THE SERIES Villanova Leads, 12-4 Streak: Butler, W1 In Pennsylvania: Villanova Leads, 6-1 LaVall Jordan (at BU) vs. Villanova: 2-5 GAME 2: BUTLER (1-0, 0-0 BIG EAST) AT #7/6 VILLANOVA (5-1, 1-0 BIG EAST) First Meeting: Villanova, 62-54; 11/30/96 (Puerto Rico Shootout) Last Meeting: Butler, 79-76, 2/5/20 (Hinkle) Wednesday, Dec. 16; 7PM Finneran Pavilion; Villanova, Pa. TV: FS1 - @Joe_Davis & @JimJackson419 BE THE LIFE OF YOUR NEXT ZOOM Radio: 107.5FM/93.5FM/1070AM - @MarkMinner & Nick Gardner (@n_gardner) GATHERING WITH THESE FUN @BUTLERMBB TuneIn Radio App, XM 381, SiriusXM Internet 971 FACTOIDS @BUTLERMBB | #BUTLERWAY | BUTLERSPORTS.COM • Aaron Thompson scored a career-high 2020-21 SCHEDULE & RESULTS IN THE METRICS 21 points to lead Butler to a season-open- November NET Sagarin KPI ESPN BPI ing win over Western Michigan. 25 WESTERN MICHIGAN (FS1) W, 66-62 -- 65 19 66 • The Bulldogs had a 16-2 advantage in 29 EASTERN ILLINOIS (FS1) PPD points off turnovers over WMU. KenPom # NCAA • Butler committed only six turnovers in Adj. Efficiency +13.19 62 December the game. 6 NORTHERN KENTUCKY (FS1) PPD Adj. Offense 106.0 68 Adj. Defense 92.8 59 • The Bulldogs got to the free throw line BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle Schedule Strength -11.70 296 24 times vs. WMU (compared to only 10 11 KANSAS STATE (FS1) PPD times for the Broncos); last season, Butler ** Through the games of Dec. 13 was 11-1 when getting to the line more 14 ST. JOHN’S* (FS1) PPD than its opponent. 16 at #7/6 Villanova* (FS1) 7PM 2020-21 BY THE NUMBERS • Butler has now won 59 consecutive home games against non-conference op- Crossroads Classic Butler BU Opponents 19 vs. rv/rv Indiana (FS1) 11:30AM ponents, the longest active streak in the 66.0 PPG 62.0 nation. 21 DePAUL* (FS1) PPD +4.0 Scoring Margin • The Bulldogs have now won their home 23 PROVIDENCE* (CBSSN) 6PM .404 FG% .460 opener in 22 consecutive seasons. That 30 at Providence* .250 3FG% .500 dates back to 1998 when Southwest Mis- 5.0 3FG/gm. 9.0 January souri State (now referred to as Missouri .625 FT% .500 2 at Seton Hall* State) won a 72-57 decision at Hinkle 6 GEORGETOWN* 15.0 FT/gm. 9.0 Fieldhouse. 9 CONNECTICUT* 32.0 Rebounds 34.0 • Butler has won 20 or more games in 20 12 at St. John’s* -2.0 Reb. Margin of the past 24 seasons. 16 CREIGHTON* 7.0 Assists 13.0 • Aaron Thompson was second in the BIG 19 at DePaul* 6.0 Turnovers 13.0 EAST in assist/turnover ratio (2.5) and 22 SETON HALL* +7.0 26 at Connecticut* TO Margin fourth in assists per game (4.7) a season 29 XAVIER* 1.17 A/TO Ratio 1.0 ago. 7.0 Steals 2.0 • Thompson has 390 career assists, February 2.0 Blocks 5.0 which is already seventh in Butler history. 2 at Marquette* • Thompson was named one of 10 semi- 13 at Georgetown* 2020-21 STATISTICAL RANKINGS 17 MARQUETTE* finalists for the 2019-20 Naismith Men’s 21 at Xavier* Offensive Defensive Player of the Year Award. 28 VILLANOVA* ALL GAMES BIG EAST ONLY • At 6.6 rebounds per game a season ago, Statistic # BE / NCAA # RANK Bryce Nze is the BIG EAST’s second- March Points 66.0 10 / 252 leading returning rebounder. 