Butler, Wisconsin have much in common

NEW ORLEANS - Butler's Matt Howard took a stroll down Bourbon Street on Tuesday night, experiencing a strip of restaurants, bars and hangouts known for lavish parties and excess.

The senior forward knew within minutes that it wasn't his type of place.

Too much flash. Too crazy.

"It's not my personality, it's not what I like to do," Howard said. "For me, it's almost unnecessary. I'd rather stay away from that."

Howard, much like the Bulldogs, is more of a stoic, hard-working Midwestern guy. And when eighth-seeded Butler faces fourth-seeded Wisconsin in the NCAA Tournament Southeast Regional semifinals tonight, there will be a lot of that on the floor at New Orleans Arena.

It's worked for both programs. Wisconsin has become one of the most consistent teams in the country, making its fifth run to the round of 16 in the past 11 seasons. Butler is in the midst of a second straight deep run in March that included a trip to the national championship game last season, where the Bulldogs lost to Duke.

"They don't beat themselves so we're going to have to beat them," Wisconsin freshman Josh Gasser said. "That's a lot like how we play."

Wisconsin is the typical Big Ten team, with a suffocating defense and methodical offense that slowly wears down opponents. That's how the Badgers were able to slip past Kansas State in the second round with a 70-65 win, despite Jacob Pullen's 38 points.

Wisconsin's methodical style has occasionally been the target of jokes, especially after the Badgers were bounced by Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament by an unsightly 36-33 score.

But count Butler coach Brad Stevens as a fan.

"I could sit up here and flatter them all day," Stevens said. "I'll tell you what - why wouldn't you want to play a way where everybody is completely unselfish?

Later he added: "There's a reason they don't lose very often."