Butler Bulldogs

Tip Time: Saturday 11/21, 8:00pm EST
Where: Roberts Stadium, Evansville, IN
TV: WNDY-23
Last Meeting: Butler – 75, Evansville – 59 (11/29/08)

#11/#10 Butler Bulldogs (1-0) at Northwestern Wildcats (1-0)

Tip Time: 8 p.m. EST
Where: Welsh-Ryan Arena, Evanston, IL
TV: Big Ten Network
Last meeting: Butler 57 Northwestern 53 (2008-09)

Ugh. That's the collective vibe reverberating in Evanston, IL, home of the Northwestern Wildcats, better known as the only BCS conference school never to make the NCAA tournament. This was supposed to be THE YEAR for the Cats—a real chance to make the Big Dance. A real chance to erase 60 years of Purple Pain.

The Horizon League announced the winners of its post season awards today. Votes were cast by HL head coaches, media members, and sports information directors. And the winners are...

Player of the year: Matt Howard (Butler)

Newcomer of the Year: Gordon Hayward (Butler)

Defensive Player of the Year: Cedric Jackson (Cleveland State)

Sixth Man of the Year: Ryan Tillema (Green Bay)

Coach of the Year: Brad Stevens (Butler)

ALL-HORIZON FIRST TEAM

Matt Howard, Butler
Gordon Hayward, Butler

Cleveland State Vikings
Record: 21-9 (7-7 away)
Conference: Horizon (12-5)
RPI: No. 77 (vs. Butler No. 20)
Last Five: 4-1

Tip Time: 12 p.m. EST
Where: Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
TV: The Deuce (ESPN 2)

Other stats:
Scoring Margin: +7.6
Rebounding Margin: +0.4
3-Point %: 30.7
FT%: 69.8
TO Margin: +3.8 (1st in HL)

Youngstown State Penguins

Record: 11-16 (4-8 away)
Conference: Horizon (7-9)
RPI: No. 228 (vs. Butler #20)
Last Five: 4-1

Tip Time: 7 p.m. EST
Where: Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN

Other stats:
Scoring Margin: -1.9
Rebounding margin: +1.4
3-Point %: 33.6
FT%: 64.8

Notes:

For the majority of college basketball fans, this year's Bracketbuster games could be described as, well, lackluster.

But for Butler fans, the weekend was memorable for two reasons. First, the Bulldogs' beat down of Davidson all but solidified a spot in the NCAA Tournament, win or lose the HL automatic bid. Second, Gordon Hayward showed the nation why he is an up-and-coming Mid Major superstar. Hayward outshined surefire All-American stud Steph Curry, scoring 27 points and grabbing 9 boards.

Davidson Wildcats

Record: 22-5 (11-2 home)
Conference: SoCon (15-2)
RPI: No. 56 (vs. Butler #27)
Last Five: 3-2

Other stats:
Scoring Margin: +12.9
Rebounding margin: +1.2
3-Point %: 36.1
FT%: 70.9

Notes:

Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers

Record: 14-11 (11-2 home)
Conference: Horizon (9-6)
Rankings: N/A
RPI: No. 104 (vs. Butler #9)
Sagarin’s: No. 106 (vs. Butler #15)
Last Five: 2-3
First Meeting: Butler 78 UWM 48

When: February 18, 8:00 ET
Where: US Cellular Arena – Milwaukee, WI

UIC Flames

Record: 11-13 (5-7 away)
Conference: Horizon (4-10)
RPI: No. 202 (vs. Butler #11)
Sagarin’s: No. 199 (vs. Butler #22)
Last Five: 1-4
1st Meeting: Butler 59 UIC 52

When: February 13, 7:00ET
Where: Hinkle Fieldhouse – Indianapolis, IN

PPG: 66.4 (T-6th HL)
Scoring Defense: 64.7 (5th HL)
Scoring Margin: +1.7 (5th HL)
Free Throw Percentage: .746 (2nd HL)
3-Point Percentage: .348 (3rd HL)
Rebounding Margin: +2.1 (2nd HL)
Turnover Ratio: 0.9 (5th HL)

The Horizon League title has come down to a two-team race between Butler and Wisconsin-Green Bay. Last week, the Phoenix beat first-place and nationally ranked Butler and third-place Wisconsin-Milwaukee, in what has to be considered one of the most successful weeks in the program’s history. Butler, meanwhile, bounced back from its first conference loss with two road victories over Detroit and Wright State. The Wright State blow out was especially noteworthy, because the Dawgs hadn’t won in Dayton since 2003.

