Two teams stuck in the middle of the Big East standings go at it later tonight in Dunkin’ Donuts Center, as the No. 23 Butler Bulldogs look to avenge their December loss to No. 12 Providence. The Bulldogs have three losses in conference play, but at least they were losses against ranked teams. That’s not the case for Providence, however, as the Friars’ two conference defeats were against Marquette and Seton Hall.
Read on for more about this game. You can also check out our preview of tonight’s NBA game between the Bucks and Heat here.
[sc:MarchMadness ]Butler Bulldogs vs. Providence Friars Preview
Where: Dunkin’ Donuts Center, Providence
When: Tuesday, January 19, 6:30 PM ET
Line: Butler Bulldogs vs. Providence Friars – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Butler Bulldogs (13-4, 2-3 Big East)
[sc:NCAAB240banner ]Growing desperate for a win in Big East play, the Bulldogs thrashed conference doormat St. John’s on Saturday, 78-58 to earn just their second win in the conference. Beating the lowly Red Storm is one thing, but taking down a top 25 team in Providence is another story, however.
Butler had its way against St. John’s defense, converting 26 of its 54 shots for 48 percent shooting from the field. Kellen Dunham led all scorers with 24 points with four threes and a 10-for-11 line from the charity stripe. Dunham, however, had it rough in the first meeting with Providence, an 81-73 loss at home on December 31, wherein the senior guard had a salty 3-for-14 shooting night.
Dunham, who averages 15.8 points per game, will have a target on his back against Providence later tonight, and he’ll need some of his teammates to step up and ease some of the scoring load off his shoulder.
Kelan Martin is a big asset on offense for Butler, which is 15th in the nation with 84.2 PPG. Martin is the first man off Butler’s bench and is the team’s third leading scorer with 14.0 PPG .Martin scored 20 in the previous meeting with Providence and is coming off a 22-point game against St. John’s.
Neutralizing Providence’s best player in Kris Dunn is going to be a tall task for Butler, but the Bulldogs would be in a better position to win if they could put a shorter leash on Dunn, who had nine of the Friars’ 16 assists in Indiana.
Indiana allows 69.9 points per game and is 6-4 ATS in its last 10 road games.
Betting on the Providence Friars (15-3, 3-2 Big East)
Providence’s shot is still busted. Already second worst in the league with a 43.4 percent field goal shooting, the Friars managed to be even worse in their 81-72 loss to Seton Hall on Saturday. They went just 22-for-73 from the field and 5-for-25 from three-point area.
Three-point shooting hasn’t been Providence’s strong suit this season, as the Friars are shooting just 31.2% from deep. The Friars made 12 threes against Butler in the first meeting but that outburst sounds more like a fluke than a forecast of what to expect from Providence’s shooters in tonight’s rematch with the Bulldogs.
With Providence throwing bricks on such a consistent basis— they’re shooting just 32.6% on two-point jumpers—the Friars will have to attack the basket and take advantage instead of Butler’s susceptible rim protection, one that ranks 132nd in the nation in terms of opponents’ field goal shooting percentage at the rim.
Providence’s offense will rely anew on do-it-all guard Kris Dunn for activity. Dunn is arguably one of the best guards in the nation, as the NBA-lottery bound junior is averaging 17.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game on the season. Dunn had 20 points and seven rebounds in the previous win over Butler. Reggie Bullock, meanwhile, tops the team with 19.2 points and eight boards per contest.
What the Friars lack in offense, they often make up for a stingy defense that allows just 66.5 points per game, while limiting their opponents to only 42.1 FG%
Dating back to 2014, Providence is 4-1 SU and ATS in its last five games against Butler.
Writer’s Prediction
Butler wins, 73-70.
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