INDIANAPOLIS — Butler improves to 2-0 with its 112-80 win over IU Indy.
Michael Ajayi led the Dawgs with 11 points and 14 rebounds. The Gonzaga transfer has two double-doubles in his first two games with the Bulldogs. Jalen Jackson added 17 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
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Here’s what I liked, disliked and what Butler‘s win means.
What I liked in Butler basketball’s win vs IU Indy
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IU Indy plays at a breakneck speed, pushing the tempo whenever possible and pressing after made baskets. Butler navigated the press well, finding open looks on the secondary break. Azavier “Stink” Robinson hit a jumper in transition breaking the press in the first half. Jackson used his speed to break the press and throw lobs to big men at the basket.
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Butler showed a new wrinkle, putting Drayton Jones on the inbound passer in the first half. Jones kept his hands active and jumped up and down, making his 6-foot-11 frame even larger, and 6-2 Micah Davis could not see over him, throwing the ball away. In a tight game against a smaller inbounder, putting Jones on the ball is a great way to force a turnover.
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Jackson is a sneaky good on-ball defender. The Fort Wayne transfer made four steals in the first half, highlighted by a play where he swiped the ball away, dribbling it between a defender’s legs to keep it alive, gathering the ball and cruising to an easy layup. Jackson Keith is another player using position, strength and length to shut down his man on defense. Five Butler players recorded a block in the first half.
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When your smallest players are great rebounders it elevates the entire team. Jackson and Robinson pulled down six and five first-half rebounds, respectively. Ajayi led with nine first-half rebounds, but Butler’s guards did well cleaning the glass. Guards who rebound well give the team the option to push the ball right away, or it puts the ball in the hands of a good passer, opening up opportunities for outlet passes all over the court.
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Yohan Traore continues to provide energy off the bench. On consecutive possessions in the second half, he dribbled around multiple defenders and finished with a two-handed slam and followed up with another dunk after corralling a loose ball. The former five-star recruit scored eight of his 11 points in the second half.
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Jack McCaffery (nine points, six rebounds) is a mismatch at the five against a smaller team. At 6-9 with great footwork and touch around the basket, the Dawgs may have found something with McCaffery in the post. McCaffery regularly finished through contact, belying his somewhat slight frame. Ajayi and Efeosa Oliogu-Elabor have been Butler’s small-ball front court duo, but McCaffery may have carved out a role for himself with his strong play.
What I disliked in Butler basketball’s win vs IU Indy
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A fast-paced brand of basketball can quickly spiral out of control. The first half turned into a foul fest with 24 fouls and 30 free throws. IU Indy had no choice but to foul once Butler broke its press, but it made for an ugly game. To the Jags’ credit, Butler’s inability to make free throws made fouling a decent strategy, but it’s not fun to watch
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Jackson did a great job getting to the basket, but his teammates did him no favor when he looked to dish. Butler’s big men struggled to finish lobs and bobbled pop passes, giving the defense time to recover instead of finishing for an easy two. Big men with great hands are such a valuable weapon. Right now, it looks like lobs can’t be a regular part of Butler’s offense
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Despite its 13-point first-half lead, Butler shot very poorly during the first 20 minutes of the game. At one point, the Dawgs missed eight free throws in a row. The 13-point lead could’ve easily been 20. The Dawgs struggled from the charity stripe and behind the arc, shooting just 2 for 12 (16.7%) on 3s in the first half. Off nights from 3 are understandable, misses that many shots from the free throw line are inexcusable. In a close game, Butler cannot be relied on to convert from the line.
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Turnovers continue to plague Butler. The Dawgs lost the turnover battle for the second straight game. IU Indy turned 17 Butler turnovers into 26 points.
What Butler basketball’s win vs IU Indy means
Butler is capable of winning games it’s supposed to win. The Dawgs were heavy favorites against Southern Indiana and IU Indy. The Dawgs avoided catastrophe, but it says very little for the team’s long-term outlook.
Even the Dawgs’ ability to regularly beat the press can be taken with a grain of salt, because IU Indy doesn’t have the length and athletic ability a high-major team can throw at the Dawgs. The slow start and poor shooting may have tanked previous Butler squads, so kudos to the Dawgs for figuring out and bucking down.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Butler basketball score today vs IU Indy, game stats, likes, dislikes
