Seton Hall vs. Butler: 2019-20 college basketball game preview, TV schedule

First place is up for grabs in the Big East Conference, when top-20 teams Seton Hall and Butler battle it out in Indianapolis on Wednesday night.

TV schedule: Wednesday, January 15, 6:30 pm ET. FS1.
Arena: Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind.

The stakes couldn’t get any higher in the Big East Conference, as Seton Hall pays a visit to Hinkle Fieldhouse to duel with Butler on Wednesday evening in a scintillating top-20 collision. The No. 18 Pirates (12-4, 4-0) and the No. 5 Bulldogs (15-1, 3-0) are the last pair of crews who are unblemished in league competition, and the winner of this encounter will certainly have a leg-up on capturing the conference’s regular-stanza crown as Big East play heats up.

Both groups are on a terrific roll, with each having won a half-dozen match-ups in a row. Seton Hall, at No. 19 in the NCAA NET ratings, has solid victories in the 2019-20 campaign versus, among others, Iowa State, Maryland, DePaul, Georgetown, Xavier and Marquette. The Pirates’ setbacks are to Michigan State, Oregon, the aforementioned Iowa State and Rutgers.

Presently at No. 2 in the NET, Butler owns achievements against units such as Minnesota, Wofford, Missouri, Stanford, Ole Miss, Florida, Purdue, St. John’s, Creighton and Providence. The Bulldogs’ sole loss in 2019-20 is by one point at Baylor, a squad that for my money is currently the premier outfit across the country.

Besides the critical importance that this meeting has in the Big East, Butler and Seton Hall are navigating for future position in March Madness. At this juncture, the Bulldogs are viewed by bracketologists as a No. 1 seed, with the Pirates on the four-line.

From a statistical perspective, Butler and Seton Hall both have some advantages for which to boast. The Pirates are credible in scoring, at 75.1 points per contest. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, are No. 4 nationally in points allowed every 40 minutes, at an impressive 54.4.

Seton Hall is better in rebounding, assists, blocks and steals. Butler gets the nod in fewer turnovers committed, as well as shooting percentages from the field, the charity stripe and beyond the arc.

Overall in their series together, the Bulldogs are out in front, 9-5, versus the Pirates, including a thrilling 70-68 conquest on Feb. 2, 2019, in Indianapolis. Twelve of their 14 bouts have gotten decided by seven points or less, and I expect another closely fought tilt.

ESPN’s Basketball Power Index says that Butler possesses a 75.4 percent chance to prevail over Seton Hall. The Bulldogs are a perfect 9-0 at home in 2019-20, and they’ll continue that excellence in besting the Pirates.

Prediction: Butler 64 – Seton Hall 60