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Butler Basketball: 3 takeaways from riveting win over Ole Miss

By Lukas Harkins

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 16: Paul Jorgensen #5 of the Butler Bulldogs reacts after a three point basket during the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Hinkle Fieldhouse on November 16, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 16: Paul Jorgensen #5 of the Butler Bulldogs reacts after a three point basket during the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Hinkle Fieldhouse on November 16, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 09: Paul Jorgensen #5 of the Butler Bulldogs tries to drive. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 09: Paul Jorgensen #5 of the Butler Bulldogs tries to drive. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

2. There will always be help.

This takeaway has two different meanings so I will break this section up accordingly. First, Kamar Baldwin struggled tremendously in this game to make shots from the field. Even though he still recorded 23 points on the night due to outrageous free throw numbers, he shot 5-for-17 from the field. Yet, Butler still won the game. This was due to the fact that senior guard Paul Jorgensen stepped up in his absence as a scorer and poured in 27 points in the game on 6-for-10 shooting from 3-point range.

And while it might not be a good plan to rely on Paulie to post career-highs every time Baldwin struggles, this was just another performance by a member of the supporting cast that shows how balanced Butler can be. Anyone can stand out on any given night and that is something that is extremely special about this team. Baldwin is going to get his points but you never know who else will join him as the offensive production. Through three games, Jorgensen (18.7 ppg) and Joey Brunk (15.0 ppg) have been the best.

Additionally, though, it is important to mention that there is always a “next man up” mentality with this team. Against Ole Miss, both Sean McDermott and Jerald Gillens-Butler dealt with early foul trouble and were not able to stay on the floor nearly as much as expected. Yet, head coach LaVall Jordan was able to turn to his bench for big-time minutes. Most notably, Henry Baddley provided strong defensive minutes as always and Christian David played arguably the best game of his young collegiate career.

Coach Jordan discussed how important this bench play can be during the postgame press conference:

"“I think it’s huge. In the locker room, we talk about we need them all. We don’t more than we need in here but we need everybody…we need all of what we have in here. So everybody needs to be ready when their number is called, whether it’s four minutes or forty minutes, to be able to come in and do the job. So there’s an attention to detail you have to have to be able to do that and then there’s a love you have to have for your teammates…That’s definitely a luxury. Everyone in that locker room is capable.”"