Mid-major watch. (Insider: college basketball).

Butler

WHO ARE THE BULLDOGS? Many of the players' names have changed. Even the head coaching job has turned over twice. But this is essentially the same operation that compiled a 73-22 record the previous three seasons. Butler shares the basketball to such a degree that no player is averaging 12 points but five are averaging at least 9.3. The system takes advantage of the player who is hot or best suited to attack a particular opponent. Four players have led the team in scoring, but only guard Darnell Archey has done it in consecutive games. Archey made an NCAA-record 76 consecutive free throws and is hitting 40.8 percent of his 3-pointers. Senior guard Brandon Miller has struggled with his jumper in recent games, hitting just five of 25 from long distance in one stretch, but he is a key to the fluid operation of the offense. Perhaps the team's most gifted player is 6-10 center Joel Cornette, an athletic ball-handler and passer. He has not become a dominant scorer, but coach Todd Lickliter considers him a dominant player. "He'll make the pass that leads to the assist. He'll come across and alter a shot. He'll make a great play that you have to be there to see," ...