Busting Brackets
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Butler Basketball: Takeaways from victory over New Orleans

By Lukas Harkins

PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 10: Aaron Thompson #2 of the Butler Bulldogs passes the ball 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: Aaron Thompson #2 of the Butler Bulldogs passes the ball 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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PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 02: Thompson of the Bulldogs shoots. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 02: Thompson of the Bulldogs shoots. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

1. Thompson-led offensive is a good offense.

For the second consecutive game, Aaron Thompson essentially exclusively ran the offense for Butler basketball in this matchup with Kamar Baldwin (15 total minutes) remained a bit hampered by his injury. The junior point guard responded in a big way once again and it is impossible to ignore his performance. In addition to locking up New Orleans’ guards in his traditionally elite fashion, Thompson also dismantled their defense with his probing and dishing. He was all over the court during the contest as easily the best player on the floor regardless of uniform color.

Over the course of the game, Thompson played 35 total minutes and posted 12 points (5-for-9 FG), 10 assists, and two rebounds. The box score rarely tells the full story with regards to AT’s play, but this double-double was well-earned. New Orleans is a team that thrives on defensive pressure and their ability to force turnovers. With Thompson running the show, though, the Dawgs exhibited a 3.0 assist-to-turnover ratio while recording assists on 62.1% of made shots. That is flat-out incredible.

Thompson has played 75 regular-season minutes already this season and has dished out 19 assists to just three turnovers. If he is able to distribute at a similar efficiency rate against more challenging opponents, Butler will be in great shape moving forward. It is obvious that the Dawgs’ offense operates at an extremely high level with Thompson dictating the pace and initiating sets. He is an incredible vocal leader on both ends of the floor and has really stepped into an even bigger role as a junior.