Paul Jorgensen shoots a free throw. Jorgensen tied for the team lead with 17 points in the loss. Collegian file photo.
JOSHUA DOERING | ASST. SPORTS EDITOR | jdoering@butler.edu
The Butler men’s basketball team came up short against St. John’s, losing 75-68 in double overtime. The Red Storm were ready to go on senior night and the Bulldogs were not able to match their energy. Butler is still over .500 in the Big East, but this was a very troubling loss. Here are three takeaways.
1. Butler’s offense was sloppy and inefficient in the first half.
The Bulldogs got outplayed in almost every facet of the game in the opening 20 minutes. Butler shot 35 percent from the field and a meager 3-for-12 from deep. For every assist they had before halftime, they had two turnovers, which were converted into 12 points by the Red Storm. On top of that, Butler missed five of their seven free throw attempts. The Bulldogs were forcing things offensively and did not move the ball effectively. It’s not a surprise they only managed 25 points and went over six minutes without scoring against a team that gives up 36 points per 20 minutes.
Simply put, St. John’s came out with more energy and intensity. If the Bulldogs are going to put together a run in the Big East Tournament or NCAA Tournament, they need to play 40 minutes of good basketball every time they take the court. They might be able to pull off a comeback or two, but the level of competition will be too good for Butler to go deep in either tournament by consistently recovering from lackadaisical starts.
2. This was more than a bad performance.
What happened to Butler in this game is a real cause for concern and should be an excellent teaching moment. The Bulldogs lost the toughness battle, something that is never supposed to happen to this program. Butler will have games where shots don’t fall or the other team just plays better, but very rarely do they get beat on effort. With Shamorie Ponds out, it sure seemed like the Bulldogs took this game for granted. This is Butler’s 17th Big East game. They should know better.
One Bulldog didn’t take anything for granted. Paul Jorgensen got Butler back in this game almost entirely by himself. Jorgensen’s personal 7-0 run midway through the second half cut the Red Storm’s lead from 12 to five. The redshirt junior finished with 17 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals, but his most valuable contribution was the emotion he brought to the floor. This team was lifeless until Jorgensen stepped up. Butler has Jorgensen to thank for getting this game into overtime. Everyone else needs to match his intensity.
3. The regular season finale is exponentially more important now.
Falling to a St. John’s team without their two best players that you beat by 25 in the first matchup this season certainly puts a dent in Butler’s resume. While Butler didn’t need to win this game, the loss makes things much more dicey from here on out. In order to feel safe about making the NCAA Tournament, the Bulldogs now need to win at Seton Hall on March 3. They should still be in the Big Dance, but a loss to the Pirates and a defeat in their first Big East Tournament game will leave Bulldog fans holding their breath on selection Sunday.
Where this loss really hurts Butler is seeding in the NCAA Tournament. Most mock brackets had Butler as an eight seed coming into this game, which is safely inside the field of 68. If the Bulldogs don’t turn things around in the Seton Hall game and Big East Tournament, they’re probably looking at a 10 or 11 seed instead of an eight or nine. Butler could really use another conference road win to strengthen their case too. They missed a golden opportunity to get one against a banged up St. John’s team. Butler only has one more shot, which makes the final game even more important.
