Opponent: Norfolk State
Specifics: Monday, Nov. 21 | 8:30 p.m. | Hinkle Fieldhouse | Indianapolis
TV: FS1 | Vince Welch (play-by-play) & Nick Bahe (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 Monday morning)
Follow Along: @ButlerMBB
Full Notes (PDF)
ONE MORE AT HINKLE: The Bulldogs continue the Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational with the second of two match-ups at Hinkle Fieldhouse as part of the event. Butler hosts a Monday evening contest with Norfolk State before hopping on a plane Tuesday morning to head to Las Vegas for games Thursday and Friday. Monday night's 8:30 p.m. tip will be broadcast nationally on FS1. Butler is 3-0 on the young season.
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.
ON THE OFFENSIVE: The Bulldogs ran away from Bucknell Saturday afternoon at Hinkle Fieldhouse, downing the visiting Bison, 86-60. Butler shot 62 percent from the field, including 53 percent from behind the arc. Butler improves to 20-0 under Chris Holtmann when shooting 50 percent or better from the field.
Butler is now 23-0 under Chris Holtmann when scoring 80 or more points. They accomplished the feat 15 times in 2015-16 and on six occasions in 2014-15 to pair with two 80+ performances on the young 2016-17 season. Butler's scoring average of 79.9 points per game last season was second in the BIG EAST and 24th nationally.
HANDLE WITH CARE: Butler has committed only 9.3 turnovers per game through its first three contests of the season. That mark is second in the BIG EAST and 12th nationally. The Bulldogs own a combined advantage of 69-21 in points off turnovers over their opponents this season.
Butler's turnover margin of +8.7 leads the BIG EAST and is tenth nationally. 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.
BOTH SIDES OF THE FLOOR: While Butler's 81.7 points per game is impressive, the Bulldogs have also been doing a nice job on defense, allowing just 60.0 points per game so far in the young season. That mark leads the BIG EAST.
BALANCED ATTACK: Six Bulldogs have registered at least one game so far this season in double figures. Avery Woodson accomplished the feat for the first time in a Butler uniform Saturday, pairing with Tyler Wideman in leading the team with 14 points. Kelan Martin and Kamar Baldwin have scored at least 10 points in all three games. Andrew Chrabascz and Tyler Lewis have also had a game with 10+. Four Bulldogs scored in double figures Saturday against Bucknell.
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.
ON THE GLASS: Butler only had a slight 26-24 rebounding advantage against Bucknell, but the Bulldogs kept the visitors off the offensive glass, allowing Bucknell only two offensive rebounds in the game.
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 two of three 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 in double figures in each contest, including Wednesday's game-winner. He has made 14 of his 22 attempts from the field (64 percent) and has committed only two turnovers. On the defensive end, he has six steals.
PRESSURE IN THE BACKCOURT: The Bulldogs have caused the lead guards (Jordan Davis from Northern Colorado, Bryant McIntosh from Northwestern, and Stephen Brown of Bucknell) into a combined 18 turnovers.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CHARITY: Kelan Martin has made all 16 of his attempts from the line so far this season. As a team, Butler is shooting 71 percent from the charity stripe.
BIG CAT, BIG PERFORMANCE: Tyler Wideman, with the nickname of "Big Cat," pounced on the team-high for Butler Saturday against Bucknell. His 6-of-8 performance from the field led to 14 points. It was the second time in his career that he has led Butler in scoring. He did that despite playing only 17 minutes.
HELPING HAND: Butler had an impressive 19 assists on 36 made field goals Saturday against Bucknell. Tyler Lewis had a game-high seven, followed by Andrew Chrabascz with four.
HOME COOKING: Butler has now won 31 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 29-6 at Hinkle Fieldhouse as head coach of the Bulldogs.
