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Adams: Butler can fire 3-pointers with the best

By John Adams (Contact)
Originally published 09:54 p.m., March 21, 2008
Updated 09:54 p.m., March 21, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Butler-South Alabama game was just seven minutes into the second half when Tennessee assistant coach Steve Forbes realized he had wasted 40 hours of work. Such are the hazards of NCAA tournament preparation.

Forbes drew South Alabama for his scouting assignment, which often kept him awake until 2 or 3 in the morning. Jason Shay drew Butler.

Forbes and South Alabama lost. Shay and Butler won.

And it wasn't close.

Pete Campbell made eight of 10 3-point tries, and the Bulldogs were 15-for-30 from 3-point range in a rousing 81-61 victory over South Alabama. With the victory, Butler advanced to the second round of the East Regional, where it will face the second-seeded Vols.

After devoting about 40 hours of study to 10th-seeded South Alabama, Forbes didn't anticipate the Jaguars' dreadful showing against the seventh-seeded Bulldogs.

"I thought they had a really good chance to win," he said. "They had a helluva year."

The Jaguars beat Western Kentucky twice, upset Mississippi State and came close to knocking off Vanderbilt and Ole Miss on their home courts. But they folded fast against the hot-shooting Bulldogs.

By halftime, it was obvious Shay's scouting report would be the one that mattered. But he didn't need to see Butler's dazzling first-round performance to form a favorable impression.

"They're a really, really good team," he said. "How many times have you had a second-round game with two 30-win teams?"

Butler's seeding and mid-major status are misleading. The Bulldogs (30-3) finished 12th in the final Associated Press poll and have been to 10 NCAA tournaments in the past 12 years.

Their only losses this season were to nationally ranked Drake, by one point to Wright State and by four points to Cleveland State. Early in the season, they reeled off consecutive victories over Michigan, Virginia Tech, Texas Tech and Ohio State by an average of 12.3 points.

They proved themselves against UT early last season with a 56-44 victory in Madison Square Garden. They prevailed despite making only 34.6 percent of their field-goal tries.

Based on Friday's play, UT can't count on such inaccuracy Sunday.

"We knew that they were a very experienced team that worked very hard to get the next guy an open shot," South Alabama coach Ronnie Arrow said. "And it (this game) was no exception.

"After playing them … If they shoot the ball like that, they're going to go a long way in the tournament."

Campbell's 3-point shooting was a career best, but it's hardly an aberration. He has made 48.5 percent of his 3-pointers in his two seasons at Butler and has hit 22 of 34 (64.7 percent) in his last four games.

He needed just 20 minutes to score 26 points against South Alabama. And his deadeye shooting, coupled with the Jaguars' refusal to alter their defense, made Butler's plan of attack ridiculously simple.

"A.J. (Graves) just kept telling me to get open," Campbell said. "He said, 'I'm gonna keep looking for you.' "

With South Alabama unwilling to take extreme defensive measures, Campbell made the game look as easy as his post-practice regimen of shooting 10 3-pointers from five different spots. On his best day, he made 47 of 50.

One reporter wondered if the rims were especially kind at the arena.

"I don't think Pete's shots hit the rim," Graves said.

He was right. Instead, it was one clean swish after another.

You can't judge the Bulldogs on shooting alone. They outrebounded the more physically imposing Jaguars 32-30, committed just 10 turnovers and made life miserable for Demetric Bennett, who averaged almost 20 points per game during the regular season but scored four against Butler.

Despite its superb overall play against South Alabama, Butler's shooting surely will be the headline to Shay's scouting report.

Said Arrow: "When you run up against a team that's going to hit 3s like that, they're going to upset some people. And I'm not saying this was an upset.

"I'm just saying that when they go against Tennessee, if they can hit like that, they've got a great shot at beating Tennessee."

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adams@knews.com.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.

       34 Comments

Posted by Bigger_Al on March 21, 2008 at 10:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

John Adams screws his friends when they go out to eat and the server puts it all on one check.

Posted by GreerVol22 on March 21, 2008 at 10:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'll bet Adams got potted meat and pickled eggs in his Easter basket as a child.

Posted by LargeOrange on March 21, 2008 at 10:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

We are so lucky to have Mr. John Adams as the leader of our beloved sports section. His skill as a writer is unparalleled. Take note of how he quickly transitioned from this: "And it wasn't close." to the next sentence "a rousing 81-61 victory" Wow, a less gifted writer might have gone from "not close" to this was a "sleeper", but not our Mr. Adams. Rousing indeed! Great work Mr. Adams. Remember, he has won several state writing awards.

Posted by knoxsingle on March 21, 2008 at 11:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I nominate Adams for reassignment to the crime beat. I post comments like this on all his columns, but I darned sure don't ready any of those columns. Total waste of paper.

