Opponent: Bucknell
Specifics: Saturday, Nov. 19 | 1 p.m. | Hinkle Fieldhouse | Indianapolis
TV: FSN Affiliates (
see listing) | Jeff Levering (play-by-play) & Jordan Cornette (analyst)
Radio: 107.5 FM (also streamed through
TuneIn Radio App) | Mark Minner (play-by-play) & Nick Gardner (analyst)
Tickets: Still available through Butler Ticket Office and Ticketmaster.com (as of Friday morning)
Follow Along: @ButlerMBB
Full Notes (PDF)
WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS…ACTUALLY HAPPENS IN INDY: The Bulldogs begin the Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational with the first of two match-ups at Hinkle Fieldhouse as part of the event. Butler welcomes Bucknell Saturday afternoon followed by a Monday evening contest with Norfolk State. Saturday's game with the Bison tips at 1 p.m. and will air on FOX Sports Network affiliates, including FOX Sports Midwest/Indiana. Butler is 2-0 on the young season.
Following its two home contests, Butler will travel to Las Vegas for its final two games as part of the Invitational. The Bulldogs will face Vanderbilt on Thanksgiving Day and then play either Arizona or Santa Clara on Friday, Nov. 25. Both games will be broadcast on FS1.
THE SERIES: Butler and Bucknell have met only once, with that contest coming in the 2013 NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs won that second round (the opening games for most teams were called second round games that year) tournament game, 68-56, in Lexington, Ky. Rotnei Clarke led four Bulldogs in double figures with 17 points. Andrew Smith had 14 points and 16 rebounds. Two days later, Butler would lose to Marquette in what was Brad Stevens' final game as head coach at Butler.
GAME-WINNER: Butler defeated Northwestern, 70-68, Wednesday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse as freshman Kamar Baldwin hit a 17-foot jumper with 0.4 seconds remaining on the clock. Baldwin set up the final possession with a steal with 30 seconds remaining in the game. The match-up was part of the Gavitt Tipoff Games, an annual series between the BIG EAST and Big Ten.
TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT: Wednesday's game with Northwestern featured 17 ties and 16 lead changes. Butler's largest lead was five midway through the second half. Northwestern's largest lead was six with approximately six minutes to play, following a 10-0 run. The teams were tied for more than 25 percent of the game (10:15 of game action).
SCORING IN BUNCHES: Junior Kelan Martin has led Butler in scoring in both contests this season. Wednesday's 22 points featured 15 second-half points, including eight in the first 2:45 of the half. His 21 points in the season-opening win over Northern Colorado included 17 first-half points.
BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE: Freshman Kamar Baldwin has been impressive in his early Butler career, scoring 11 points in each contest, including Wednesday's game-winner. He has made 10 of his 17 attempts from the field (59 percent) and has committed only one turnover. On the defensive end, he has five steals.
VALUE THE ROCK: Butler has committed only 20 turnovers through its two games, while forcing opponents into 35 miscues. The Bulldogs caused the lead guard (Jordan Davis from Northern Colorado and Bryant McIntosh from Northwestern) into a combined 13 turnovers. The Bulldogs have a 44-18 in points off turnovers so far this season, including the two points from Kamar Baldwin Wednesday night to win the game against Northwestern.
A season ago, Butler committed 10 or fewer turnovers in 17 games. Butler led the BIG EAST and ranked 12th nationally in turnovers per game (10.2) in 2015-16.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CHARITY: The Bulldogs are hitting 77 percent of their free throw attempts through two games (33-43). Kelan Martin leads the team, having made all 14 of his attempts from the line.
SENIOR STEPS UP: Andrew Chrabascz played a game-high 38 minutes Wednesday against Northwestern. His seven rebounds were also a game-high. Despite struggling through a 3-of-12 shooting performance, he scored six of his 13 points in the final 5:31. His three-pointer at that mark ended a 10-0 NU run and cut into the Wildcats' six-point lead. His basket with 2:32 to play gave Butler a two-point lead, and his free throw with 53 seconds remaining tied the game at 68. He had Butler's last two field goals before Kamar Baldwin's game-winner.
HOME COOKING: Butler has now won 30 consecutive home games against non-conference opponents. The streak dates back to a loss to Pittsburgh in the 2012 College Basketball Invitational (CBI).
Butler coach Chris Holtmann is 28-6 at Hinkle Fieldhouse as head coach of the Bulldogs.
