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Butler Basketball: Bulldogs knock off undefeated, top-ranked Villanova

By Lukas Harkins

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 30: Butler Bulldogs fans celebrate on the court after defeating the Villanova Wildcats at Hinkle Fieldhouse on December 30, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 30: Butler Bulldogs fans celebrate on the court after defeating the Villanova Wildcats at Hinkle Fieldhouse on December 30, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 30: Jorgensen
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 30: Jorgensen /

Butler put on an offensive clinic

If you have watched many Butler games this season, you would know that a 101-point outburst is not their typical offense. In fact, the Dawgs have had some incredibly dry offensive moments at times this season. For example, they were held to just 48 points in an entire game by the Texas Longhorns in November.

Butler Bulldogs Basketball
Butler Bulldogs Basketball /

Butler Bulldogs Basketball

However, it looked like the team certainly carried their momentum from a ridiculous second half against Georgetown into this one. Behind the lights-out play of their three leading scorers in Martin, Jorgensen, and Baldwin, the team was almost unstoppable on offense during the first 30 minutes.

For the game, the Bulldogs shot 60% from the field and were an incredible 15-for-22 (68%) from beyond the 3-point arc. In a game as high-scoring as this, the fact that Butler was able to be so hot was huge. Arguably the biggest difference between Butler’s play in this game and their play in their low-scoring affairs is the way that they started.

Unlike several other games this season, the Bulldogs were able to get off to a solid start shooting from the floor in this one and built off of that. It was Butler’s hot shooting in the first 30 minutes of the game that helped them build up a 23-point lead and it also allowed them to stay ahead despite several turnovers in the last 10 minutes.

If Butler is going to be this potent on offense for the rest of the season, they will be a very dangerous team because not every opponent is going to storm back and force turnovers like Villanova did in this game. Butler’s veterans showed a lot of poise being able to close this game after ‘Nova cut their lead to just six points down the stretch.