Butler Basketball: Takeaways from victory over Western Michigan

Jair Bolden might be Butler’s new Mr. Clutch

Jair Bolden not only stepped into the role that Kamar Baldwin played hitting big shots in crunch time, but he also showed there is much more to his game than the 3-point shot. That was what fans were most excited about given the Bulldogs lost 90% of their perimeter shooting with the departures of Baldwin, Sean McDermott, and Jordan Tucker.

Bolden almost put up a double-double in his Butler debut, leading his team with 9 rebounds. His career rebounding average is 2.4 boards per game. He hit two big 3s, but only shot 29% from distance. Where he really shined offensively was in his mid-range game and showed an ability to take the ball to the rim making 4 of 8 2-point field goals.

Look, I am not sure we can expect this type of box score production out of Bolden night in and night out, but the senior journeyman was clearly the right addition out of the transfer market for LaVall Jordan’s team. There is a willingness to do what it takes to win for this guy. He never sniffed the NCAA tournament in his stops at George Washington and South Carolina and he looks motivated to make Butler a winner.

One game is not a true sample size, but Bolden looks like a fit in a way that Jordan Tucker just never did.