Busting Brackets
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Butler Basketball: Keys to success against Florida in 2018-19

By Lukas Harkins

NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 26: Shelvin Mack #1 of the Butler Bulldogs celebrates defeating the Florida Gators 74 to 71 in overtime by cuttin down part of the ner during the Southeast regional final of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at New Orleans Arena on March 26, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 26: Shelvin Mack #1 of the Butler Bulldogs celebrates defeating the Florida Gators 74 to 71 in overtime by cuttin down part of the ner during the Southeast regional final of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at New Orleans Arena on March 26, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – FEBRUARY 10: Baldwin #3 of the Butler Bulldogs drives. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – FEBRUARY 10: Baldwin #3 of the Butler Bulldogs drives. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

2. Get to the free throw line.

Butler has really struggled in terms of drawing contact around the basket so far this season. Despite ranking in the top-25 nationally in free throw percentage (76.6%), the Dawgs hold one of the country’s lowest free throw attempt rates (28.1 FTA/FGA, 289th in the nation). Because of this, Butler is rarely able to take advantage of their strong charity stripe shooting. With Florida up next on the schedule, though, this could be an opportunity for the Dawgs to start getting to the line with some regularity.

This is due to the fact that the Gators send teams to the free throw line a bit more than most of Butler’s opponents to this point in the year. In terms of national rankings, Florida allows 33.4 FTA/FGA, a mark that comes in at 168th of all 353 teams in the country. In the first matchup between these two teams, Butler attempted 17 free throws. This was the fourth-most free throws attempted in a game for the Dawgs this season.

Furthermore, one of Butler’s newest additions to their rotation, Jordan Tucker, is someone who should be able to get to the free throw line with consistency. A 6-foot-7 sharpshooter with the quickness necessary to attack the basket, Tucker has already attempted 10 free throws (made nine) in his first 34 minutes of action with the team. And considering Florida did not see Tucker at all in November due to midseason transfer rules, he could be the difference-maker in this matchup.

Considering how efficient Butler has been from the free throw line so far this season, drawing shooting fouls could be a major factor in who wins this ballgame.