Opponent: #22/23 Cincinnati
Specifics: Saturday, Dec. 10 | 4:30 p.m. | Hinkle Fieldhouse | Indianapolis, Ind.
TV: FS1 | Tim Brando & Nick Bahe
Radio: 107.5 FM (also streamed through TuneIn Radio App) | Mark Minner (play-by-play) & Nick Gardner (analyst)
Follow Along: @ButlerMBB
Tickets: Sold Out
Full Notes (PDF)
LOOKING TO REBOUND: The Bulldogs return to Hinkle Fieldhouse for a Saturday match-up with nationally-ranked Cincinnati. Butler enters the contest off its first loss of the season, a 72-71 decision in the closing seconds at Indiana State Wednesday night. The 4:30 p.m. tip will air nationally on FS1. The Bearcats are No. 22 and No. 23, respectively, in the national polls, and bring a 7-1 record to Indianapolis.
Butler is 17-3 following a loss under head coach Chris Holtmann. The Bulldogs are 1-0 this season against ranked opponents and have an 8-11 record against such teams under Holtmann.
THE SERIES WITH CINCY: Butler and Cincinnati meet for the 18th time Saturday afternoon. The Bearcats have a 10-7 advantage in the series, but the Bulldogs won the most recent contest a year ago in Cincinnati. Roosevelt Jones took a fullcourt pass and muscled his way into the lane for a game-winning field goal at the buzzer in the 78-76 win Dec. 2, 2015. Kellen Dunham led five Bulldogs in double figures with 24 points. The 2016 match-up concludes a home-and-home agreement between the schools. Prior to the 2015 match-up, the teams last met in the 1997 NCAA Tournament (a contest won by Cincinnati).
Cincinnati and Indiana State are the only two non-conference foes on the 2016-17 schedule that also appeared on the 2015-16 non-conference slate.
THE FIRST BLEMISH: Indiana State's Brenton Scott was fouled with 1.5 seconds remaining in the contest and converted one of two free throws for a 72-71 win for the host Sycamores Wednesday night. Butler had overcome a five-point deficit with 43 seconds remaining. Scott had 25 points for ISU, while teammate Matt Van Scyoc used six three-pointers for his 23 points.
Following Butler's loss Wednesday night, there are now only 10 undefeated teams nationally.
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. Butler has now been ranked in the Top 25 in nine of the last 11 seasons.
WHAT WENT RIGHT: Despite the end result, Butler had several strong takeaways from Wednesday's game at Indiana State. The Bulldogs shot a season-best 56 percent from three-point range (10-18). That included a career-best 3-for-3 performance by Tyler Lewis from behind the arc. The Bulldogs shot 54 percent from the field in the second half.
WHAT WENT WRONG: Indiana State posted season-highs for a Butler opponent in points (72), field goal percentage (.481), three-point field goal percentage (.455), and three-pointers made (10). The Sycamores' 14 turnovers were the fewest for a Butler foe this season. Indiana State was also only the third team to out-rebound Butler.
SENIOR STEPS UP: Butler played through senior Andrew Chrabascz for much of the second half, as the forward had 15 of his 18 points after the intermission. The 18 points were a season-high. Chrabascz added seven rebounds and three assists. The senior led the team in both scoring and rebounding. It marked the third time this season that Chrabascz has led the team in rebounding after doing so in only four games over his first three seasons as a Bulldog.
Chrabascz currently stands at 981 career points.
HELPING HAND: Tyler Lewis has led the team in assists in seven of Butler's nine games this season. He has registered at least four assists in all but one contest. Lewis's 5.4 assists per game rank third in the BIG EAST and 50th nationally. His 3.77 assist/turnover ratio leads the BIG EAST and is 19th in the country.
Entering this season, Lewis had never shot better than 39 percent from the field or 29 percent from three-point range in a season. In 2016-17, he is shooting 64 percent and 53 percent, respectively, in those two statistics.
HEY, I KNOW THESE GUYS: Returning players Kelan Martin (14), Tyler Wideman (12), and Andrew Chrabascz (11) each posted double-figures against Cincinnati a season ago. However, the Bulldog with the most experience against Cincinnati is "newcomer" Avery Woodson. The graduate transfer matched up with the Bearcats four times while at Memphis. He averaged 10.0 points per game and made 11 of 22 three-point attempts in those games.
Woodson ranks fourth in the BIG EAST in three-point percentage (.434) and is tied for fifth in three-pointers made at 2.56 per game.
HIGHWAY ROBBERY: Freshman Kamar Baldwin had a career-high five steals Wednesday at Indiana State. Through just nine career games, Baldwin already has 22 swipes. His average of 2.44 steals per game is tied for the BIG EAST lead and is 21st nationally.
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 last three games, Wideman has made 14 of his 16 field goal attempts, an 88-percent clip.
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. Martin sank five three-pointers in the second half.
AFTER 20 MINUTES: Butler has led at the half in seven of nine games this season. The Bulldogs are 47-7 when leading at the half during Chris Holtmann's 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.
YOU SEEM DEFENSIVE: Butler is only allowing opponents 61.7 points per game this season. Butler's defensive effort combined with scoring 78.0 points per game gives the Bulldogs a scoring margin of +16.3. That is third in the BIG EAST and 32nd nationally.
PERCENTAGE PLAY: The Bulldogs are shooting 49.7 percent on the season and have eclipsed 50-percent shooting in four of the team's nine 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 18th nationally.
Butler's turnover margin of +5.8 leads the BIG EAST and is 11th nationally. On the season, Butler holds a 188-94 advantage in points off turnovers, precisely doubling up its opponents.
