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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 15, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Butler Bulldogs forward Kelan Martin (30) waits to check into a game against the St. John’s Red Storm at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Butler defeats St. John’s 110-86. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 15, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Butler Bulldogs forward Kelan Martin (30) waits to check into a game against the St. John’s Red Storm at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Butler defeats St. John’s 110-86. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

The play of Kelan Martin

Kelan Martin struggled for much of the conference season, but the second team All-Big East player is starting to heat up. Over the first 13 games of conference play, Martin was doing this:

13 games: 25.6 minutes, 10.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 35.5 FG%, 23.3 3P%

These are clearly not the greatest numbers for a star player, but let’s see what he did in the last five games:

Five games: 27.0 minutes, 19.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 54.1 FG%, 48.0 3P%

Butler has looked a ton better with Martin coming off the bench to play far more efficient basketball. He is still very much a focal point of the offense, and Kelan is playing elite basketball at the perfect time. He is the type of player who can get his shot whenever he wants it, and if he’s hitting, the Bulldogs are going to be a very tough out.

Sure, Butler has a very balanced attack on offense with lots of guys who can step up, but Kelan Martin will be the guy with the ball in his hands during crunch time. Both Kamar Baldwin and Andrew Chrabascz have been great down the stretch of games and as the season progresses forward, that variety is great. Yet, the multi-faceted offensive attack of Kelan Martin is the one that Butler will need the most as they take on the top teams in the nation.

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