Xavier at Butler

Coach Brad Stevens has done a superb job at Butler. His teams are patient, make few mental mistakes, and move the ball to get a good shot and are never in a rush. Xavier simply doesn't have the same offensive arsenal they have had in recent years, so they have relied on a sticky defense, and patience on the offensive end of their own. They have held 19 of their last 23 opponents to 66 or fewer points. This game will take on a defensive persona early as each waits for the other to make mistakes, and capitalize. I look for a slow first-half tempo and will play the first half UNDER the total.