questioning whether or not Arizona is truly as good as their rankings indicates, and I’m certainly not the only one to do so. They’ve won a couple close games they probably didn’t deserve to win against some of the best competition in the country, and as a result, the Wildcats has seen their ranking get inflated. Couldn’t it be argued the same thing has happened with Butler?

Their three biggest wins of the season have all come on fluky -- fascinating, thrilling and the epitome of “Butler Magic”, but fluky nonetheless -- finishes. There was Rotnei Clarke’s running 25-footer to beat Marquette; There was Alex Barlow’s runner in the lane in overtime to beat Indiana; There was Roosevelt Jones’ steal and floater to beat Gonzaga.

If those three shots don’t go down, is Butler a bubble team? Should we be concerned about the fact that Butler’s Kenpom ranking is 52nd? Just how much stock can we put in “Butler Magic”? And yes, I do know that they’ve dealt with injuries to two key players during the season.

You bet against Brad Stevens at your own risk, but if this may be the year where betting on Butler losing early in the tournament could pay off.

Missouri’s Pressey-ing problem: There may not be five players in the country that are as important to their team’s success as Phil Pressey is to Missouri’s. With a roster that’s devoid of players capable of creating for themselves, Frank Haith has been forced into a situation where he has to rely on his star point guard to shoulder a massive burden as a creator.

The problem is Flip’s decision-making, especially late in games on the road. Missouri has five true road losses this season that came down to the final possession (I’m including their seven-point overtime loss to Kentucky on Saturday night in this conversation), and all five of those losses have one thing in common: a bad decision by Pressey costing the Tigers down the stretch.

Now think about that in context with what we just discussed regarding Butler. How much differently would we view them if three of those final possessions ended with a bucket instead of a turnover or a missed shot? Winning and executing in the clutch is a skill, so it’s not to be glossed over, but it is something worth thinking about.

Marshall Henderson, sixth-man?: Coming off of a loss at South Carolina, Ole Miss needed a change, and it looks like Andy Kennedy found exactly what he needed: a new sixth-man. Kennedy brought Henderson off the bench on Saturday, and it worked, as Henderson his eight threes and scored 28 points for the Rebels. Granted, that performance came in a blowout win over Auburn, but it was a much-needed hot-shooting night for the slumping sharpshooter.

Weirdest ending of the season: You missed it because CBS cut away from the ending of the South Carolina-Georgia game to air the start of Georgetown-Syracuse, but we saw our first do-over in college hoops in ... well, ever? Here’s what happened:

There were 8.9 seconds left on the clock after Kentavious Caldwell-Pope drained a 3 to tie the game at 54. That’s when it got crazy: The clock ran before South Carolina inbounded the ball, which officials didn’t notice until after South Carolina’s Bruce Ellington missed a 3 at the buzzer.

The officials then went to the video review, as both teams huddled up, figuring there would be overtime. After a lengthy review, the officials decided to put 4.5 seconds back on the clock, and give South Carolina the ball on its own baseline - 94 feet away from the basket it needed to score at.


South Carolina couldn’t score on the second try and ended up losing in overtime, but man, what a wacky way to end regulation.

Oh, Sam Thompson:

You can find Rob on twitter @RobDauster.