The Texas Longhorns and Butler Bulldogs represent one of the more interesting matchups in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball tournament. The Longhorns have one of the best frontcourts in all of college basketball, but have suffered some ugly stumbles during conference play that have left them a wild card. The Butler Bulldogs once again enter March Madness as the perceived underdogs despite being the higher seed and now the two teams face off for a shot at the Round of 32.
Butler enters the tournament at a No. 6 seed, but most are overlooking the Bulldogs as being much of a threat. That is how it normally is for the Big East team despite reaching the tournament finals just five years ago. Back then Brad Stevens and Gordon Hayward represented the Bulldogs and now it is Chris Holtmann and Kameron Woods who fit a similar profile. Butler is well aware that no one is looking at them in this tournament despite finishing second in the Big East and they intend to use that as motivation. Butler has the third best winning percentage in the tournament after coming close to the championship in both 2010 and 2011. The 2014-15 team is much different, but they still have the same mindset to upset the bigger team.
Texas comes into the tournament after a struggling finish in the regular season. The Longhorns managed to lose their last nine of 15 games to end the season despite having real talent on the team. Myles Turner, Prince Ibeh and Cameron Ridley represent the toughest frontcourt in college basketball as they all stand 6-9 and taller. Texas leads the nation in blocks with 260 on the year as a result, but losses to easier teams have many wondering what kind of potential this team really holds. Ranked at No. 6 at one point this year, Texas fell hard to being a bubble team at a No. 11 seed.
The Longhorns looked bound for the NIT after four-straight losses to Oklahoma, Iowa State, West Virginia and Kansas. However, they managed to beat Baylor in overtime before losing to Iowa State in the Big 12 conference tournament. If Texas can managed to find some of that early season success, they have a shot at beating Butler and advancing.
