Busting Brackets
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Butler Basketball: Keys to success in rivalry matchup against Xavier

By Lukas Harkins

PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 10: Head coach Jordan of the Butler Bulldogs looks on against the Villanova Wildcats at the Wells Fargo Center on February 10, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 10: Head coach Jordan of the Butler Bulldogs looks on against the Villanova Wildcats at the Wells Fargo Center on February 10, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 06: Marshall #13 of the Xavier Musketeers goes. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 06: Marshall #13 of the Xavier Musketeers goes. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

2. Limit fouling in the paint.

On the defensive end, Butler has to find a way to keep Xavier off the free throw line. Even though the Musketeers might not be the most efficient team in the country from the line (69.2%, 197th), they draw fouls well and the Dawgs consistently put teams on the stripe. That, though, cannot happen in this game. Butler will need to disciplined defensively, especially around the basket, in order to limit not only Xavier’s free throw attempts but also foul trouble.

Perhaps above all other players, Butler absolutely needs starting point guard Aaron Thompson to stay on the court. An elite defender and strong playmaker offensively, Thompson is vital to Butler’s success in almost all facets of the game. He does, though, struggle with foul trouble and this results in more time spent on the bench than fans would like. And in this matchup, AT might once again find himself in foul trouble because Quentin Goodin, the player he is most likely to match up against, ranks in the top-500 nationally in both FD/40 as well as FTAr.

If, though, Butler is able to stay out of foul trouble and avoid sending Xavier to the free throw line, they should be able to walk out of the Cintas Center with a victory. To this point in the year, the Musketeers are just 1-4 in games where they are held to less than 18 free throw attempts.