After one of the poorest shooting showings in a first half this season, Butler turned an eight point halftime lead into a much-needed 73-62 victory on the road against the Minutemen of Massachusetts Thursday night.
Following their first two game loosing skid of the season, the Bulldogs, (23-7, 10-5 A 10,) desperately needed a victory with only two A10 games left heading into the contest. A defeat would all but ensure Butler would not recieve a first round bye in next week’s Atlantic 10 conference tournament at the Barclays Center, where the Top 4 teams recieve the aforementioned byes.
In a loss one would point to the 3 of 19 shooting from beyond the arc, but a victory in a game where Butler shot below 16% from downtown proves they are not just a team that lives or dies by the three ball.
Despite hitting the teams only three pointers (3), senior guard Rotnei Clarke put together a 17 point performance on 3 of 4 from inside his usual electrifying long-range from the perimeter.
One of the main reasons Clarke was able to get free was sophomore Roosevelt Jones ability to score without the basketball. Jones, known for his uncharacteristic floaters and free throws had a relatively quite night with 6 points, but made his presence known by dishing out a team high 8 assists.
However the biggest offensive stat of the night goes to the Power Forward slot of the Bulldogs, specifically Khyle Marshall and Kameron Woods. The duo combined for 31 of the team’s 73 points on 13 of 18 shooting.
On the defensive side of the basketball Butler held the Top 40 in points per game Minutemen, (18-10, 8-7 A 10,) to 62 points on 20 of 44 shooting from the field, improving the Bulldogs to a 13-2 record on the season when they hold opponents at or below 65 points.
Overall, Coach Brad Stevens and Company got what they wanted; another quality conference road win along with a statement made to the rest of the field, “The Butler Way” is not solely based on three pointers.
The Bulldogs end the regular season this Saturday back home at Hinkle Fieldhouse at 6:30 for Senior Night against their rivals as of late, the Xavier Musketeers.
A victory Saturday secures the #4 seed for Butler in the conference tournament, along with that highly coveted first round bye.
In a league where the Auto-Bid to the Big Dance is anybody’s for the taking, any advantage they can earn heading into postseason play is something for all the Bulldog faithful to “wag their tails” about.
-Jimmy Cook
Follow on twitter: @theJCook