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Butler Basketball: What to watch for against Presbyterian

By Lukas Harkins

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 15: Butler Bulldogs players react from the bench against the Indiana Hoosiers in the second half of the Crossroads Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 15, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Indiana won 71-68. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 15: Butler Bulldogs players react from the bench against the Indiana Hoosiers in the second half of the Crossroads Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 15, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Indiana won 71-68. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 15: Brunk #50 of Butler basketball looks. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 15: Brunk #50 of Butler basketball looks. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Following a buzzer-beating loss to Indiana, Butler basketball looks to get back to winning ways as they return to Hinkle to take on Presbyterian.

Butler basketball suffered a heartbreaking loss to Indiana at the Crossroads Classic this weekend and it was a difficult one to swallow. There were, though, many positives from that game. For instance, if you told me that Kamar Baldwin and Paul Jorgensen would combine for 21 points on 9-for-29 (31.0%) shooting and IU’s Juwan Morgan would score 35, I would have thought that the Dawgs would lose by 20+ points. Yet, others picked up the slack and Butler’s depth really showed despite the end result. Now, the team just needs to look forward and focus on reaching the high ceiling that this team has.

In order to do this, head coach LaVall Jordan and Co. need to focus on taking care of business on Dec. 18 against Presbyterian. And while students (myself included) may now be home for Winter Break, the friendly confines of Hinkle Fieldhouse will certainly help the Dawgs recover from their tough loss. Additionally, it does not seem as though the Blue Hose, who are ranked 269th in the nation by KenPom, will prove to be much of a challenge for the Dawgs. Their defense, most notably, is ranked 329th (out of 353) nationally and Butler should be able to put up some serious offensive efficiency numbers in the matchup.

In short, this should be a tune-up game for the Bulldogs. Butler is simply the better team in this matchup and as long as they stick the gameplan, this should snag yet another home non-conference win for the program. Notice the “shoulds“. Having said this, instead of my usual preview breaking down a few keys to the game for the Dawgs, this piece will look at three things to follow/watch for. This involves minutes distribution and some scheming for the game that I think will be important developments that could impact the rest of the season.

Let’s dive in. (All stats used in this piece were found via KenPom and Sports-Reference.)