NCAA Tournament 2017, Butler vs. Middle Tennessee final score: Bulldogs Sweet 16 bound after defeating Blue Raiders

The Butler Bulldogs outlast the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders 75-64 in the Round of 32 in Milwaukee to reach the Sweet 16.

Again, thank God. I couldn’t handle if another Big East team went down today.

ANNOUCEMENT: The Bulldogs still have not trailed a single second in this tournament.

The Bulldogs dominated early in the first half, leading by as many as 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting from behind the arc. Kelan Martin was able to score 12 of Butler’s final 18 points of the half after coming off the bench. I think Chris Holtmann has really figured this one out.

The Blue Raiders were able to come back to cut the lead to four going into the locker room at halftime.

The second half was much of the same: Middle Tennessee would come within a couple possessions, and the Dawgs would take care of that rather quickly.

The Blue Raiders were lead by JaCorey Williams with 20 points and nine rebounds. Antwain Johnson also added 19 points and six assists. Giddy Potts, one of the Blue Raiders’ leading scorers, was held to ZERO points because Kamar Baldwin is a very mean defender and wanted to win the game.

The Bulldogs were lead in scoring by Martin with 19 points, six rebounds and four assists. Andrew Chrabascz and Kamar Baldwin each chipped in 15 and 13 points respectively.

Current Boston Celtics head coach (and former Butler coach) Brad Stevens only decides to tweet when it’s Butler related, so guess who tweeted tonight.

Everything was terrible for the Big East whenNo. 11 Villanova was knocked off by #8 Wisconsin earlier this afternoon (debatable seeding, but I digress). But all hail X and the Dawgs.

Another Butler fun fact: the last two times the Dawgs have made it to the Sweet 16, they have also made it to the National Championship game. So stay woke.

The Dawgs will face the winner of #1 North Carolina/#8 Arkansas next Friday at a time TBA.