TICKETS | WATCH | LIVE STATS | GAME NOTES
 
INDIANAPOLIS – The Bulldogs are back in action this week with a pair of home games at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The first tilt of 2024 will be against the Georgetown Hoyas on Wednesday night. The 7 PM tip will stream on FloHoops.com.
 
GameDay
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024
Time: 7 PM
Location: Indianapolis, Ind. - Hinkle Fieldhouse
Live Stats: ButlerSports.com – Statbroadcast
Watch: BEDN - FloHoops.com
 
Bulldog Bits
- The Bulldogs finished their non-conference schedule with an 8-3 record.
- Butler has not lost back-to-back games all season.
- Caroline Strande grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds in the win over Ohio.
- Butler dished out 22 assists on 26 made field goals against the Bobcats.
- BU never trailed Ohio and opened up a 32-point lead over the Bobcats in the fourth quarter.
- Butler used a 16-0 run in the second quarter to take complete control of the contest.
- Butler's defense held Ohio to 29 percent shooting.
- The Bulldogs held the Bobcats scoreless for over seven minutes in the second quarter.
- BU made 12 of their 25 3-point attempts on Thursday (48%).
- Rachel Kent filled up the box score with 18 points, six assists, five rebounds, and a steal.
- Jordan Meulemans ranks third in the BIG EAST and 10th in the NCAA in 3-point field goal percentage.
- Caroline Strande ranks seventh in the BIG EAST in rebounding (7.7) and 13th in scoring (15.0).
- Ari Wiggins ranks eighth in the BIG EAST in steals per game (1.9).
- The Bulldogs rank second in the BIG EAST in 3-pointers made per game (9.0).
 
BIG EAST Standings
UConn 2-0, 10-3
Providence 1-0, 7-7
Marquette 1-1, 12-1
Georgetown 1-1, 11-2
Creighton 1-1, 10-2
Seton Hall 1-1, 9-4
Villanova 1-1, 8-5
DePaul 1-1, 9-6
St. John's 1-1, 7-7
Butler 0-1, 8-4
Xavier 0-2, 1-10
 
Scouting Georgetown                                                                           
The Hoyas were picked 10th in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches Poll, but head into 2024 with an 11-2 overall record. GU most recently defeated DePaul in Chicago by outscoring the Blue Demons 17-9 in the fourth quarter to claim a 66-62 road win. Kelsey Ransom was the player of the game for the Blue and Gray posting 23 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and five steals. Ransom ranks ninth in the league in scoring, sixth in assists per game and second in both steals and minutes played. She is one of four players to start in every game this season, joining Graceann Bennett, Alex Cowan, and Victoria Rivera. Interim Head Coach Darnell Haney stresses defense to the Hoyas and it shows up in the stats. Georgetown has the best defense in the league holding the opposition to just 49.2 points per game. Teams are shooting just 33 percent against GU this season.
 
All-Time Series                                                                                       
Butler leads the all-time series against Georgetown 11-10. The Bulldogs swept the Hoyas during the regular season last year, but Georgetown recorded a 53-46 win over Butler in the First Round of the BIG EAST Tournament. The Hoyas swept the Bulldogs in 2021-22 and the two programs split a pair of games 2020-21 with each team winning at home. Prior to last season, Butler's last regular season sweep over Georgetown came in 2019-20.
 
Last Meeting vs. Georgetown                                                             
Georgetown advanced to the BIG EAST Quarterfinals last year with a 53-46 win over Butler in the conference tournament. Sydney Jaynes and Caroline Strande combined to score 33 of Butler's 46 points. Jada Claude led the Hoyas with 17 points and Jaynes would lead all players with 21.
 
BIG EAST Home Openers                                                                                    
Butler's last win in their BIG EAST home opener came during the 2018-19 season. The Bulldogs defeated the Seton Hall Pirates 62-59 on Jan. 4.
 
Happy New Year                                                                                                   
The Bulldogs have not won their first game of the new year since the 2019-20 season. BU went on the road to capture a 78-70 win over Xavier that year on Jan. 4.
 
Second Half of the Season                                                                   
The Bulldogs went 6-14 in conference games a year ago, collecting victories over Xavier (2x), Georgetown (2x), Providence, and Seton Hall. BU's first conference win came on Dec. 28 at Xavier and the 'Dawgs rattled off four-straight BIG EAST wins from Feb. 11-24. Since joining the BIG EAST, Butler's best conference record has been recorded twice at 11-7. The 'Dawgs won 11 conference games in 2018-19 and followed up with 11 more in 2019-20. They won 10 games their first year as BIG EAST members in 2013-14 and matched that effort with 10 more in 2014-15.
 
BIG EAST Battles                                                                                                  
The only undefeated BIG EAST teams in conference action are UConn and Providence. Seven of the 11 teams in the league standings are 1-1 at the start of conference play and only Butler and Xavier are winless.
 
Something Has to Give                                                                         
The Bulldogs are 6-1 at home this season and the Hoyas are 7-0 on the road. This contest is Georgetown's third-straight road game while the 'Dawgs have played at home in three of their last four games. Butler's only home loss this season was a 51-39 setback to Vanderbilt. Georgetown has won road games at Temple, at Northwestern and at Kennesaw State.
 
Keys To the Game                                                                                                
The Bulldogs will need to block out on Wednesday night to get the win over Georgetown. The Hoyas are just one of two BIG EAST teams shooting below 40 percent from the field this season, but they are +5.6 in rebound margin. BU will also need to stay hot from behind the arc. The Bulldogs have made 46 more 3-pointers than Georgetown this season. The 'Dawgs shoot 37.5 percent from long range as a team and the Hoyas are last in the league in 3-point field goal percentage at 26.7 percent.
 
Rachel Is Ready for BIG EAST Action                                                 
Rachel Kent led Butler in scoring for the second-straight game and the third time this season with 18 points against the Ohio Bobcats. She has scored in double figures in six of Butler's last seven games and has hit four or more 3-pointers six of those seven contests.
 
Meulemans For 3!                                                                                               
Jordan Meulemans ranks 33rd in the NCAA in made 3-pointers (35), 10th in 3-point field goal percentage (49.3) and 23rd in made 3-pointers per game (2.9). Meulemans made 10 3-pointers over the first five games of the season and has made 25 over her last seven.
 
2 for 20                                                                                                    
Jordan Meulemans and Caroline Strande became the first Bulldog teammates to score 20 points or more in the same game since Feb. 28, 2020. Meulemans scored a team-high 23 points against Chicago State on Dec. 10 with five made 3-pointers and Strande shot 8-for-10 from the field to come up with her career-high 22 points. The last Bulldog duo to score 20 each in the same game prior to this season was Kristen Spolyar and Kat Strong. Spolyar had 28 at St. John's and Strong posted 21.
 
Tied a Team Record                                                                                             
Jordan Meulemans made eight 3-pointers in the win over St. Thomas to match the single-game high in the BIG EAST this season. She ended the contest going 8-for-10 from behind the arc to score a career-high 24 points. Meulemans was just one 3-pointer shy of tying the single-game BU individual record and the 'Dawgs tied their team record with 16 made 3-pointers in the victory.
 
Up Next                                                                                                                  
The Bulldogs will host the Seton Hall Pirates on Saturday, Jan. 6 at 2 PM. The BIG EAST Digital Network will stream the action on FloHoops.com.