GAME NOTES: The Butler Bulldogs try to follow up their thrilling win on Friday night with another positive outing this afternoon, as they clash with the Detroit Titans in Horizon League action at Calihan Hall.
Butler, the team that made it to the NCAA Tournament title game each of the last two years, has been rather average so far in 2011-12, but has still been picking up victories on a more regular basis in recent weeks. On Friday, the team went down to the wire against Wright State and came away with the 63-62 win on the road, the fourth straight victory and the fifth in the last six outings for the Bulldogs, although all of them have come by five points or less.
As for the Titans, they too were in a tight battle two nights ago against Valparaiso at home, but in their case they surrendered a 73-71 decision to the Crusaders which means Detroit has now dropped two of the last three games.
With respect to the all-time series between these two schools on the hardwood, the Bulldogs lead by a count of 43-27 thanks to 10 straight wins and victories in 17 of the last 20 meetings.
Ronald Nored sank the first of his two free-throw attempts with 2.7 seconds to play as the Butler Bulldogs captured the thrilling one-point win over the Wright State Raiders in Horizon League play at the Nutter Center on Friday night. Nored played under the radar for much of the game but still finished with 11 points as he made all three of his field goal attempts for the Bulldogs. Andrew Smith, who nailed a pair of crucial three pointers late in the meeting. led the Butler offense with 19 points, shooting 8-of-12 from the floor, while Khyle Marshall contributed 14 points on a near-perfect 7-of-8 from the field off the bench. Smith leads the team in scoring this season with his 10.4 ppg, but he is the only player in double figures through 16 games, his 5.8 rpg placing him among the team's best in that department as well. Marshall accounts for 9.2 ppg as a 57.4 percent shooter from the floor, yet he is just 48.9 percent accurate at the free-throw line, a place that has been torture for the team as a whole (.610) as they generate a meager 63.7 ppg.
The Titans were paced by Ray McCallum who tallied 22 points, thanks in large part to his 11-of-13 shooting at the free-throw line, while Eli Holman chipped in 17 points and pulled down seven rebounds off the bench but still the hosts could not avoid taking the loss against Valpo two nights ago. Jason Calliste contributed 14 points even as he made only 2-of-7 shots beyond the arc. Detroit led by 12 points with just over three minutes remaining in the first half, but the hosts shot just 37.0 percent from the floor and failed to convert even one of their four three-point tries in the period, allowing Valpo to battle back and close the deficit to just three points at the break, 35-32. In the second half the teams remained close, but when it counted the most the Detroit defense came up small as they allowed the game-winning basket at the buzzer. Chase Simon leads the team in scoring with his 15.3 ppg, although his 38.2 percent shooting from the floor and 28.8 percent behind the three-point line is certainly questionable. McCallum (15.0 ppg) and Holman (12.7 ppg) are also significant contributors at the offensive end.
After such a devastating loss on Friday night you would think the Titans would have a chip on their shoulder, but it will be tough for the hosts to bounce back and compete against a determined Butler squad today.
No comments:
Post a Comment