Butler Basketball: Kelan Martin leads the Bulldogs to win over Marquette

Behind a career-high from Kelan Martin, the Butler Bulldogs were able to snag a much-needed win over Marquette on their home floor.

This was a huge win for Butler basketball. Entering the game, the team was on a disappointing three-game losing streak. Even though each contest was against a top-25 team, they were missed opportunities by the Bulldogs. Because of this, LaVall Jordan‘s team was in dire need of a quality home win over Marquette.

Behind a top-notch offensive performance by the entire team, the Bulldogs were able to outscore the Golden Eagles in a shoot-out. In terms of team stats, the biggest difference between the two teams was points in the paint. Over the course of the game, Butler outscored Marquette inside, 60-28.

This was a remarkable advantage and allowed Butler to overcome the 3-point shooting of Marquette. For the contest, Marquette shot 10-for-22 (45.5%) from deep as opposed to Butler’s 6-for-17 (35.3%) performance. In the end, it was Butler who hung on for the 94-83 win thanks to the stellar play of their stars.

Who stepped up for the Dawgs?

This game was all about Butler’s star players. The Bulldogs needed quality outings from Kelan Martin and Kamar Baldwin in order to take this one and they showed up. To lead all scorers in the game, Martin had a career-high performance. While shooting an astounding 12-for-17 from the field (4-for-6 from three, 9-for-9 from the free throw line), Martin dropped in 37 points. He was electric throughout the entire second half and dominated from both inside and out. He also led the team in rebounding with seven boards.

Baldwin, on the other hand, had a tremendous game on both ends of the floor. While contributing 19 points (9-for-14 FG) himself, the sophomore guard also locked down on defense. He had the job of guarding the Golden Eagles’ leading scorer in Markus Howard. In the first half, he held his sophomore counterpart fo zero points and forced him into two fouls. In the second half, Howard got 14 points but still finished 0-for-4 from three.

The other key players in this one for the Bulldogs were Tyler Wideman and Paul Jorgensen. After struggling in the past few games, Wideman put up a great night. The senior big man finished on seven of his 10 shots to score 16 points.

Jorgensen, on the other hand, had 10 points despite only hitting one of his six 3-point attempts. Thankfully, that one three came at a crucial time. In the middle of a big Butler run, Jorgensen pulled up for DEEP 3-pointer that he buried and was fouled in the process (missed the free throw).

Who stepped up for Marquette?

While Markus Howard and Andrew Rowsey (17 points on 3-for-11 shooting) had off nights, Sam Hauser showed up in a big way. The sophomore dropped in 30 points while making six of his nine 3-pointers. Throughout the game, he was always the one who showed up when the Golden Eagles needed him.

The clear problem for Marquette in this one is that nobody else showed up. Oh, and nobody could stop that Martin guy on the other end. This was one of those games that showed how vulnerable Marquette is when their best two players have off nights. Rowsey and Howard and the heart and soul of this team.

Aaron Thompson and Baldwin were good enough defensively to make stops in one-on-one situations. That was the major key on the defensive end that forced Marquette into difficult situations.

What does this mean for Butler?

This was a monster win for the Bulldogs. They were in massive need of a win and they got this one at home. Now 3-3 in conference play, Butler is entering the easiest part of their conference schedule. There is a legitimate possibility that the Dawgs can go 4-1 in their next five games. That kind of play would put them in an excellent position to get back to the NCAA Tournament.

Once again, this game showed how dangerous Butler’s duo is when they are on. Baldwin and Martin are both all-conference players who can sometimes single-handedly win games. In addition, the team has definitely found their third offensive option. Paul Jorgensen has been a consistent scorer regardless of if he is hitting from deep.

In addition, Butler showed that, despite their loss to Seton Hall, it is hard to win at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The Bulldogs have a very solid home-court advantage and their students will be back from Winter Break for their next game. Hinkle is only going to get rowdier.

What does this mean for Marquette?

This is not a crushing loss for Marquette but it is disappointing. At one point in the second half, the Golden Eagles held a 67-60 advantage. Moving forward, the team is still 3-3 in conference. Yet, after a reprieve at home against DePaul in their next game, the road gets very difficult. After their bout with the Blue Demons, Marquette will face Xavier and Villanova in back-to-back games before facing Butler again.

This game showed how vulnerable Marquette can be. They are a poor defensive team and rely too much on their top scorers. If either one has an off night, it can be very difficult for the Golden Eagles to get a win. Hopefully, the two stars get back on track quickly and they are able to avoid an upset by DePaul in their next game.

Next: Where are Marquette and Butler in our projected field?

Overall, this game was far more important to win for Butler. The senior leaders Martin and Wideman had excellent games when the team needed them most. With a favorable schedule ahead, Butler has a chance to solidify their place in the NCAA Tournament field as a single-digit seed.