First Thoughts: Butler 76, Purdue 70
By CHRIS GOFF
ISL Assistant Editor
INDIANAPOLIS — Let’s take a quick look at how the Butler Bulldogs held on to beat the Purdue Boilermakers 76-70 on Saturday in the nightcap of the Crossroads Classic.
WHY IT HAPPENED: Kellen Dunham tormented Purdue for 25 points while partner-in-crime Khyle Marshall finished with 18 points and nine rebounds. Butler started slowly but surged in the middle portion of each half to slay the Boilermakers for the second time in three years at the Crossroads Classic. The Boilermakers never succeeded at keeping Butler off the offensive glass, and as a result the Bulldogs improved to 3-0 at this in-state event. They are off to an 8-2 start under first-year coach Brandon Miller. Erik Fromm scored 14 and blocked four shots for Butler, while Kameron Woods had five points and 12 rebounds. Elijah Brown had nine off the bench, including two huge free throws to close the scoring with 15.6 seconds left. Purdue had cut a 16-point deficit to four in just over two minutes. But Brown, a freshman, calmly sealed the win against collapse. Shooting guard Terone Johnson led Purdue with 20 points and six rebounds while sixth man Bryson Scott scored 13. Massive center A.J. Hammons, who caused Butler problems on both ends of the floor, scored 10 points before fouling out.
WHAT WE LEARNED: Dunham continues to develop into a bona-fide star on the perimeter, Marshall is displaying supreme confidence that wasn’t always there in the past, and Butler is finding a crutch in its ability to rebound on the offensive end. The Bulldogs led 36-33 at halftime and then got enough contributions from their supporting cast to help make up for a solid adjustment by Purdue coach Matt Painter. He sent hard doubles at Dunham when Dunham put the ball on the floor, which helped limit Dunham to nine points after halftime. As usual, Butler displayed a toughness and smarts about them that was prevalent all through the Brad Stevens era. Purdue, meanwhile, is a young team still seeking consistency and might have a hard time making the NCAA tournament.
KEY NUMBER: Butler pulled down 19 offensive rebounds on 30 missed shots and 12 missed free throws, not all of which were live ball.
TURNING POINT: After Hammons dunked to bring Purdue within 55-52, Butler’s defense went into overdrive and helped the Bulldogs go on a 14-1 run to produce that 16-point lead with 2:25 remaining.
GOOD: The Bulldogs made 6-of-13 3s, including Fromm’s crazy bank shot at the end, to drop Purdue to 0-3 at the Crossroads Classic.
NOT-SO-GOOD: Butler was 18-of-30 at the charity stripe.
NEXT: The Boilermakers host Maryland Eastern Shore on Tuesday. Butler has six days off before traveling to Evansville next Saturday.
Follow Chris Goff on Twitter: chrisgoff_ISL.
