Butler defeats Troy 70-59

 

            Butler used a strong second half to pull away from visiting Troy on Saturday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse to earn their 3rd win of the season 70-59 to improve their record to 3-0 on the young season. 

            The hometown Bulldogs started out in a funk in the first half. Early on, Butler had more turnovers than points. The Bulldogs had 12 turnovers and only seven points at the ten minute mark of the first half and found themselves down 17-7 to the visitors from Troy, Alabama. Near the end of the first half, Butler's shooting percentage was an abysmal 30 percent. Butler fought their way back to close the half within three points at 20-23. Then the heave happened. 

            Bryce Nze took a missed three pointer by Troy's Christyon Eugene and heaved the ball 80 feet down the other end as the clock expired. The ball banked off the backboard and went in. The 7,227 fans inside Hinkle were sent into a frenzy. After a long discussion at the scorers table, the refs counted the basket. Game tied at 23 going into halftime. Crazy things always seem to happen at Hinkle Fieldhouse don't they? Another magic moment to add to the list in the 93 year history of Indiana's basketball cathedral. 

            Butler began to pull away in the 2nd half with an 9-0 run to stretch the lead to 55-44 with 6 minutes to go. Troy never got any closer. Butler ended the game shooting 69 percent in the second half, a much needed improvement after a sloppy shooting performance in the first half. 

            The Bulldogs were led in scoring by sophomore Chuck Harris who had 23 points and four rebounds. Also scoring in double figures for the Bulldogs were senior Jair Bolden who had 21 points and freshman Jayden Taylor who had 10 points. Of the Bulldogs 12 three pointers on the night, 8 of them came from Harris and Bolden who each hit 4 from beyond the arc. Taylor had his third straight double digit game to start his Butler career. That is significant due to the fact that no other Butler freshman in the last 30 years has accomplished that feat. 

            Troy was led in scoring by Efe Odigie who has 13 points and also scoring in double figures for the Trojans was Duke Deen who also led them in rebounds with 6 on the night. Troy shot 42 percent for the game but struggled from beyond the three point line, only making 4 out of 19 attempts. 

            Through the first three games of the season, Butler has done well defensively to keep their opponents at bay by half despite struggling offensively themselves. Butler hasn't allowed more than 30 points in a half so far in this early season. They also have done well to keep their three opponents under 60 points for the game. Pretty good accomplishment despite missing their best defensive player in Aaron Thompson. Thompson will return to the Bulldog lineup on Wednesday evening. 

            Butler is now 62-1 in their last 63 non conference home games. The Bulldogs will face a big challenge on Wednesday night when Michigan State arrives at Hinkle Fieldhouse for the annual Gavitt Games Tipoff. 

Butler defeats IUPUI 56-47 in season opener

 

    Butler started out their 2021-22 season by defeating IUPUI 56-47 before a crowd of 7,134 fans at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Tuesday night. 

    The Bulldogs mantra has always been gritty, not pretty and that was the case against the Jaguars. Butler's offense was in a rut for most of the game but it's defense stifled the Jaguars and in the end that was enough to secure the nine point win. 

    Butler lead by as many as 15 points during the contest and never trailed for the majority of the game. IUPUI had a 9-7 lead early in the first half but after that the Bulldogs never trailed again. Butler's defense held the Jaguars to 3 of 23 shooting from behind the three point line. Butler also forced several shot clock violations in the first half. The Jaguars were led in scoring by B.J. Maxwell who scored 14 points. No other Jaguar scored in double figures. 

    Butler's offense on the other hand was just as sloppy. The Bulldogs shot only 25 percent on three pointers in the second half and 34 percent overall. Butler was a collective 7-25 on three pointers. Butler struggled against the IUPUI zone defense. Butler countered this by attacking the basket, drawing fouls and getting to the free throw line. Butler made 19 out of 23 from the foul line. That should be a refreshing sign for Bulldogs fans as Butler struggled from the free throw line much of last season. 

    The Bulldogs were led in scoring by sophomore Chuck Harris who had a game high 16 points and freshman Jayden Taylor who had 12 points. They are both known to be effective three point shooters but due to the Jaguars match up zone, they went a combined 1-9 from three. This was made up for in the case that was just mentioned above as Taylor and Harris both took the ball to the basket on drives and were able to draw contact and get to the free throw line. Combined they went 15 out of 18 from the charity stripe. 

    By not having starting point guard Aaron Thompson who was out due to being suspended the first three games of the season, Butler needed that next man up mentality. That next man up turned out to be someone who has only been in the United States for a few weeks. Freshman guard Simas Lukosius from Lithuania. The 19 year old showed promise in his first ever collegiate game. Playing point guard and shooting guard, Lukosius scored eight points, grabbed seven rebounds and had two assists. 

    Butler looked dysfunctional at times, the offense stalled here and there but the defense was on point after a few shaky exhibitions the last few weeks. However it's a win to start the season so that's the positive. Aaron Thompson is the glue that holds the team together and no matter what year it has been, when he's not in the game for Butler, they struggle on both sides of the ball. Butler was also missing three other players that will see significant minutes of playing time when they return from their injuries so with all of that in effect, Butler should be happy with this victory. As they say at Butler, gritty not pretty. 

     Senior Bo Hodges is out with a leg injury and his timetable should be around the start of Big East play. Grad transfer from Eastern Michigan Ty Groce should be back on Friday against Central Arkansas and could start soon. Sophomore Myles Tate suffered a torn ACL last march in the Big East Tournament. Thompson will return to the starting lineup next week against Michigan State. 

    Butler is now 7-0 all time against IUPUI in their history. Butler has now won 23 consecutive home openers and is 60-1 in their last 61 non conference home games. 

    The Bulldogs next game will be on Friday night as they take on the Bears of Central Arkansas. IUPUI is set to travel to Evansville on Thursday night to take on the Purple Aces.