6 at Creighton* Margin +4.0 8 / 157 • Nze earned preseason All-BIG EAST FG% .404 10 / 257 * BIG EAST game 3FG% .250 9 / 297 second team recognition by the league’s 3FG/gm. 5.0 9 / 282 head coaches FT% .625 10 / 275 • Nze led the BIG EAST in field goal per- Rebounds 32.0 10 / 284 centage (.629) in 2019-20. Reb Margin -2.0 10 / 224 • The Bulldogs finished the 2019-20 sea- Assists 7.0 10 / 317 Turnovers 6.0 1 / 1 son ranked 21st (coaches) and 23rd (AP) TO Margin +7.0 1 / 16 in the national polls; Butler was ranked A/TO Ratio 1.17 6 / 106 No. 5 in both national polls Jan. 13, the highest in-season ranking in program Defensive history. MBB MEDIA CONTACT ALL GAMES BIG EAST ONLY Statistic # BE / NCAA # RANK • Butler’s 10 NET Quad 1 wins were tied for third nationally in 2019-20. Associate AD/Communications .........John Dedman Pts Allowed 62.0 1 / 52 • Butler led the BIG EAST and was 11th Office Phone ...............................(317) 940-9414 FG% Def .460 9 / 261 3FG% Def .500 10 / 317 Cell Phone ..................................(317) 491-5462 nationally, allowing only 62.1 points per Steals 7.0 4 / 133 game during the 2019-20 season. E-Mail ................................ [email protected] Blocks 2.0 9 / 260 Twitter ........................................ @JohnDedman TOs Forced 13.0 4 / 224 @ButlerMBB -- 1 BIG EAST CONFERENCE BIG EAST CONFERENCE BIG EAST CONFERENCE 2020-21 BIG EAST All Games BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year 2020-21 Preseason Coaches’ Poll Villanova 1-0 5-1 Marcus Zegarowski, Creighton, G, Jr., 6-2 Seton Hall 1-0 4-3 1. Villanova (9) -- 99 points Xavier 0-0 7-0 BIG EAST Preseason Freshman of the 2. Creighton (2) -- 91 Connecticut 0-0 3-0 Year 3. Providence -- 79 Dawson Garcia, Marquette, F, Fr., 6-11 4. Connecticut -- 69 Butler 0-0 1-0 Creighton 0-0 4-1 5. Seton Hall -- 67 Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team 6. Marquette -- 50 Marquette 0-0 4-2 Charlie Moore, DePaul, G, Sr., 5-11 7. Xavier -- 47 Providence 0-0 4-2 David Duke, Providence, G, Jr., 6-5 8. Butler -- 37 Georgetown 1-1 3-3 Sandro Mamukelashvili, Seton Hall, F, Sr., 9. St. John’s -- 33 St. John’s 0-2 5-3 6-11* 10. DePaul -- 20 DePaul 0-0 0-0 Collin Gillespie, Villanova, G, Sr., 6-3* 11. Georgetown -- 13 Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Villanova, F, So., **Through the games of Dec. 13 6-9 First-place votes in parentheses. Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team^ Monday, Dec. 14 Bryce Nze, Butler, F, Sr., 6-7 BUTLER QUICK FACTS Marquette at Creighton James Bouknight, Connecticut, G, So., 6-5 Mitch Ballock, Creighton, G, Sr., 6-5 Suggested Twitter Follows Wednesday, Dec. 16 Nate Watson, Providence, C, Sr., 6-10 @ButlerMBB, @LaVall_Jordan, Butler at Villanova Justin Moore, Villanova, G, So., 6-4 @CoachOmarLowery, @EKampen30, Paul Scruggs, Xavier, G, Sr., 6-4 @W_Vergollo, @ButlerTickets, Thursday, Dec. 17 @BIGEASTMBB, @FS1, @TheButlerBlue, Creighton at St. John’s Preseason All-BIG EAST Honorable @BUADCollier, @ButlerAthletics, @ButlerU Mention DePaul at Providence D.J. Carton, Marquette, G, So., 6-2 Seton Hall at Marquette Bryce Aiken, Seton Hall, G, Sr., 6-0 Location ..................................Indianapolis, Ind. Founded .................................................... 