Posted by anthony on March 21, 2008 at 11:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

John Adams, the prophet of gloom, speaks again, and again, and again, and again. The only way we can shut him up is to beat Butler!!! And we aren't even playing. Others are playing for us. But this idiot seems to think that he always writing for the other team??? What?? You mean j. adams thinks there is a conspiracy against him? NO! i thought we were the paranoiacs!! This guy just wants to get on record for saying that Butler would, could beat Tennessee if ....so on and so forth. That way he could say i told you so. I he were an honest man and liked , respected his audience, wouldn't he write about why the games are not all televised for all to see!!?? No he picks on us for caring. I think he is jealous that he isn't able to care about a team like we do. With possessive jealousy!!!

Posted by overatedvols on March 22, 2008 at 12:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm scared. We have not been playing well and can't seem to beat anybody with authority. We should have taken that American team with not much effort. Instead..they almost beat us. That final score was not indicative of how close it was. With 2 minutes left I was totally nervous. We are not playing well and we all know Butler could blow us out of the building if we don't play better. They are definitely not intimidated and of course..they beat us bad last time. If we go out there will not really be any SEC teams left. It would be really embarrassing for our league cause SEC teams have gone out to the likes of Sienna. 50% of the SEC teams are already gone after their first game and we almost got beat and that would have been 4 out of 6. Let's face it, in the second round there is a chance no SEC teams could be remaining. Ark. has Notre Dame. Miss. State has Memphis and we have Butler. Doesnt' look good.
I wish we could have beat American like Memphis handled Texas-Arl. but we didn't. What's going to happen when the teams that we play are actually good?

Posted by dash727 on March 22, 2008 at 12:08 a.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by jcvet on March 22, 2008 at 12:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If TN players don't get their heads out of their a$$es , I see a very embarrassing end to this season. Please play with some hustle and not hotdog play . I hate to tell you TN but you are not the Harlem Globetrotters. Play like you are a bad team which you are.

Posted by PLEASEGETRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE on March 22, 2008 at 12:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Great article John. Don't listen to the orange kool aid drinkers who can't handle the truth.

Posted by FatherVol on March 22, 2008 at 1:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Tenn by 3 over Butler
Mississippi State by 6 over Memphis
Arkansas by 2 over Notre Dame

Posted by RollAFatty on March 22, 2008 at 1:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Dude, Arkansas will have a hard time beating Notre Dame by 2 considering that they will be playing North Carolina.

Posted by sstterry on March 22, 2008 at 6:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

That's why they call it March Maddness!!!
^_^

Posted by tenniskid on March 22, 2008 at 8:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey, Pleaseget...
Leave the ladies alone. This is all they have. All their entire lives they've had their lunch money taken on the playground, now they have the opportunity to run their yaps with mindless drivel. Bottom-line, they don’t have the intelligence to allow someone else to have an opinion and certainly not an opinion that differs from their.

Can you see it now…blood red face, veins in their forehead bulging, voice cracking, and all the while screaming “leave Phil alone or you’re in big trouble meanie”! Ha

Posted by FatherVol on March 22, 2008 at 8:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)

RollAFatty, whoops, you're right...I looked at teh bracket wrong. NC over Ark by 13.

Posted by LargeOrange on March 22, 2008 at 8:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

FatherVol, I was hoping you had some inside info and was predicting ARKY over ND in the sweet sixteen round. Dang.

Posted by LargeOrange on March 22, 2008 at 8:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I would love to meet ARKY in the elite eight in a rematch. Not likely, but like they say it's MM.

Posted by Ashley on March 22, 2008 at 9:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

161 days till football Time in Tennessee!!!!!

Posted by Basketball_Jones on March 22, 2008 at 9:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Why is everyone on Adams case? I mean he is just reporting about UT's next opp. If you watched the game everything he said was correct, this Butler team can play.

Tennessee better start playing like they did early in the season. Chris can't go 1-7 and expect not to go home. They need ALOT BETTER PG play, they also need a better post presence, Chism continues to jack up 3's. Get his big a%% on the block and pound on some people.

I think Tennessee has a punchers chance, but if they play like the did vs American and Butler plays like it did, we're done and all the Memphis and Gator fans can come on here and laugh for the next 8 months

Posted by FlushTheJohn on March 22, 2008 at 9:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

PLEASEGETRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE

You are an idiot. I get so sick of the "orange kool aid" comments. Here is some news for you. I am a Vols fan and supporter. If I want orange kool aid or orange minute maid or orange juice or orange tea, then by god I'll drink it! I am a real vols fan and I happen to like Orange very much!

Here is the real truth about you. You are an Alabama Fan who is just mad that Phil Fulmer owns your sorry rear end. That is the only reason you want him gone. Why don't you find someting better to do than talk about Kool Aid all of the time, Loser!!!!

