Opponent: Indiana State
Specifics: Wednesday, Dec. 7 | 7 p.m. | Hulman Center | Terre Haute, Ind.
TV: ESPN3 & WatchESPN App | Brad Wells & Rich Zvosec
Radio: 107.5 FM (also streamed through TuneIn Radio App) | Mark Minner (play-by-play) & Nick Gardner (analyst)
Follow Along: @ButlerMBB
Full Notes (PDF)
IN-STATE MATCH-UP: The Bulldogs set out on their second true road test of the season, traveling to Terre Haute for a Wednesday night tilt at Indiana State. The 7 p.m. tip will air online on ESPN3 and through the WatchESPN app. Butler brings an 8-0 record into the contest. The Sycamores are 4-4.
AND THEN THERE WERE…11: Through Sunday's games, Butler is one of only 11 remaining undefeated teams in the country. This is Butler's best start to the season since also beginning the 2008-09 season at 8-0. Three of the 11 undefeated teams reside in the BIG EAST as the Bulldogs join Villanova and Creighton.
ROCK THE VOTE: In Monday's national polls, Butler climbed to No. 16 in the AP Poll, and to No. 15 as voted by the coaches who comprise the USA Today Coaches Poll. Butler cracked the Top 25 for the first time this season in the Nov. 28 polls.
Including this season, Butler has now been ranked in the Top 25 in nine of the last 11 seasons.
THE SERIES WITH THE SYCAMORES: Indiana State is Butler's most-played opponent with a series that dates back to 1903. The Bulldogs own a 70-56 advantage in the series and have won four straight match-ups. Coach Chris Holtmann is 2-0 against Indiana State as the teams met in both 2015-16 and 2014-15.
ONE YEAR AGO: Kelan Martin led Butler with 24 points in an 85-71 win over Indiana State at Hinkle Fieldhouse almost one year ago to the day (Dec. 5, 2015). Martin made 10 of his 14 shots. Andrew Chrabascz and Kellen Dunham each added 19 points. The Bulldogs shot 57 percent in the contest while limiting the Sycamores to a 39-percent clip.
Indiana State is the first 2016-17 opponent that Butler also faced a season ago. Butler's upcoming opponent, Cincinnati, was also on the 2015-16 schedule. Those two opponents are the only repeat foes on this season's non-conference slate.
30 FOR 30: Kelan Martin, who wears jersey number 30, had a season-high 30 points as Butler knocked off Central Arkansas, 82-58, Saturday afternoon in the team's last outing. Martin sank five three-pointers in the second half.
Martin has led the team in scoring in three straight games. He has accomplished the feat five times this season and 21 times in a Butler uniform.
DOUBLE TROUBLE: Junior Tyler Wideman registered the first double-double of his Butler career with 10 points and 10 rebounds Saturday afternoon against Central Arkansas. The 10 rebounds matched a career-high.
In Butler's two games last week (wins at Utah and over Central Arkansas), Wideman went 10-of-11 from the field and averaged 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per contest.
YOU SEEM DEFENSIVE: Butler is only allowing opponents 60.4 points per game this season. That mark is 21st nationally. The Bulldogs' field goal percentage defense of 40.9 percent is second in the BIG EAST.
Butler's defensive effort combined with scoring 78.9 points per game gives the Bulldogs a scoring margin of +18.5. That is second in the BIG EAST and 19th nationally.
PERCENTAGE PLAY: The Bulldogs are shooting 50.2 percent on the season and have eclipsed 50-percent shooting in four of the team's eight games. Under Chris Holtmann, Butler is 22-0 when shooting 50 percent or better from the field.
LIVIN' IN THE 80s: Butler is now 25-0 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 four 80+ performances on the young 2016-17 season.
YOU'LL RIP THAT BALL FROM MY COLD…: Butler tied a season-low by committing only eight turnovers Saturday against Central Arkansas. On the season, the Bulldogs are only averaging 10.8 turnovers per game. That mark is second in the BIG EAST and 17th nationally.
Butler's turnover margin of +6.1 leads the BIG EAST and is 10th nationally. On the season, Butler holds a 176-85 advantage in points off turnovers, more than doubling up its opponents.
HE'S BAAAACK: Senior Kethan Savage saw his first extended action of the regular season Saturday against Central Arkansas. In 19 minutes of play, Savage scored four points and added a game-high six assists. After playing in the exhibition opener, Savage missed the first four regular season contests while recovering from pneumonia. He saw limited action in games in Las Vegas and at Utah before taking an extended role in Saturday's game.
AFTER 20 MINUTES: Butler has led at the half in seven of eight games this season. The Bulldogs are 47-7 when leading at the half during his time on the Butler sidelines.
HOME COOKING: With Saturday's win over Central Arkansas, Butler has now won 33 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 31-6 at Hinkle Fieldhouse as head coach of the Bulldogs.
HAND 'EM OUT: Tyler Lewis has led Butler in assists in six of the team's eight games. His 5.3 assists average is third in the BIG EAST and 57th nationally. He is tied for the BIG EAST lead with a 3.5 assist/turnover ratio this season.
Butler has assisted on more than 50 percent of its made field goals in four of eight games this season, highlighted by a season-best 26 assists on 32 field goals against Norfolk State Nov. 21.
ROAD WARRIORS: Butler capped its western stint with a 68-59 win over Utah Nov. 28 in Salt Lake City. The Utes had previously defeated 32 straight non-conference opponents at home. Four Bulldogs scored in double figures in the contest, led by Kelan Martin's 18 points.
SWIPE SESSION: Butler had 12 steals at Utah, which marked the season-best for the Bulldogs. Utah's 18 turnovers were converted into 23 points by Butler.
Freshman Kamar Baldwin had a career-high four steals at Utah. His average of 2.1 steals per game is fourth in the BIG EAST and 49th nationally.
'WIN' IN LAS VEGAS: Butler captured the Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational with a 69-65 win over #8/9 Arizona Nov. 25. That came on the heels of a 76-66 win over Vanderbilt in the semifinals. This was the fourth in-season tournament title for the Bulldogs since 2006 (2006 NIT Season Tip-Off, 2007 Great Alaska Shootout, 2010 Diamond Head Classic, and the 2016 Las Vegas Invitational).
WHAT HAPPENED IN VEGAS…: Butler's 2-0 performance in Las Vegas included Most Outstanding Player honors for Andrew Chrabascz, while Kelan Martin and Kamar Baldwin joined him on the All-Tournament Team.
TOP 10 TAKEDOWN: Arizona entered the Las Vegas Invitational championship game undefeated and ranked No. 8 and No. 9 in the national polls. Butler's win over the Wildcats marked the third consecutive season that Butler has defeated a Top 10 opponent in non-conference play. The Bulldogs defeated North Carolina in the 2014 event at Atlantis and knocked off Purdue in the 2015 Crossroads Classic in Indianapolis. Coach Chris Holtmann has enjoyed a Top 10 win in each of his three seasons as head coach at Butler.
SCORE AND BOARD: Senior Andrew Chrabascz picked up his second career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds Nov. 24 against Vanderbilt. The 10 rebounds tied his career-high. Chrabascz followed that up with 14 points and seven rebounds in the win over Arizona.
