Butler Basketball: Takeaways from Gavitt Games victory over Minnesota

Butler basketball moved to 3-0 on the season with a home victory over Minnesota in the Gavitt Games. What were some of the biggest takeaways?

The streak is alive. With Butler basketball’s 64-56 win over Minnesota on Tuesday night, the program won its 53rd consecutive home non-conference game. This streak is currently the second-longest in all of college basketball (to Duke) and it has been put to the test on several occasions over the past few years. This battle with the Golden Gophers was no different as the Dawgs needed a strong final 10 minutes to send the Hinkle faithful home happy.

Butler’s discipline once again showed in this performance as the team was seemingly never phased down the stretch of the game. Although multiple Dawgs mentioned dealing with some nerves prior to the contest, it did not look that way on the court. Despite some occasional struggles in the game, Butler still led for 35+ minutes – they controlled the contest from the opening tip. This was far from a perfect performance for Butler, especially with regard to the defensive glass, but it is hard to argue with a non-conference win over a high-major opponent. Minnesota might not be a top-half Big Ten team this season but this should be a nice addition to the Dawgs’ early-season resume.

Kamar Baldwin led the way for Butler in the contest with a 27-point, 5-rebound performance. He took over for significant stretches in the second half and proved exactly he belongs in the upper-echelon of players in the entire country. Additionally, Bryce Nze showcased that his physicality and toughness translates to production at any level. Minnesota definitely offered a physical challenge to Butler in this game and Nze answered the call with 11 points and eight rebounds. It is quite possible that he is already one of top players for the Dawgs.

On the other end of the court, Daniel Oturu was a monster for Minnesota. Their star sophomore big man caused problems for Butler throughout the game as he scored both inside and out. Despite entering this contest having shot just 1-for-2 from 3-point range all last season, Oturu buried a pair of threes and scored his fair share of buckets at the rim. He finished with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks all while playing through an illness. He did not get a ton of help from the Gophers’ supporting cast, though, as the Dawgs forced them into foul trouble.

This was a strong victory on the whole for Butler basketball as the team moved to 3-0 for the 2019-20 campaign. The non-conference home winning streak remains intact and the team looks to build on this performance. The Dawgs will settle in to watch film and learn from their mistakes before taking on Wofford this weekend.

Now, without any further background, let’s dive into my biggest takeaways from the Bulldogs’ win at the Gavitt Games.