Defense returns not a moment to soon, Butler in control of Atlantic 10 tournament destiny tonight vs Xaiver

Since taking over as head coach in 2007, Brad Stevens has compiled a 139–40 record. A win tonight would tie him for the NCAA record of most wins by a coach in his first six season. (photo by grantland.com)

In the early to midway period of the 2000’s Butler Bulldogs basketball was based on teams that, for the most part, thrived on three-point shooting and suffered dearly when those perimeter shots weren’t falling.

It wasn’t until head coach Brad Stevens, currently in his 6th season, took over in 2007 that a tough, disciplined defensive game was implemented into “The Butler Way” of playing basketball.

True, they weren’t going to put up insanely high scoring margins like the “Power House” schools, but their defense was going to be tough enough to keep them in the contest and give themselves a chance to win games. That strategy went onto propel Stevens and the Bulldogs to back-to-back National Championship game appearances.

While Butler has still been very successful this season, for most of the year they have strayed away from the gritty and scrappy defensive style of play, that benefited them over the last three years.

That all changed last night in Butler’s 73-62 victory over the Minutemen of Massachusetts on the road in Atlantic 10 play.

Coming into the contest, UMass was in the Top 40 for points per game in the NCAA averaging 70+ppg, while the Bulldogs, who had lost two straight going in, were uncharacteristically allowing 74.5ppg in those loses.

Despite this, Stevens and Co. finally channeled the Butler defensive of old, holding the Minutemen to 62 points, (tied for a season low for points in a loss,) and kept the three ball out of the equation by only allowing 22% shooting from downtown, (during their two game losing streak, the Bulldogs allowed an average of 40% from beyond the arc).

The victory not only ended a two game losing streak, but also put them back in control of their own destiny for next week’s Atlantic 10 Tournament at the Barclay’s Center.

Butler currently sits at the #5 seed for the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament, which allows the Top 4 teams to have a first round bye. However, Butler has one more opportunity to gain the last first round bye and the #4 seed heading into tonight’s contest against Xavier.

If Butler defeats Xavier (17-12, 9-6 A 10), who handily defeated Butler 62-47 in their regular season road opener back on Nov. 13th, the Bulldogs need either a LaSalle (21-7, 11-4 A 10) win today at Saint Louis (23-6, 12-3 A 10) or a Virginia Commonwealth (24-6, 12-3 A 10) at Temple (22-8, 10-5 A 10) tomorrow in order to receive both the first round bye and the #4 seed in the A10 Tourney.

Only time will tell what position the Bulldogs will start its Road to the Final Four in next week’s A10 Tournament, but one things for certain; Butler’s fate lies in its own hands, but that’s just the way it likes it.

Overcoming the odds, making the most out of the worst situations, and stealing the hearts of America in the process.

That’s just a simple piece of “The Butler Way”.