Butler Basketball: 3 takeaways from win over Middle Tennessee

Butler basketball bounced back incredibly well in their second game of the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament with a dominant performance against Middle Tennessee.

What a difference a day makes. In the opening round of the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament, Butler basketball struggled tremendously on both ends of the floor in a disappointing loss to Dayton. Yet, the team came back on Day 2 with renewed energy and absolutely destroyed Middle Tennessee for all 40 minutes. Quite simply, this game was just about over by the second media timeout. With superb ball movement, accurate shooting from distance, and tenacious defense, Butler basketball could have beaten just about anyone on this night. The final score read 84-53.

The trio of Kamar Baldwin (18 pts/5 rebs/4 asts/0 tos), Sean McDermott (21 pts), and Paul Jorgensen (21 pts) led the way for the Dawgs in this one. These three represent the most dangerous perimeter options for Butler and they were consistently able to find open looks from deep or driving lanes to the basket. Quite simply, the Dawgs worked to find quality shots on every possession and it paid off. The team shot 51.7% from the field and 45.7% from deep over the course of the game.

Middle Tennessee, on the other hand, was stifled offensively and had no answer for Butler on the other end of the floor. While James Hawthorne (11 pts) may have led the way for the team, nobody was particularly great for the Blue Raiders in this one. They were held to just .321/.286/.652 shooting in the contest.

1. Resilience.

Butler basketball did not play well against Dayton in the opening game of the Battle 4 Atlantis. That is no secret. The team struggled on both ends of the floor and they were never really able to much going from the field. And while they made a bit of a comeback late in the game, it was simply too-little-too-late. Yet, based on how Butler played in this game against Middle Tennessee, you would not have thought that they lost the night before.

The Dawgs were simply superb in this game and they dominated for all 40 minutes. Butler shot the ball well from distance, attacked the basket offensively, and aggressively defended along the perimeter. This performance was a complete turnaround from the night before and credit needs to go to both the coaching staff and the players for their preparation prior to this game. Butler’s loss to Dayton may have been a bit of a wake-up call and the team can be very dangerous if they continue to play at this level.

Butler recorded 22 assists (to 10 turnovers – one was a shot-clock violation at the end of regulation) on 31 made baskets in this game. Impressive ball movement led to great shots all night.

2. Sean McDermott has arrived.

A major breakout candidate heading into this season, Sean McDermott was off to a slow start to the year prior to the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament. In fact, he was averaging just 6.7 points per game through three games while shooting only 35.7% from beyond the arc. This was definitely a disappointing start considering many projected McDermott as a potential double-digit scorer this season.

However, in this tournament so far, McDermott is starting to heat up as a scorer. Now through two games in the Bahamas, the 6-foot-6 junior has posted 39 total points on 10-for-18 shooting from three. McDermott still has not been great as a scorer inside the 3-point arc but his quick (and accurate) trigger from beyond the arc really helps the Dawgs when he is on his game. He is easily the most dangerous scoring threat from three thanks to his size and lightning-quick release.

Butler basketball has several players who can open up the floor due to their 3-point shooting but McDermott is the most important. If he is able to keep up this hot shooting and increase his scoring average, then Butler is going to be in great shape moving forward.

3. Aaron Thompson is a major key to success

Aaron Thompson might not be a consistent offensive threat but he is still incredibly important to the success of this Butler basketball team. He is an above-average perimeter defender and excellent playmaker offensively when he probes the lane. Perhaps most importantly, though, he is a true point guard that allows Kamar Baldwin to play off the ball.

As mentioned in my postgame piece following Butler’s loss to Dayton, the team struggles when AT is forced to the bench due to foul trouble. When this occurs, Baldwin is forced to take over as the primary scorer and playmaker on the team and that leads to turnover problems. Additionally, Thompson is never able to get into a rhythm when on the court due to consistently needing to be removed for his fouls and this is detrimental to the entire offense.

In Butler’s win over Middle Tennessee, Thompson committed just two fouls in 33 minutes of play. He was able to play freely on both ends of the floor and, while only scoring two total points, he was an impactful player. He finished the night with eight assists (to two turnovers). Thompson’s ability to stay on the floor also impacted Baldwin’s play on the night, in my opinion. For the first time this season, Kamar did not commit a single turnover en route to posting 18 points (7-for-10), 5 rebounds, and 4 assists.

On the whole, this was a great performance for Butler basketball. They recovered well after an off night against Dayton and came out firing on all cylinders. If they are able to play at this level consistently, then this could turn out being a special season. This team goes, at least to some extent, as Kamar Baldwin goes and he was excellent in this one thanks in large part to the play of his supporting cast.