What I'm watching as Butler's brutal stretch vs. ranked opponents continues at Providence
INDIANAPOLIS – Butler continues what is almost certainly the toughest January schedule in school history Sunday at No. 21 Providence in Big East basketball.
This will be the Bulldogs’ fourth successive game against a Top 25 opponent, and sixth in seven games. Butler (9-9, 2-5) is 0-5 in the previous five such games, all of them lost by 15 or more points.
According to KenPom, Butler has played the fifth-toughest schedule in the nation.
Insider: Parade of Top 25 opponents is wearing Butler down — and they just keep coming.
Providence (12-2) is 5-1 in the Big East for the second time ever and tops the standings. A win would make the Friars 16-2 for the first time since 1978.
Butler is 1-5 in its past six at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.
Although the Bulldogs regularly played Big Ten opponents during the 1950s and 1960s, there is no record of them meeting four successive ranked teams. The only year in which the Bulldogs played four straight ranked opponents was in the 2010 NCAA tournament.
In five seasons under coach LaVall Jordan, the Bulldogs are 4-25 against the Top 25.
What I’m watching:
Organization and energy
The Friars had three games postponed during a COVID pause, then beat Georgetown 83-75 Thursday in their first game since Jan. 8.
Nearly all of Butler’s losses have come after poor starts. Opening minutes could reflect how organized Providence is after a layoff or how much energy Butler expends in a fifth game over 11 days.
Jordan has employed the same starting lineup – Bryce Nze, Bryce Golden, Aaron Thompson, Jair Bolden, Jayden Taylor – in all seven Big East games.
Chuck Harris, who has not made a start since Nov. 23, is the only Butler player to average in double figures (10.2 ppg). In the past three games, he scored 15 points against Villanova and 16 against Connecticut, sandwiched around a scoreless game at UConn.
It's all on the line
Providence ranks fourth nationally in free throws attempted compared to field goals, so it will be important for Butler to defend without fouling.
Al Durham, who started his college career at Indiana, ranks fifth nationally in free throws made (98) and is shooting 83%. The Friars are shooting 74% as a team.
Taylor, the Big East’s No. 3 freshman scorer (9.7 ppg), is ninth in the conference in free throws made (52) and shooting 75%. The Bulldogs are shooting 69% as a team and are 7-2 when attempting more free throws than the opponent.
Staying in school
There will be few pairings all season featuring older players.
Providence’s roster features five graduate students. Its lineup of Nate Watson (139 games), Noah Horchler (104), Durham (140 games), AJ Reeves (93) and Jared Bynum (63) has combined to play 539 games. Adding in the 95 by sixth man Justin Minaya, and the total reaches 634.
Reeves has missed the past three games because of a finger injury.
Butler’s six grad students have combined for 731 games: Bolden (140), Nze (133), Ty Groce (131), Thompson (124), Bo Hodges (107) and Christian David (96).
Contact IndyStar reporter David Woods at david.woods@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @DavidWoods007.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Butler Bulldogs basketball vs. Providence Friars preview
