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Andy Katz, ESPN Senior Writer 9y

Sources: Puerto Rico Tip-Off title game could pit Butler against Utah

Men's College Basketball, Butler Bulldogs, Utah Utes, Missouri State Bears, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Temple Owls, Texas Tech Red Raiders, Mississippi State Bulldogs, Miami (FL) Hurricanes

Big East surprise Butler and Utah, which made the Sweet 16 last season, are the two headliners of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off and could be headed for a title-game showdown, based on matchups that multiple sources confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday night.

Butler will take on Missouri State, with Minnesota and Temple on one side of the bracket. On the other side of the bracket, Utah plays Texas Tech, and Mississippi State plays Miami. The tournament will be played Nov. 19-22 in San Juan.

Utah lost to Duke in the Sweet 16 last March in Houston. Butler lost to Notre Dame in the round of 32.

Miami fell in overtime in the NIT final to Stanford, two days after beating Temple in a semifinal.

The tournament will mark the first significant games for new Mississippi State coach Ben Howland, who once led UCLA to three straight Final Fours.

Minnesota and Texas Tech are on opposite sides of the bracket but could meet on the final day, which would pit Richard Pitino of Minnesota against the coach he replaced, Tubby Smith of Texas Tech.

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