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Butler Basketball: Keys to success at Creighton in 2019-20

By Lukas Harkins

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 04: Kamar Baldwin #3 of the Butler Bulldogs handles the ball against Marcus Zegarowski #11 of the Creighton Bluejays during a game at Hinkle Fieldhouse on January 4, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Butler defeated Creighton 71-57. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 04: Kamar Baldwin #3 of the Butler Bulldogs handles the ball against Marcus Zegarowski #11 of the Creighton Bluejays during a game at Hinkle Fieldhouse on January 4, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Butler defeated Creighton 71-57. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JANUARY 04: Thompson of the Bulldogs handles. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JANUARY 04: Thompson of the Bulldogs handles. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Butler basketball suffered a buzzer-beating defeat earlier this week. What will it take for the Dawgs to respond and upset Creighton on the road?

Butler basketball has definitely struggled over the course of the last month but put forth a high-energy effort on the road in a buzzer-beating defeat at Seton Hall earlier this past week. While the loss was certainly disappointing, it was an improved performance by the team. The return of starting point guard Aaron Thompson from concussion symptoms was perhaps the biggest reason for this positive shift in play on both ends of the floor. If he is able to stay healthy for the rest of the season, that would greatly improve Butler’s chances at a deep run in March.

Before that, though, the Dawgs will be facing another extremely tough opponent this weekend as they travel to face Creighton. The Bluejays are arguably the hottest team in the entire nation at this moment as they have won eight of their last nine games and emerged as a legitimate contender for the Big East regular-season title. They have risen to the No. 14 spot in KenPom while holding the sixth-best adjusted offensive efficiency rating in the country.

It is also important to mention that Creighton boasts one of the best home-court advantages in the country. The CHI Health Center is seemingly always packed with fans and defeating the Bluejays and the deafening crowd is no easy task. The arena has been a “house of horrors” for Butler in recent years and finding a way to win would be huge for the team’s confidence moving forward.

Butler was able to defeat Creighton in the prior matchup between these two teams this season by a score of 71-57 in Hinkle Fieldhouse. Both squads have changed dramatically since that game, though. Now, without any further ado, let’s dive deeper into this matchup with three potential keys to successful for Butler and a pregame edition of Hark’s Bark.