The Butler Bulldogs wrap up a bizarre non-conference showing with a big matchup versus Wisconsin at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Butler is coming off a 71-68 loss to North Dakota State, their second buy loss of the year, but they have a great opportunity to pick up a key win versus a top-25 Wisconsin team and get back on track before Big East play begins. Wisconsin is currently on a losing streak of its own, having dropped their last three games, including back-to-back games against Big Ten opponents, after starting off 8-0 and climbing to no. 11 in the rankings.
While Butler's at-large hopes have taken a big hit from their two buy losses, a win over Wisconsin would go a long way towards keeping them in the bubble. While Wisconsin will likely be favored, it remains a winnable game for Butler. Here's some of the keys for Butler to notch a big win Saturday.
1. Get going Early
A sloppy first half ultimately cost Butler the win versus North Dakota State. The Bulldogs trailed 44-23 at the half and shot just 31% from the field. While they did manage to erase that 21-point deficit in the second half, their comeback bid ultimately fell short. If Butler faces a large halftime deficit against a team like Wisconsin, getting back into the game will be extremely tough. If Butler can get out to an early lead and avoid another sloppy first half, they should be in a very good position to get a win.
2. Limit John Tonje's Impact
John Tonje has been the Badgers' undisputed leader this year and is averaging over 20 ppg. He's been Wisconsin's main difference-maker throughout the year. However, in the Badgers' three recent losses, Wisconsin's opponents were able to limit Tonje's scoring impact, as Tonje shot just 34% from the field over the course of those three games. In the Badgers' eight wins this year, he's shot 52% from the field over the course of those games.
The Badgers are an entirely different team when Tonje is playing at his best, and in the Badgers' top two wins of the year over Arizona and Pittsburgh, Tonje scored 41 and 33 in those two games, respectively. If Butler can't contain Tonje, there's a strong possibility he has up a similar showing, and it would likely be too much for this Butler team to overcome.
3. Pierre Brooks and Jahmyl Telfort can't do all the work
While Pierre Brooks and Jahmyl Telfort are the top two players on this team, the pieces around them still need to make an impact. In the Bulldogs' loss to North Dakota State, Brooks and Telfort combined for 49 of Butler's 68 points. The rest of the Butler team shot just 26% from the field in the game, including shooting 1-for-10 from beyond the arc. If that wasn't enough to defeat North Dakota State, it certainly won't be enough to beat Wisconsin.
Butler has the pieces, including Patrick McCaffery, Kolby King, and Finley Bizjack, to make a big impact on a game regardless of how Brooks and Telfort are playing. In Butler's best wins of the year over Mississippi State, Northwestern, and SMU, the Bulldogs had multiple players other than Brooks and Telfort step up and make a positive impact on the floor. They will need that against Wisconsin if they want to end non-conference play on a high note.