Playing @ Butler at 6 PM ET/5 CT on Fox Sports 1. Watched Butler-Princeton from Saturday yesterday afternoon. Good team. Has some good guards led by point guard Kellen Dunham, who is averaging 19.5 ppg. He throws up triples and has sunk five-of–13. He’s 6’6″, so Eric will have to keep up with him which I think Eric can do. He’ll have a height advantage on Kyle if Kyle guards him, but nobody is quicker than Kyle and Kyle could cause Dunham some problems with his defense. Alex Barlow is another guard who’s pretty good. Kameron Woods is their best interior player. He’s not real thick, but lean, about 6’9″, 200, and can really jump. He’s averaging 8.5 rebounds per game. Khyle Marshall is another skywalker for them, averaging 8 and a half boards a game. Marshall is their second leading scorer at 11.5 ppg. He’s 6’6″, 215. Woods is at 11 ppg. Erik Fromm is their center, about 6’8″, 225 and averages 10 points but only two boards. He does put it up from three. Not a real physical guy. Damian, Josh and James can certainly stick with their guys down low. They’ve got a freshman, Elijah Brown, who is Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown’s son, who looks pretty talented but plays a little out of control. He’s a guy who’s athletic and can score some. About 6″4″,185.
They’re only shooting 32% from trifecta which is usually a Butler strength, but we’ll still have to guard them out there. They will put it up and could get hot. They’re averaging 35.5 rebounds per game and have 22 assists to 15 turnovers. They are shooting 49% from the field and 62% from the line.
Rod is leading us in scoring at 19.5 and is 9-of-14 from trifecta. He’s averaging 4.5 rebounds. Eric is at 15.5 James is at 12 ppg and 7.5 boards after his monster double-double against Lipscomb Friday night. Damian is at 11.5 ppg and 4.5 rbg. Kyle is averaging 10.5 and 6.5 assists. We are averaging 36 rebounds per game, opponents are shooting 435 from the field, 32% from three and we have 34 assists to 20 turnovers.
Keys tonight: 1. Shoot it around 45-50%. 2.Rebound, rebound, rebound. We’ve got the size advantage. We need to use it. 3.Take care of the ball. 4. Play tough, hard-nosed defense. Don’t let those guys get good shots off and block them out and get the board so Woods and Marshall don’t get second chances.
Should be a good game.
Prediction: Us 72, Butler 68
Football with an awesome victory. Recruits were there. If we take care of business in East Tennessee, that would be huge. I like our chances. Nine wins (eight regular season and a bowl) look very possible. Proud of James and the team for hanging tough. Beating Georgia and Florida in the same year. Wow. That sure means we can beat that Eastern Tennessee team. Can’t wait. Saturday Night at 7 ET/6 CT on ESPN2.