Busting Brackets
Fansided

Butler Basketball: Breaking down each 2018-19 non-conference opponent

By Lukas Harkins

CINCINNATI, OH - JANUARY 02: Jordan the head coach of the Butler Bulldogs gives instructions to his team against the Xavier Musketeers at the Cintas Center on January 2, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - JANUARY 02: Jordan the head coach of the Butler Bulldogs gives instructions to his team against the Xavier Musketeers at the Cintas Center on January 2, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – NOVEMBER 27: Williams #22 (top) of the Brown Bears. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – NOVEMBER 27: Williams #22 (top) of the Brown Bears. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Dec. 5: Brown at Butler

After a one-game road trip, Butler will return home to face Brown. In an interesting scheduling note, this will be the second consecutive year that the Bulldogs will welcome an Ivy League school to Hinkle Fieldhouse (Princeton last season). Even though Brown struggled mightily last season (11-16 overall, 4-10 Ivy), they have the kind of guard play that can keep them in games.

Brandon Anderson (17.3 points) and Desmond Cambridge (17.3 points) are both tremendous scorers who have no trouble working together to get buckets. They were the clear scoring leaders for the Bears this past season and they will likely reprise those roles once again. Although neither player is a tremendously good 3-point shooter, they are both relentless in trying to get their buckets. To put it simply, Butler’s Aaron Thompson and Kamar Baldwin will have their hands full defensively in this one.

This game should go down as an expected victory for Butler but they cannot let that duo go nuts from a scoring perspective or this game could turn into a shootout. Nonetheless, Brown was one of the worst defending teams in the country last season (79.0 points per game allowed, 323rd nationally) and also did not shoot the three well (31.6%, 331st nationally).