Butler Basketball: Takeaways from home win over Xavier

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 12: Jordan Tucker #1 of the Butler Bulldogs reacts after hitting a three-point shot against the Xavier Musketeers in the second half of a game at Hinkle Fieldhouse on February 12, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Butler defeated Xavier 66-61. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 12: McDermott of the Bulldogs handles. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

2. Seniors showed up…again.

Butler is one of the most experienced teams in the nation and is consistently led by a pair of seniors in Kamar Baldwin and Sean McDermott. To nobody’s surprise, these two once again took center stage for the Dawgs as they led by example. Both players were aggressive from the opening tip with regard to seeking their own shots or drawing attention to find open teammates.

Baldwin, most notably, showcased more of his playmaking ability while he struggled with his own shot. He finished the game with 11 points (3-for-11 FG), four rebounds, five assists (to just one turnover), two steals, and two blocks. The senior star simply stuffed the stat sheet while making an impact in just about every single facet. Even though he seemed off on his jumper (even shot just 4-for-7 at the charity stripe), he showed why he is an all-around star.

Next to him, Sean McDermott led the team in scoring and rebounding as he put up 14 and 6. These numbers might not jump off the stat sheet, but he aggressively sought out his own shots. One of the biggest complaints regarding McDermott is his tentativeness as a scorer. In this matchup, he fired when given an opening and also looked to drive against hard close-outs.

Those two, though, are already household names across the country.

Henry Baddley, on the other hand, has been an unsung performer in Indianapolis for the past few seasons. An excellent defender and strong leader, Baddley has been a consistent role player throughout his career. As mentioned earlier, he is the definition of the “next man up” mentality as he is always ready to step in and help his team. In this particular matchup, he buried three 3-pointers in the first half to lift the Dawgs in big moments.

Derrik Smits, although he only played eight minutes and committed four fouls, came up with two timely finishes at the rim. It’s also important to mention that his eight minutes were enough to keep Bryce Golden and Bryce Nze from fouling out.