3 reasons Butler basketball lost to Villanova: No Hinkle magic this time vs. Wildcats
INDIANAPOLIS – No. 11 Villanova built a 19-point lead in the opening 10 minutes and went on to clobber Butler for the second time this season, 78-59, in Big East basketball Saturday before a crowd of 8,163 at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
The loss was Butler’s 10th this season by 15 or more points, including 82-42 at Villanova on Jan. 16. Butler finished 4-6 in conference home games.
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Butler (13-18, 6-14) will be No. 9 seed for next week’s Big East tournament. The Bulldogs would be pitted against No. 8 seed Xavier on Wednesday at New York's Madison Square Garden.
Justin Moore scored 16 points and Jermaine Samuels 15 for Villanova (23-7, 16-4). The Wildcats, who led by as many as 28 points, had lost four of their previous five to Butler at Hinkle.
Chuck Harris led Butler with 19 points, and Bo Hodges added 12.
It was the final home appearance for seven Butler seniors: Hodges, Aaron Thompson, Bryce Nze, Ty Groce, Jair Bolden, Christian David, Mike Parker. Bolden and David were sidelined by injuries and did not play.
Three reasons Butler lost:
Cannot weave a basket
As the Bulldogs have done so often, they simply could not make a shot to begin the game. Their 1-of-11 start doomed them because Villanova broke ahead 23-4.
As crisply as Villanova plays on both ends, there is little chance of overcoming a 19-point deficit, even with nearly 29 minutes to do so.
Butler was 2-of-21 on 3-pointers before making three of its last four.
Villanova too efficient
Villanova underscored why it is ranked No. 7 nationally by KenPom in offensive efficiency, at 119.5 points per 100 possessions. The Wildcats averaged 1.18 per possession against Butler.
The Wildcats shot 48%, and they were 11-of-24 on 3-pointers. Since the Big East was reconfigured, Villanova has dominated the conference, largely because of 3-point proficiency.
Indeed, Butler was so respectful of 6-3 guard Collin Gillespie, the probable Big East player of the year, that 6-5 Hodges was often assigned to guard him. Gillespie was 3-of-5 on 3s and finished with 11 points and four assists.
Tale of two teams
Villanova and Butler are traveling in opposite directions.
The victory was the seventh in eight games for the Wildcats, who will be seeded No. 2 in next week’s Big East tournament but almost certainly will be favored to win it. They have already beaten No. 1 seed Providence twice.
This was the fifth successive defeat for the Bulldogs, whose 18 losses are the most in 32 years. Barry Collier, now athletic director, was 6-22 in his first season coaching, 1989-90.
Contact IndyStar reporter David Woods at david.woods@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidWoods007.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Butler basketball loses to Villanova in regular-season finale