1855 Saturday, Dec. 19 *Unanimous selection Enrollment ....................4,685 (undergraduates) Butler vs. Indiana ^Tie in the voting allowed for an additional Nickname ............................................. Bulldogs Villanova vs. Virginia honoree Colors ........................................Blue and White Conference ........................................BIG EAST Home Court .............. Hinkle Fieldhouse (9,100) President ..................................... James Danko Director of Athletics ........................ Barry Collier Athletic Dept. Phone ..................(317) 940-9375 Ticket Office Phone ...................(317) 940-3647 2020-21 BUTLER ROSTER AND PRONUNCIATION GUIDE No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown/High School/Previous School 0 Campbell Donovan** G 5-11 185 R-Jr. Ft. Wayne, Ind./Bishop Dwenger 2 Aaron Thompson*** G 6-2 195 Sr. Glenn Dale, Md./Paul VI Catholic (Va.) 3 Chuck Harris G 6-2 190 Fr. Washington, D.C./Gonzaga College HS 5 Myles Wilmoth F 6-9 215 Fr. Chestnut Ridge, N.Y./St. Andrew’s School (R.I.) 10 Bryce Nze* F 6-7 230 R-Sr. Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead/Milwaukee 11 Carlos “Scooby” Johnson F 6-6 230 Fr. Benton Harbor, Mich./Benton Harbor 12 Myles Tate G 6-0 160 Fr. Roebuck, S.C./Dorman 21 JaKobe Coles F 6-7 225 Fr. Denton, Texas/Guyer 24 Markeese Hastings* F 6-7 210 R-So. Wyoming, Mich./Godwin Heights 25 Christian David*** F 6-6 225 Sr. Milton, Ontario/Vermont Academy 30 Mike Parker F 6-6 210 R-So. Wilmington, N.C./Coastal Christian/Salisbury 33 Bryce Golden** F 6-9 260 Jr. Winchester, Va./Saint James School (Md.) 35 John-Michael Mulloy* F/C 6-10 235 So. Carmel, Ind./Carmel 52 Jair Bolden G 6-3 210 Gr. Brooklyn, N.Y./Westtown School (Pa.)/South Carolina Bo Hodges+ G 6-5 210 R-Jr. Nashville, Tenn./Maplewood/East Tennessee State *—Varsity letters earned at Butler +—Transfer; Butler asking NCAA to consider a waiver for immediate eligibility Coaching Staff: Head Coach: LaVall Jordan (Butler, 2001 / Fourth Season as Butler Head Coach) Assistant Coaches: Omar Lowery (Concordia University Wisconsin, 2002 / Fourth Season on Butler Staff) Emerson Kampen (Butler, 2013 / Fifth Season as Assistant Coach / Seventh Season on Butler Staff) Will Vergollo (Michigan, 2010 / First Season as Assistant Coach / Fourth Season on Butler Staff) Director of Basketball Operations: Jay Shunnar (Michigan, 2014 / First Season on Butler Staff) Strength and Conditioning Coach - Men’s Basketball: Matthew Johnson (Marywood University, 2007) Sr. Associate AD of Student-Athlete Health, Performance & Well-Being (MBB Athletic Trainer): Ralph Reiff (Univ. of Indianapolis, 1980) Pronunciation Guide: Nze - IN-zee Jair (Bolden) - JAH-ear LaVall (Jordan) - Luh-VAL (rhymes with pal) Vergollo - VUR-go-low Shunnar - SHOO-nar @ButlerMBB -- 2 PROJECTED STARTERS (**Based off previous game) #2 AARON THOMPSON Scored career-high 21 points vs. Western Michigan 11/25 G, 6-2, Sr., Glenn Dale, Md. 390 career assists (seventh in Butler history) 2020-21: 21.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 4.0 apg Semifinalist for 2019-20 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award #52 JAIR BOLDEN 15 points in Butler debut vs.