Butler (11-9, 3-6 BIG EAST) at #15/14 UConn (15-5, 4-5)
Sunday, Jan. 22;  12PM
XL Center; Hartford, Conn.
 
PDF notes can be found here.
 
TV: FOX - Tim Brando & Donny Marshall
Radio: 1430AM - @MarkMinner & Nick Gardner (@n_gardner)
Varsity Network Radio App
SiriusXM 380, SXM App 970
 
SERIES: UConn Leads, 6-0
Streak: UConn, W6
In Conn.: UConn Leads, 2-0
First Meeting: CON, 53-41; 4/4/11
Last Meeting: CON, 68-46; 12/17/22  
 
Bulldogs vs. UConn
• The teams first met in the 2011 NCAA National Championship game in Houston, which was the second of Butler's back-to-back appearances in the title game.
• The remaining five meetings in the all-time series between the two programs have come since UConn rejoined the BIG EAST prior to the 2020-21 season.
• In UConn's 68-46 win over Butler Dec. 17 at Hinkle Fieldhouse, the Huskies' defense limited Butler to 29.6-percent shooting and UConn held a 54-30 rebounding advantage.
 
• Sunday's noon start will be just the third afternoon tip of the season for the Bulldogs.
• Over the last three games, Simas Lukosius is averaging 20.3 points per game, while shooting 67 percent from three-point range (10-15) and making all nine of his free throw attempts.
• Lukosius is fourth in the BIG EAST in three-point percentage, making 42.5 percent of his attempts from behind the arc. He is second in the league in three-point percentage in BIG EAST games (.438).
• Lukosius led Butler with a career-high 28 points and five three-pointers in the Jan. 13 win over Villanova.
• According to KenPom, Butler has played the nation's 16th-toughest schedule so far this season.
• Butler is committing only 12.6 fouls per game, which leads the nation.
• Over the past six games, Butler is shooting 40 percent (47-117) from three-point range.
• Butler has shot 40 percent or better from three-point range 10 times this season, including four of the last six games. 
• In BIG EAST games, Butler is committing only 10.8 turnovers per game, which is second among league schools.
• Manny Bates has missed the last two games (knee), his first missed outings of the season. Against Creighton Tuesday night, Butler was able to dress only eight players due to various injuries.
• Lukosius, Chuck Harris, Bates and Jayden Taylor have each led the Bulldogs in scoring in at least four games this season (includes ties).
• Jalen Thomas has led the Bulldogs in rebounding in five of his nine games played this season since returning from a pulmonary embolism; that includes pacing the team in boards in four straight games.
• Seven different Bulldogs have scored in double figures during a game this season.
• Butler is 11-0 this season when leading at halftime; Villanova opened the second half with a 16-1 run Jan. 13 to erase a 10-point Butler halftime lead before the Bulldogs responded for the win.
• Butler is 11-0 this season when scoring 70 or more points.
• The Bulldogs are 7-0 this season when out-rebounding its opponent.
• Butler went 18-for-21 at the free throw line against Villanova, the second-most makes in a game this season and matching the second-best percentage.
• Butler shot 56.6 percent from the field against Villanova, which is the second-best output of the season. It's the tenth game this season for the Bulldogs shooting 50 percent or better.
• Among active coaches with at least 10 seasons of NCAA Division I experience, Matta's .735 winning percentage ranks fourth (Few, Self, Calipari). The Jan. 13 win over Villanova was Win No. 450 for Matta.
• Butler has placed all five starters in double figures three times this season, with the most recent coming at Cal Dec. 10.
• Taylor is averaging 14.8 points per game in Butler's nine games away from Hinkle Fieldhouse this season; Taylor scored a game-high 19 points in last season's game at UConn.
• Harris is now 21st in Butler history in career three-pointers (125).
• Bates has 35 blocks already this season, moving him just two away from tenth on Butler's single-season list.
• Bates is 15th nationally with a 62.8 field goal percentage and is 36th nationally in blocks per game at 1.9 per game.
• Hunter Jr. led the Bulldogs with a season-high seven assists Jan. 13 vs. Villanova, which was one shy of his career-best.