Diamond Head Classic Semifinals: A look at Butler-Florida St

Diamond Head Classic, Stan Sheriff Center, Honolulu, HI
Butler Bulldogs vs Florida St Seminoles
Thursday, December 23, 2010, 10:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN2
Opening Line: Florida St -1 1/2
Current Line: Florida St -2
Opening Total: 133
Current Total: 128 1/2
Money Line: FSU -130 / Butler +110

Chris Singleton and the Florida St Seminoles are 2 points favorites over Butler in Hawaii.

Butler is 7-4 on the season with losses to Louisville, Evansville, Duke and Xavier. Florida St is 10-2 on the season with the losses coming to Florida and Ohio St. Butler has won 3 straight including victories over Stanford and Utah. The win against Utah was yesterday in this tournament 74-62. Florida St has won 5 in a row after a two game losing streak. Florida St beat Hawaii yesterday 70-62 in the first round of the tournament. Butler has played a tough schedule this year after advancing to the National Championship game last season. Florida St has a 75-69 quality win over Clemson so far this season but for the most part they are winning against weaker foes. Florida St is 11-22 ATS in all games over the last 2 seasons. FSU is also 8-20 ATS when playing a team with a winning record the last two seasons and 3-12 ATS against teams allowing 64 points or fewer in the same span.

In Butler’s victory over Utah, Bulldog forward Matt Howard led all scorer with 23 points. He also pulled down 6 rebounds. Guard Ronald Nored contributed 16 second half points and 5 assists to help the Bulldogs win. Butler went on a 13-1 run in the first half to take control of the game. The bulldogs led by 13 at the half and held off several Utah rallies to win by 12. Utah pulled within 6 or 7 several times but was never able to get closer than that. Butler is outscoring their opponents 74-64 on the year. Butler struggles form the field sometimes shooting only 42.4% and 33.3% from 3 point range. They make 74.1% from the free throw line. They average 37 rebounds a game and have a rebounding margin of +3.8. Howard leads the team in scoring (18.4 ppg) and rebounding (7.9 rpg). Butler averages 12.5 assists and 10.8 turnovers a game. Point guard Shelvin Mack leads the team in assists with 3.5 a game and turnovers with 2.1 a game. He is also second in scoring with 14.5 ppg. The Bulldogs also average 6.2 steals and 1.7 blocks a game. Nored leads the team in steals with 1.3 a game.

Florida St only shot 33% from the field yesterday against Hawaii, which explains why the game was so close. Seminole guard Derwin Kitchen scored 20 points to lead the team. Forward Okaro White added 19 points off the bench. Forward Chris Singleton pulled down 12 rebounds for Florida St. The Seminoles are outscoring opponents 74-59 on the season. They too struggle sometimes from the field shooting only 44.1%, and 34.3% from 3 point range. The ‘Noles shoot 67.9% from the free throw line. Florida St averages 42.6 rebounds a game and has a rebounding margin of +7.9. Forward Chris Singleton leads Florida St in scoring (13.6 ppg), rebounds (8.0), steals (2.7), and blocks 2.2). The Seminoles average 13.9 assists and 17.5 turnovers a game. Kitchen leads the team in assists with 3.5 a game. FSU averages 9.5 steals and 7.6 blocks a game.

Statistically Florida St has the best defense in the country but Butler plays good defense as well. This should be a low scoring game in the 60’s and maybe even the 50’s. Florida St has a definite edge in rebounding, and that could be the difference in the game. Butler has two strong wins in a row and the tough early season schedule might be paying dividends. We will know more after this game about both teams.