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Butler Basketball: Preview of Bulldogs season-opening game vs Western Michigan

By Drew Schmelzer

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 07: A detail view of a Butler Bulldogs megaphone which is seen during a game against the Florida Gators at Hinkle Fieldhouse on December 7, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Butler defeated Florida 76-62. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 07: A detail view of a Butler Bulldogs megaphone which is seen during a game against the Florida Gators at Hinkle Fieldhouse on December 7, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Butler defeated Florida 76-62. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Butler Basketball (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

Matchup to Watch: Butler Defense versus Western Michigan Offense

The Bulldogs showcased the 12th best scoring defense in the nation in 2019-20, while the Broncos were 232nd at scoring the basketball out of 353 DI teams. They ranked 3rd to last in the MAC. With Butler returning its top two defensive players in Thompson and Nze you could make an argument that the Bulldogs are set up to be even better on that end of the floor in 2020-21.

At face value, this does not bode well for the Western Michigan offense. Then consider that when Flowers and Johnson transferred away, they took 47% of the teams already poor scoring offense with them.

I have questioned whether Western Michigan will be able to break 50 points in this matchup.

In fairness, Butler lost a good portion of their offensive punch, too, but this is a program with a defense-first identity and that should be enough by itself to get a win over a Bronco team with a lot of holes. The addition of Jair Bolden and his 41% 3-point percentage is a clear boost to the Butler offense as well.

Prediction

Western Michigan is young and didn’t do anything particularly well besides shooting the 3-point shot last season, and their best perimeter shooter, Flowers, is gone. The Broncos’ best offensive threat is B. Artis White, an undersized guard at 5’9, and I expect the best defensive player in the Big East (Aaron Thompson) to be draped all over him Wednesday night. This game might get a little ugly and like it or not as a Butler fan, games like that are where the Bulldogs typically excel.

dark. Next. Butler Basketball 2020-21 Season Preview

On top of everything else, there is just a talent gap here, but because of some of the offensive questions about Butler the final score of this game probably won’t indicate how much of a blow-out it should be.

Pick: Butler Bulldogs 63-Western Michigan Broncos 48

Game Information:

Where: At Hinkle Fieldhouse

When: Wednesday, November 25th, 6 pm ET

How to Watch: FS1

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