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Butler Basketball: Keys to success in road battle with Villanova

By Lukas Harkins

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 09: Paul Jorgensen #5 of the Butler Bulldogs tries to drive past Jermaine Samuels #23 of the Villanova Wildcats in the first half during semifinals of the Big East Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 9, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 09: Paul Jorgensen #5 of the Butler Bulldogs tries to drive past Jermaine Samuels #23 of the Villanova Wildcats in the first half during semifinals of the Big East Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 9, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – FEBRUARY 10: McDermott of the Bulldogs drives. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – FEBRUARY 10: McDermott of the Bulldogs drives. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

Butler basketball needs to catch fire to end the regular season to reach the NCAA Tournament. How can they find a way to win at Villanova?

Butler Basketball is desperate. Over the past few weeks, the bubble has been shrinking constantly and the Dawgs are right on the edge of disappearing off the list of at-large contenders. The team has now dropped three of its last four games and is only featured a select few of bracketology projected fields at this point (First Four Out in my field). Because of this, it is clear that Butler needs to find a way to secure a massive road victory over Villanova this weekend.

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, Butler needed to win three of its last four regular-season games to be in solid shape to make the field. After dropping the first game of this set at home to Providence, the margin for error is now zero. If they are unable to seize the moment in the Wells Fargo Arena against the ‘Cats, the Dawgs will be clawing desperately for a bid during the Big East Tournament (they might even need to win it to dance).

Butler, on the whole, has played better on the road in recent weeks but they are still one of the most inconsistent teams in the nation. Thankfully, though, the same could be said about Villanova. The Wildcats have dropped four of their last six games but are coming off of a massive home win over Marquette. Head coach Jay Wright’s team is undefeated at home in conference play so Butler will really have to hope for the team to lay their first true conference egg in Philadelphia.

Here are three potential keys to success for the Dawgs to snag a much-needed win. Desperate teams are always dangerous and that is exactly what Butler is right now.