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Butler Basketball: 3 keys for the Bulldogs against Creighton

By Lukas Harkins

PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 10: Sean McDermott #22 and Kamar Baldwin #3 of the Butler Bulldogs point against the Villanova Wildcats at the Wells Fargo Center on February 10, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 10: Sean McDermott #22 and Kamar Baldwin #3 of the Butler Bulldogs point against the Villanova Wildcats at the Wells Fargo Center on February 10, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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OMAHA, NE – JANUARY 11: Hegner
OMAHA, NE – JANUARY 11: Hegner /

2. Lock in on defense

On the season, Creighton has one of the most potent offenses in the country. In terms of strictly scoring, the Bluejays rank sixth in the nation overall at 85.4 points per game. While this is great, the majority of this potency came in non-conference play. In fact, the team is putting up just 78.9 points per game in their 14 Big East games. This scoring output ranks just fifth in the conference.

According to KenPom, Creighton’s adjusted offensive efficiency ranks 19th in the country. This offensive prowess will definitely be a challenge for Butler to handle. On the season, the Bulldogs’ defense has been incredibly inconsistent. They have been periods where their defense has looked elite but there have also been 10 occasions in which the Dawgs have allowed 80+ points to their opponents.

In these 10 games, Butler holds just a 3-7 record. In addition, Creighton’s record in games in which they have scored over 80 points is 15-2. Because of this, it is vital that Butler locks in on defense against the Bluejays. As long as Butler plays at their pace and feeds off of their home crowd, they should be able to contain Creighton.

KenPom ranks Butler’s adjusted defensive efficiency at 45th in the nation, a solid mark for a team with such a great offense. The key on defense for Butler will be limiting open 3-point looks for Creighton. On the year, the Bluejays rank in the top half of the country in 3-point percentage (37.9%) while the Bulldogs struggle in defending along the perimeter (37.2% allowed).

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