Get rid of John Adams and Pennington!!!

Flush the Johns!!!

Posted by jweaver3 on March 22, 2008 at 9:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

No matter who says what, Bottomline is you have to win 6 games to win a championship!!!
In the words of the great Jim Valvano, "Survive, and Advance"
That is all you can do.
Win by 1 or 100 it doesn't make a difference.
GO VOLS
TXVOLSFAN
Prediction:Vols by 17 over Butler

Posted by nicksjuzunk on March 22, 2008 at 9:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Yeah, so that's a lot of film to watch. I admire the dedciation of the coaches. It would seem easy to say that you can take South Alabama easy and not sweat it. Check out some stats and brief the team, "So guys #3 can shoot it from downtown so don't let him. #2 is easy in the post so attack him"

Good work guys!!

FlushtheJohns, pass the jug my friend.

Posted by Pullingguard on March 22, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If Vols play similiar game verses Butler as they did verses American they will get beat by 15 points. Defense has to play entire game with a sticky defense and Lofton must improve his touch on shooting.. Very nervous about this game.. Looking into the future, Pearl must find himself a point guard.. The point guard position is now a weak link for the vols.

Posted by RollAFatty on March 22, 2008 at 10:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The first round game was exactly what the Vols needed. It was an eye opener showing that every team is going to deliver their best punch so you have to stay focused for 40 minutes. Tennessee will ultimately overwhelm Butler with atleticism and win by double digits just like they did yesterday.

Posted by pjhaddix on March 22, 2008 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I just know that I live in Indianapolis, home of Butler, so I need the Vols to win! pj

Posted by yabadabadoo1026 on March 22, 2008 at 10:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

flushthejohns, it you who would appear the idiot, the time to bring up owning Alabama is not after a 49-17 thumping----why cant some people love tenn and still have an open mind?????---keep writing your columns Johns, these posters think only they have freedom of speech but you don't unless you agree with them-----yes, its the koolaide.

Posted by Hunter on March 22, 2008 at 11:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"Butler's seeding and mid-major status are misleading. The Bulldogs (30-3) finished 12th in the final Associated Press poll and have been to 10 NCAA tournaments in the past 12 years."

Anybody want to try to convince Roy Williams and Bruce Pearl that they got the tourney draw they deserve??? If this is the #7 seed, this may be one of the hardest regions in the history of the tourney. Gonna be a tough one, boys......

Posted by DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu on March 22, 2008 at 11:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Anybody else feel like we're the underdog tomorrow?

Go Vols! Upset Butler!!

Posted by TheVolMan on March 22, 2008 at 12:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Weenie_Smaller_Al and associated weenies, isn't it time for you to boycott JA articles?

Great article John.

Posted by TommyJack on March 22, 2008 at 1:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If you guys want to not read JA, please do your non-reading silently. You're beating this do death.

Posted by 55Vol on March 22, 2008 at 4:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TJ...no more than others beat PF to death with their donut or fritter comments.
PLEASEGETRIDOF...... get real. Orange koolaid? No different than the crimson koolaid you and Adams drink. Geez....

I hope Genral Fritter is wrong but the Vols will have to find the magic that they played with in Memphis to beat this Butler bunch. A half court game will probably mean the end of the tourney for us. C'mon Vols.. light 'em up on Sunday!

Posted by eduardo on March 22, 2008 at 6:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Tell overrated tigger fan to go back to his hhole known as memphis mistake. You suck mark!

Posted by cat54 on March 22, 2008 at 8:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Great article, John. It's the same ol' kids on here who keep whining about you. They probably can't read and really comprehend what you're saying anyway. Keep the articles coming!

Posted by kimzy1961 on March 23, 2008 at 2:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

To all VOL FANS!,
Right now Tennessee is losing by 7 to Dayton in the Tournament!

Huh!?. . . I guess some of you are asking yourselves , "What is this guy smoking?". We're not playing Dayton and the game hasn't started yet!

Let me explain. . . .

CBSportsline.com is sponsoring an Essay contest set up like the basketball tournament, pitting representatives from teams that made it into the NCAA Tourney. awVols1985 was chosen by the tournament admin. to write for the VOLS and is doing a great job of it. But. . ..

He needs your help! There is no cost . . . You don't have to register . . . You don't even have to vote for him if you don't think he deserves the vote. . . But you do have to find the sight and I'm providing a link to the official explanation of the contest and 1 directly to his essay page.

Let's help keep TENNESSEE in the national limelight by helping awVols1985 advance to the round of 16.

Vote NOW ! ! !
Vote AWVOLS1985 ! ! !
GO VOLS ! ! !

The explanation : http://www.sportsline.com/mcc/message....

awVols1985's sight: http://www.sportsline.com/mcc/message....

Thanks for your time and vote!

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