BIRMINGHAM - Butler's star point guard Mike Green only had five points.
It didn't even matter. The 7-seeded Bulldogs got 26 from Pete Campbell and 18 from A.J. Graves as Butler crushed 10-seed South Alabama 81-61.
Green got into early foul trouble and was on the bench for most of the half. The 2-guard, Graves, slid over to play the point, and his job was simple: Give it to Campbell.
"It was a unique situation with Mike being out," Graves said. "Pete came off the bench and made some huge shots."
Campbell was 8-of-10 from 3-point land. Asked jokingly if Butler liked playing in Birmingham because of the friendly rims, Graves said, "I don't think any of Pete's shots hit the rim."
Butler made its Sweet 16 run in 2003 with two wins in Birmingham.
"I've heard people say that A.J. is a catch-and-shoot guy, but he was a great point guard his first two years here," Butler coach Brad Stevens said. "It's just when MIke Green came in [to Butler], we moved A.J. over, because they complement each other so well."
South Alabama's leading scorer Demetric Bennent was held to just 6 points on 2-of-7 shooting. Stevens said Drew Streicher did a great job defending Bennent.
"Drew has guarded the other team's best statistical player in almost every game this season," he said. "What he did today was unbelievable."
Butler made 15 3-point baskets, just six shy of the NCAA Tournament record. The win was Butler's 30th of the season, a school record.
Butler plays Tennessee, a team they beat last season, in the second round Sunday.
