First Thoughts: Butler 68, Duquesne 49
By CHRIS GOFF
ISL Correspondent
Let’s take a quick look at how the Butler Bulldogs picked up an easy 68-49 win over the Duquesne Dukes on Tuesday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
WHY IT HAPPENED: Playing with a healthy lineup and no in-game nicks, the Bulldogs had no problem beating up on the last-place Dukes. Rotnei Clarke led the way with 16 points for a Butler team that knew it needed to get untracked offensively. Alex Barlow made up for the way he performed in the Fordham game and other recent ineffective outings by scoring six points and grabbing a career-high seven rebounds. Khyle Marshall added 14 points, including six in the first 4 ½ minutes of the second half. Kellen Dunham added 11 points, going 4-of-8 from the field and 3-of-5 from behind the 3-point line for his third double-figure outing in four games.
WHAT WE LEARNED: The Bulldogs did what they need to do, proving once again why they are No. 15 in the national polls. Even against an active 2-3 zone, Butler was able to dictate the tempo and find looks from the outside with good ball movement. The Bulldogs shot 44 percent from the field and had 15 assists on the night. The best sign for Brad Stevens’ group is that Marshall played with aggression on the offensive end and had success scoring in the paint without being set up by the guards or snagging a miss. Dunham and the rest of the shooters found their stroke again, at least for one night.
In the short term, Butler perhaps regenerated its confidence heading into a challenging four-game stretch to end the regular season. The Dukes just don’t have the size to get by in this league down low. That’s why most of their success this season has come in nonconference games. In A-10 play, their rebounding margin is -5.5. Butler outrebounded them 36-28.
KEY NUMBER: Duquesne attempted just eight free throws, nearly matching a season-low by a Butler opponent (six). The Bulldogs entered the game averaging a little over 18 fouls per contest. Tonight they committed just nine.
TURNING POINT: Dunham made three long jumpers, two from behind the arc, in a span of less than 90 seconds to put Butler ahead 28-17 with 4:30 left in the first half. Thanks in large part to the tall freshman guard, the Bulldogs pulled away by scoring 16 of the final 24 points in the half and led 36-22 at intermission.
NEXT: The Bulldogs face Saint Louis at home Friday night in a showdown of two of the Atlantic 10’s top teams. Butler lost 75-58 in Missouri earlier this season, committing 23 turnovers and allowing the Billikens to shoot 50 percent from the field. Now, the rematch.
