After being stunned by Austin Peay, Butler will try to get back in the win column when it hosts Western Michigan on Monday night in Indianapolis.
The Bulldogs (1-1) fell 68-66 to the Governors on Friday, committing 16 turnovers and surrendering 44 points in the paint. Patrick McCaffery finished with a team-high 23 points on 8-for-13 shooting from the field for Butler, which struggled to create separation in the first half before going down by as many as 14 in the second.
Bulldogs coach Thad Matta is hoping that his team will be more resilient on Monday.
“They just punched us early,” Matta said of the Governors. “We’ve got to get better at taking a punch and fighting back. We didn’t handle (the pressure) well. They made us not ready to play.”
McCaffery is one of four players who has a scoring average in double figures for Butler. He is putting up 17.0 points per game, ranking second behind Jahmyl Telfort, who averages 18.5 points.
Pierre Brooks II (13.0 points per game) and Finley Bizjack (10.0) have also been key contributors for the Bulldogs.
The Broncos (1-1) will have to find a way to contain that balanced attack after crushing Division II foe Davenport 86-46 on Thursday. Brandon Muntu supplied 17 points in the victory, while Max Burton and JaVaughn Hannah netted 13 apiece.
Western Michigan hasn’t had a winning season since the 2017-18 campaign, but that isn’t stopping Hannah from having high expectations for the Broncos.
“We’re not just satisfied with making the (Mid-American Conference) tournament. We want to kick in that door, take the next step and win a championship,” Hannah said. “That foundation is set. We just want to continue it this season.”
Hannah and Markhi Strickland are each averaging 11.5 points per game to lead Western Michigan in scoring.
Butler last played the Broncos on Nov. 25, 2020, beating them 66-62.
–Field Level Media
