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Butler Basketball: Takeaways from home win over St. John’s

ByLukas Harkins|
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 05: Sean McDermott #22 of the Butler Bulldogs in action in the game against the Villanova Wildcats at Hinkle Fieldhouse on February 05, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 05: Sean McDermott #22 of the Butler Bulldogs in action in the game against the Villanova Wildcats at Hinkle Fieldhouse on February 05, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 15: Butler Blue III is seen. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 15: Butler Blue III is seen. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Postgame Hark’s Bark

1. Nze keeps flying under the radar.

Butler has a great season compared to preseason expectations and there are many reasons for this “over achievement.” The most prominent of these reasons has been the hunger and drive exhibited by every player and coach during the offseason to strive for a better result after last year. The senior class has embodied that and so have the juniors below them. I have already discussed both Aaron Thompson’s leadership and Jordan Tucker’s growth, so that just leaves arguably one of the most underrated players in the conference: Bryce Nze.

The 6-foot-7 forward sat out last season due to transfer rules but understood what he could bring to the table for this campaign. He can defend at a high level both inside and when switching on the perimeter while also continuously playing within himself as a versatile offensive weapon. Nze has been a consistent performer from the opening tip of the season as an invaluable piece that has not missed a game due to injury. He showcased his all-around game again against St. John’s while posting 11 points (5-for-5 FG), six rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal. Integral piece.

2. Butler will avoid an opening-round BET game.

With this win over St. John’s, Butler locked up either the No. 5 or 6 seed in the Big East Tournament next weekend. That is huge news considering it means that the Dawgs will receive a “bye” and not have to play on the opening night of the event. This will give the team a bit more rest and hopefully push them to a run at Madison Square Garden (and the ensuing NCAA Tournament).

Butler was picked to finish eighth in the preseason and was far closer to the bottom two than the top seven based on votes. Yet, the Dawgs have exceeded that expectation in the conference standings while also showcasing that they can be a threat on the national stage as well. Butler will most-likely snag a No. 4-7 seed in the NCAA Tournament and not many saw that coming heading into the campaign.

3. Here’s the most recent update to Butler’s team sheet…

That concludes this look at my biggest takeaways from Butler’s home win over St. John’s. The Dawgs’ regular-season finale will come in Cincinnati against the Xavier Musketeers on March 7th.