Wright State Raiders

Record: 14-9 (7-2 home)
Conference: Horizon (8-4)
RPI: No. 100 (vs. Butler #9)
Sagarin’s: No. 90 (vs. Butler #21)
Last Five: 4-1
1st Meeting: Butler 64, Wright State 48.

When: February 7, 7:00ET
Where: The Nutter Center – Dayton, OH

Other stats:

PPG: 58.5 (9th HL)
Scoring Defense: 55.1 (2nd in NCAA)
Scoring Margin: 3.4 (4th HL)
Free Throw Percentage: 70.8% (5th HL)
3 Point Percentage: 29.0% (9th HL)
Rebounding margin: -3.2 (10th HL)
Turnover ratio: +2.91 (2nd HL)

Detroit Titans
Record: 6-15 (3-5 home)
Conference: Horizon (1-10)
Rankings: N/A
RPI: No. 262 (vs. Butler #9)
Sagarin’s: No. 257 (vs. Butler #21)
Last Five: 2-3 (lost 54-50 @Butler)

Tip Time: 8:05 ET
Location: Calihan Hall—Detroit, MI

Other stats:

PPG: 56.8 (10th HL)
Scoring Margin: -7.2 (10th HL)
Rebounding margin: -0.3 (6th HL)
Turnover ratio: -2.62 (10th HL)
3-Point %: 26.9 (10th HL)
Free Throw %: 64.8 (8th HL)

Wisconsin-Green Bay Phoenix

Record: 17-6 (10-1 home)
Conference: Horizon (9-2, 2nd)
RPI: No. 80 (vs. Butler #9)
Sagarin’s: No. 64 (vs. Butler #14)
Last Five: 4-1 (lost at Butler 68-59)

Tip Time: 8:00 p.m. (EST) Monday, Feb. 2
Where: Resch Center--Green Bay, WI

Valparaiso Crusaders

Record: 6-15 (1-7 away)
Conference: Horizon (3-7)
Rankings: N/A (vs. Butler #13 AP, #13 Coaches)
RPI: No. 227 (vs. Butler #8)
Sagarin’s: No. 271 (vs. Butler #16)
Last Five: 1-4

As previously mentioned, part II of the Butler Ugroup Horizon League Awards recognizes the All-Newcomer Team and Top Newcomer of the Year. While these young men will most likely not receive the same national recognition as Greg Monroe, Al-Farouq Aminu and Courtney Fortson they have been making some serious waves in the Horizon League.

Wait no further, hot off the press, here are the Butler Ugroup's projections for top newcomers in the Horizon League.

Butler Ugroup Mid-Season HL Newcomer of the Year: Gordon Hayward (Butler)

We’re set to start the second half of Horizon League play but before the games get started, let’s take a look at Part I of the Butler Ugroup’s “Mid-Season Horizon League Award’s Show” presented by The Snuggie (as seen on TV!).

Today, we’ll announce our Mid-Season All-Horizon League teams and the coveted Mid-Season HL Player of the Year. Tomorrow, look for our Mid-Season All-Newcomer Teams and Mid-Season Newcomer of the Year selections.

Now that Butler has played--and defeated--each HL team through the first-half of conference play, today's poll day topic will focus on the future. That is, which HL team would Butler least want to play in the HL tournament? Put another way, which HL team do you most fear?

Before you vote, let's make a couple of assumptions:

1) Butler will hold it's two-game lead and host the HL tournament.
2) Butler nor any other HL team will have any players significantly injured.

Please feel free to let us know your reasons for your vote.

Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers
Record: 12-7 (3-5 away)
Conference: Horizon (7-2)
Rankings: N/A
RPI: No. 104 (vs. Butler #9)
Sagarin’s: No. 106 (vs. Butler #15)
Best Wins: Bradley (W 86-74), Cleveland State (W 77-75)
Notable Losses: Ball State (L 82-69), Green Bay (L 77-75 OT)

Wisconsin-Green Bay Phoenix Record: 14-5 (4-3 away)

Conference: Horizon (6-1)

RPI: No. 79 (vs. Butler #9)

Butler’s scorching 16-1 start is indicative of the success of its freshmen. And with all due respect to Ronald Nored and Garrett Butcher, Butler’s freshmen standouts are clearly Gordon Hayward and Shelvin Mack. The two young Bulldogs will likely join UWM’s Tone Boyle (a junior) in a three-player race for HL Newcomer of the Year. This week’s poll question focuses on that race.

