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Butler Basketball: Keys to success at home against Georgetown in 2018-19

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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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 15: Brunk #50 and Jorgensen #5 of the Butler Bulldogs celebrate. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 15: Brunk #50 and Jorgensen #5 of the Butler Bulldogs celebrate. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Butler basketball was embarrassed in their last game, falling on the road to Florida. How can the Dawgs respond at home against Georgetown?

Non-conference play is over and Butler basketball has some work to do. At 9-4 with wins over Ole Miss, Florida, and UC Irvine, the Dawgs put together a reasonably solid resume through the first two months of the season but the fans still have a sour taste in their mouth. This is due to Butler’s horrendous display against Florida in their final non-conference game, falling on the road by 34 points and showing a lack of fight throughout.

Following that performance, there are two ways to respond. One way is to let that performance shatter the confidence of the team. The Dawgs have shown flashes of being a very good team this season but they need to focus on the positives and how the team can grow moving forward rather than dwelling on the issues without fixing them. The other possibility is that the team takes the loss and uses it as motivation to play much better in the future.

So while it is important for the team to learn from its mistakes against Florida, it is also vital that they move on and focus on the next game, which will come at home against Georgetown. The Hoyas, who are 10-3, are by senior star Jessie Govan and a young backcourt. Head coach Patrick Ewing has done a great job in his first year and a half at the helm of the program but their record to this point is skewed a bit by their weak strength of schedule.

This matchup represents Butler’s Big East opener and they will surely want to get off to a strong start. In order to make that happen, here are three potential keys to success for the Dawgs against the Hoyas.