Eighth-seeded Butler returned three starters -- senior forward Matt Howard, senior guard Shawn Vanzant and junior guard Shelvin Mack -- from a team that took Duke to the final second in the national title game last season.

Howard (16.7 points per game, 7.7 rebounds per game), Mack (15.6, 4.4) and Vanzant (8.9, 5.4) have played in 11 NCAA Tournament games to tie the program record set last season by then-senior guard Willie Veasley.

"They're not an underdog at all," said Wisconsin senior Jon Leuer, who played last summer with Mack on the USA Select Team that practiced against the U.S. team that competed in the World Championships. "They have talent all over their team. I played with Shelvin Mack and know what he is capable of.

"He is definitely one of the best guards, and Matt Howard is one of the best bigs that you're going to face. They have guys that can really fill it up and they're well-coached, too.

"So you mix that talent with good coaching and you're going to be in for a battle."