Before you vote, take a look at the stats (bold indicates leader):

UWM: Boyle, Tone

UIC Flames
Record: 9-7 (5-3 home)
Conference: Horizon (2-4)
Rankings: N/A
RPI: No. 156 (vs. Butler #6)
Sagarin’s: No. 119 (vs. Butler #15)
Best Wins: @Vanderbilt (W 74-55), @Georgia Tech (W 66-60)
Notable Losses: @Youngstown State (L 80-70), UW-Green Bay (L 66-61)

Talk about a rebound. After squeaking out a victory over last-place Detroit, Butler came out firing on all cylinders in a 78-55 victory at Loyola. The Dawgs used a 22-0 run, spurred by a scoring outburst by Shelvin Mack, to take a commanding 24-4 lead and didn't look back from there.

- Speaking of rebounding, Butler outrebounded Loyola 43-26.

- Butler's "Big 3" -- Matt Howard, Shelvin Mack, and Gordon Hayward -- combined for 49 points.

- The Dawgs' defense held Loyola's J.R. Blount to two points and zero made field goals. Blount came into the game as HL's second-leading scorer.

Loyola Ramblers

Record: 10-7 (6-2 home)
Conference: Horizon (2-3)
RPI: No. 125 (vs. Butler #4)
Sagarin’s: No. 152 (vs. Butler #18)
Best Wins: Georgia (W 74-53), UW-Green Bay (W 62-60)
Notable Losses: @Clev St (L 76-50), Rockhurst (D-II) (L 86-79)

Detroit Titans
Record: 4-10 (1-8 away)
Conference: Horizon (0-5)
RPI: No. 274 (vs. Butler #3)
Sagarin’s: No. 287 (vs. Butler #11)
Best Wins: Saint Louis (W 62-57)
Notable Losses: @Youngstown St (L 80-78), @Valpo (L 64-41)

By: bdnetz6

Wright State Raiders

Record: 8-7 (1-5 road)
Conference: Horizon (2-2)
Rankings: N/A
RPI: No. 186 (vs. Butler #3)
Sagarin’s: No. 119 (vs. Butler #12)
Best Wins: Cleveland State (W 72-61), South Florida (W60-43)
Notable Losses: @Wake Forest (L 66-53), Illinois State (L 69-61)

ESPN's Bracketologist Joe Lunardi recently released his tournament projections. If the season ended today, Lunardi projects Butler as a #8 seed. However, in Lunardi's notes, he says of the Dawgs, "Butler (No. 2), Miami of Ohio (No. 12), Temple (No. 23) and Evansville (No. 24) are making unexpected appearances in the InsideRPI Top 25. As proof of the volatility of too-early RPI data, none is an NCAA tournament "lock" at this point. Butler is close, obviously, but two or three bad losses in a solid Horizon League could change the picture rapidly."

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/bracketology

By: bdnetz6

1. Sloppy Play: After jumping out to an early 20-13 lead, Butler had six straight possessions without attempting a field goal. Turnovers and offensive fouls allowed Valparaiso's second-team players to score 14 unanswered points. While Butler was able to overcome this against Valparaiso, poor play like this will kill the Bulldogs against more formidable opponents.

Valpo Crusaders
Record: 4-9 (1-1 HL)
Conference: Horizon League
Rankings: N/A (vs. Butler #25 AP, #28 Coaches, #23 CHN)
RPI: No. 258 (vs. Butler #2)
Sagarin’s: No. 271 (vs. Butler #13)
Best Wins: vs. UCF 69-52 (Conf. USA 8-4)
Notable Losses: @Clev. St (HL 8-5) 42-66, North Carolina (ACC 13-0) 63-85, @Purdue (Big Ten 11-2) 45-59

1) Mack Attack: After digging an 11-point deficit going into halftime, Butler needed a spark. They got it from Shelvin Mack who hit five 3-points in a seven-minute span. The 8,141 fans at Hinkle were at their loudest after Mack hit two 3-pointers in five seconds to give Butler the lead.

2) Sloppy Play: The Bulldogs committed an uncharacteristic 19 turnovers, many of which helped UAB cut Butler's 10-point second-half lead to one.