GAME 12:  #17/16 Butler (10-1) vs. rv/rv Purdue (7-4) - Crossroads Classic
 
The Bulldogs make their annual trip downtown to Bankers Life Fieldhouse for the Crossroads Classic. This year's opponent is Purdue.
 
Butler, ranked No. 16 and No. 17 in this week's national polls, is No. 4 in the initial NCAA NET ranking. The Bulldogs' resume to date includes a 10-1 record against a difficult schedule and a defense ranked among the nation's best.
 
Full PDF Notes
 
Saturday, Dec. 21;  2:30PM
Bankers Life Fieldhouse; Indianapolis, Ind.
TV:  BTN - @KevinKugler & @RobbieHummel
RADIO:  93.5/107.5/1070 - @MarkMinner & Nick Gardner (@n_gardner)
TuneIn Radio App, Sirius 137, XM 201, SiriusXM Internet 964
@ButlerMBB  |  #ButlerWay  |  ButlerSports.com
 
The Series: Purdue leads, 39-19
Streak: Purdue, W2
At Crossroads Classic: Butler leads, 3-1
First Meeting: Purdue, 41-12, 3/20/1901
Last Meeting: Purdue, 76-73, 3/18/18 (NCAA Second Round)
 
• Butler is fourth nationally, only allowing opponents an average of 54.5 points per game.
• Butler is 5-3 all-time in the Crossroads Classic. The Bulldogs are 11-5 in games played at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
• Butler is committing only 10.3 turnovers per game, which is eighth nationally.
• Purdue won a pair of match-ups against Butler during the 2017-18 season; prior to that Butler had won five straight in the series (between 2001-2015).
• Butler owns the nation's longest streak of consecutive non-conference home wins at 57.
• Prior to losing at No. 11 Baylor Dec. 10, Butler's 9-0 start was the program's first since 2006-07.
• Six of Butler's 11 games this season have come against power conference opponents. All are KenPom Top 75 teams. Kamar Baldwin is averaging 20.7 ppg in those six games.
• Butler has limited eight of its 11 opponents to less than 60 points.
• The Bulldogs limited No. 11 Baylor to just 19 points in the second half, holding the Bears to 24-percent shooting in that half.
• The Bulldogs are shooting 48.4 percent from the field, which is second in the BIG EAST and 35th nationally.
• Butler's opponents have hit only 26.9 percent from behind the arc, the 19th-best defensive effort in the nation.
• Kamar Baldwin has moved into tenth place on Butler's career scoring list; he now has 1,626 points.
• Aaron Thompson now has 324 career assists, eighth on Butler's career list.
• Thompson had a season-high 16 points (two shy of his career-high) in the Dec. 7 win over Florida.
• Baldwin scored 31 points in the Dec. 3 win at Ole Miss, just missing his career-high by one point. He scored his 31 points on only 16 shots.
• Butler's 1.39 assist/turnover ratio is 15th nationally; individually, Thompson's 2.91 A/TO ratio is 20th in the NCAA.
 
TOUGH SLATE: Butler's game with Purdue will complete a stretch of playing six  consecutive power conference opponents within seven games. During this seven-game portion of the schedule, only the Dec. 7 win against Florida came on the Bulldogs' home court. The Bulldogs' 10-1 start includes five wins over power conference opponents thus far: Minnesota, Missouri, Stanford, Ole Miss, and Florida.
 
DAWG-GONE DEFENSE: Butler has limited opponents to an average of only 54.5 points per game. That mark is fourth nationally. Only three of Butler's opponents have eclipsed 60 points. The Bulldogs have been particularly good guarding the three-point line, as opponents have hit only 26.9 percent of their attempts from behind the arc. That defensive effort is 19th nationally. Only three of Butler's opponents have registered more assists than turnovers (Stanford, Ole Miss, Florida). Only two of Butler's opponents have shot better than 44 percent from the field (Missouri, Stanford).