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Butler Basketball: 5 storylines to follow for the 2017 Big East tournament

By Lukas Harkins

Feb 26, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Butler Bulldogs head coach Chris Holtmann (L) talks to his team during a time out in the second half against the Xavier Musketeers at the Cintas Center. Butler won 88-79. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Butler Bulldogs head coach Chris Holtmann (L) talks to his team during a time out in the second half against the Xavier Musketeers at the Cintas Center. Butler won 88-79. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 11, 2017; Providence, RI, USA; Butler Bulldogs guard Sean McDermott (22) dunks and scores on a breakaway during the first half against the Providence Friars at the Dunkin Donuts Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 11, 2017; Providence, RI, USA; Butler Bulldogs guard Sean McDermott (22) dunks and scores on a breakaway during the first half against the Providence Friars at the Dunkin Donuts Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports /

Will they avoid the upset?

Despite the Bulldogs touting an incredible number of wins against the projected tournament field, they still have three bad losses on their resume. Losses to Saint John’s (away), Indiana State (away), and Georgetown (home), are not ideal. Butler will need to come out strong and bring everything they have to defeat either Xavier or DePaul in their first game.

On the season, Butler is 4-0 against those teams, but their average margin of victory in those battles is just 7.75, which includes the 16-point win over DePaul at home. The Dawgs are the superior team to both of their potential opponents, but Butler has let teams hang in a little later than they should at times this season.

It seems likely that Butler will want to avenge their exit in their first game a year ago by making a deep run, but they will need to start out hot. The team starts two very good three-point shooters in Avery Woodson and Kamar Baldwin, so if those guys can get hot and splash a few early shots, they will be able to dictate the pace and go win games.

Butler has so far gone on win streaks of eight, four (2x), and three (2x), so they are the kind of streaky team that can not only make a big run in the Big East but in March Madness as well.

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