GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS | YOUTUBE | TICKETS
INDIANAPOLIS – Butler will host Detroit Mercy Wednesday night at 7 PM. The Bulldogs will look to improve to 2-0 on the young season, while the Titans will aim for their first win of the 2019-20 campaign.
Bulldog Talk
- Butler hasn't played Detroit Mercy since 2011-12.
- Butler and Detroit Mercy were each in the Horizon League from 2001-2012.
- Detroit Mercy won the last meeting vs. Butler in Hinkle Fieldhouse 57-52.
- Butler's last win over Detroit Mercy came in the 2011 Horizon League Tournament (64-38).
- Butler won their season opener for the third-straight season.
- BU won the opening quarter vs. Wagner 27-9, helping them win 74-58.
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Emilia Sexton played 19:46 minutes in the opener; a new career-high.
- Sexton hit her first two free throws of her BU career in the win over Wagner.
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Naira Caceres hit two 3-pointers in a game for the first time in her BU career.
- Butler was +23 with
Tenley Dowell on the court.
- Butler's best scoring run in the opener was 11 points with 6:11 to play in the first quarter.
- Butler never trailed vs. Wagner.
- Butler outrebounded Wagner 38-28.
- Butler defeated UIndy 70-46 in exhibition action.
Scouting Detroit
The Titans are 0-2 at the start of the 2019 season. They lost their home opener 89-60 to Loyola inside Calihan Hall. Just three days later, Detroit played at #17/21 Michigan State and took a 110-52 setback to the Spartans. The top performer over the first two games of the new season for head coach Bernard Scott is 5-10 senior Zoey Oatis. She had 17 points at home vs. Loyola, but just two at Michigan State. Maxine Moore picked up the scoring load for Detroit in East Lansing. She notched 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting. Detroit is averaging 56 points per game. A year ago, Butler went 18-0 when holding their opponent under 60 points.
Driven by Defense
Butler limited UIndy (exhibition) to just seven points in the first quarter and six in the third to win by 24 points. They scored 29 points off 30 UIndy turnovers. That recipe worked again for the 'Dawgs in the season opener. They held Wagner to just nine points in the opening quarter. They also scored 28 points off 29 Seahawk turnovers.
Start Strong
Butler opened up a 27-9 lead after the first quarter in the season opener vs. Wagner. BU would lead by 20 points at the half (40-20) and hold on for a 16-point win. The 'Dawgs were 17-2 last year when they entered the half with a lead.
It Takes Everyone
Head Coach
Kurt Godlevske used 11 players in the win over Wagner. Eight of the 11 put points on the board and three ended the contest in double figures. Every starter logged 20+ minutes. Four reserve players saw 10+ minutes of action as well.
New Wrinkle In Hinkle
Hinkle Fieldhouse underwent a $10.5 million renovation this summer. The Fieldhouse, originally constructed in 1928, now has air conditioning and an updated practice facility located in the Efroymson Family Gym. The practice gym received new flooring and lighting. It was named Matt White Court in honor of the former BU student-athlete that was a standout in both track and field and cross country during his time on campus. White passed away in February, 2019 after a 19-year battle with ALS.
Nine-Straight Wins
Butler won nine-straight games from Dec. 8 to Jan. 11 last year, making them just the fourth team in program history to rattle off nine consecutive wins. Opponents during that stretch included Akron, Indiana State, Ohio State, Eastern Michigan, Villanova, Georgetown, Seton Hall, St. John's and Xavier.
Happy Holidays
Every game for Butler during the month of December will be played inside Hinkle Fieldhouse. The final four games of the non-conference schedule line up with two home tilts to start BIG EAST play on Dec. 29. BU has never had all home games during a full month of a season.
