GAME 20:  #13/12 Butler (15-4, 3-3 BIG EAST) vs. rv/rv Marquette (14-5, 4-3)

Friday, Jan. 24;  9PM
Hinkle Fieldhouse; Indianapolis, Ind.
TV:  FS1 - @VinceWelch & @NickBahe
RADIO:  93.1FM - @MarkMinner & Nick Gardner (@n_gardner)
TuneIn Radio App, Sirius 84, XM 84, SiriusXM Internet 84 

Full Notes (PDF)

The Bulldogs start a stretch that will have the team at home for five of its next seven games, beginning with a Friday night match-up with Marquette. Butler (15-4, 3-3 BIG EAST) is ranked in the Top 15 of both national polls this week and looking to rebound from a three-game losing streak. Marquette (14-5, 4-3 BIG EAST) has won three straight games. 

The game is the annual Project 44 game, which celebrates the legacy of the late Andrew Smith, who passed away Jan. 12, 2016 after a two-year battle with cancer. Smith played on Butler's basketball teams from the 2009-10 through 2012-13 seasons. He was a member of both national championship game teams (2010, 2011) and an Academic All-American. Project 44 was created in collaboration with Be The Match to add names to the national bone marrow registry. 

THE SERIES: Butler Leads, 22-19
Streak: Marquette, W2
In Indianapolis: Butler Leads, 11-6
First Meeting: Marquette, 18-17, 12/16/1922 (Milwaukee)
Last Meeting: Marquette, 79-69; 2/20/19 (Milwaukee)

• After playing three of its last four games on the road, Butler starts a seven-game stretch that features five contests at Hinkle Fieldhouse. 
• Butler is 9-1 this season at Hinkle Fieldhouse. 
• Butler's nine NET Quad 1 and Quad 2 victories are tied for second nationally (Kansas and West Virginia have 10).
• Butler has out-rebounded 15 of its 19 opponents this season after out-rebounding only 10 of 33 in 2018-19.
• The Bulldogs are fifth in the nation, allowing only 58.1 points per game.
• Butler had not allowed an opponent 70 points in its first 16 games of the season (15-1); the Bulldogs' last three opponents have each eclipsed that number (0-3).
• Butler and Marquette will meet twice over the next 17 days. 
• Butler leads the BIG EAST in rebounding margin in all games (+5.9) and in conference games (+7.3). 
• Butler's field goal percentage defense (.377; 14th) and three-point percentage defense (.284; 17th) are both among the national leaders. 
• Kamar Baldwin is averaging 18.7 points per game in BIG EAST play, which is fourth in the conference; he has led the team in scoring in six consecutive games.
• Butler committed a season-low five turnovers at Villanova Tuesday; the Bulldogs are 27th nationally, averaging only 11.4 turnovers per game. 
• Bryce Nze (11 points and a season-high 12 rebounds) registered his third double-double of the season at Villanova. 
• Baldwin has moved into eighth on Butler's career scoring list with 1,746 points.
• With 316 assists, Baldwin is now tied for tenth on Butler's career list; Aaron Thompson is currently eighth on that list. 
• Jordan Tucker (50 percent) is second in the BIG EAST in three-point percentage during conference play; he has hit multiple three-pointers in nine straight games.
• Butler is 9-1 this season when scoring 70 or more points; the Bulldogs are a perfect 13-0 when shooting 45 percent or better from the field. 
• Sean McDermott is averaging 13.0 points and shooting 47 percent from behind the arc at Hinkle.

SENIOR STEPPING UP: Kamar Baldwin is averaging 18.7 points per game in the team's BIG EAST contests, leading the team in scoring in all six conference games. This stretch has also seen Baldwin climb to eighth on Butler's career scoring chart and into a tie for tenth in career assists. 

ON THE BOARDS: What was one of Butler's most glaring weaknesses a season ago has become a strength in 2019-20. The Bulldogs have out-rebounded 15 of its 19 opponents this season after out-rebounding only 10 of 33 in 2018-19. Butler has taken that up a level in BIG EAST play, out-rebounding opponents by an average margin of +7.9. Butler held a 46-24 rebounding advantage at St. John's in the BIG EAST opener on New Year's Eve, its largest margin since 63-28 vs. The Citadel Nov. 14, 2015. The Bulldogs also out-rebounded Providence, 44-26, in the Jan. 10 win in Rhode Island. 

TOUGH LOSS: Butler suffered a major blow Tuesday night when junior forward Christian David tore is left ACL in the loss at Villanova. David was one of the Bulldogs' best defenders, averaging 14 minutes per game. Junior walk-on guard Campbell Donovan also tore an ACL in the season opener vs. IUPUI. 

HANDLE WITH CARE: The Bulldogs committed a season-low five turnovers at Villanova Tuesday night. For Butler, it was the team's ninth game this season with 10 or fewer turnovers.  

AT THE LINE: Butler has allowed its last three opponents to score in the 70s, the first times that has happened this season. The Bulldogs' stellar defense, which is still fifth nationally allowing only 58.1 points per game, has been done in by opponents getting to the line. In 13 non-conference games, including seven against power conference opponents, Butler's foes got to the line a total of 180 times (an average of 13.8 per game). Through six BIG EAST games, Butler's opponents have attempted 132 free throws (22 per game). Conversely, Butler averaged 16.5 free throw attempts in non-conference play, and has held steady at 16 attempts per BIG EAST contest. 

ON THE DEFENSIVE: 
• Only seven Butler opponents have scored 60 or more points; Butler has also limited four opponents to 50 or fewer points.  
• Only seven of Butler's opponents have registered more assists than turnovers.
• Only three of Butler's opponents have shot better than 44 percent from the field (Missouri, Stanford, DePaul); 12 have been held to less than 40 percent shooting.
• Butler has limited 12 of its opponents to less than 30-percent shooting from three-point range this season.  

ONE YEAR AGO: Marquette won both match-ups between the teams last season. Markus Howard scored a game-high 32 in a 76-58 win over Butler Jan. 30 at Hinkle FIeldhouse. Marquette also won Feb. 20 in Milwaukee as Howard had 28 in a 79-69 decision. Sean McDermott had a career-high 27 in the loss for Butler.