A struggling night for LaVall Jordan and the rest of the team as Butler drops its first game of the season to Dayton, 69-64.
DREW SANDIFER | STAFF REPORTER | dsandife@butler.edu.
In their first game of the 2018 Battle 4 Atlantis, Butler took on former conference foe Dayton out of the Atlantic 10. As beautiful as the Bahamas were on the outside, Imperial Arena was in pristine condition, too.
It’s no @HinkleFH but what is? Let’s do this Dawgs! #NoPlaceLikeHinkle #GoDawgs 🐶🏀 pic.twitter.com/OVbnNHHWwx
— Historic Hinkle (@ButlerWarSong) November 21, 2018
As the Battle 4 Atlantis ESPN B team took their shift, fans and dogs may have noticed all of the extra adds into the game’s production.
This ESPN News’ Jimmy Dykes Bahamas Vacation Special needs more basketball segments. Hang in there Dawgs…and fans. #Battle4Atlantis
— Butler Blue III (@ButlerBlue3) November 22, 2018
Point it to extended jet lag or a bad meal, but something didn’t seem right about Butler tonight.
Why does almost everyone look too slow, lethargic, tired?
— Victory Firelight (@ButlerVictory) November 22, 2018
And don’t be fooled by the sarcasm, Butler’s leading scorers Kamar Baldwin and Paul Jorgensen (especially) struggled.
I’m just really thankful that Jorgensen is trying hard and better than we all thought he would be. Couldn’t imagine how bad Butler would be without him
— Ari Kasle (@AKasle_BU) November 22, 2018
The Bulldogs were down 15 at one point, but a late game push gave Butler fans hope that the team did have some life.
Where was THIS all game long? SO FRUSTRATING. Play with some purpose during the first 35 and we win going away.
— Shooter Flatch (@HinkleHangover) November 22, 2018
https://twitter.com/Section_29/status/1065423575778238464
Aaron Thompson doesn’t always put up bunches of points, but fans were shown tonight his importance in the offense.
Aaron Thompson was limited to 17 minutes by fouls. #Butler simply does not function as well when he is in and out. Bulldogs scored 19 points in final four minutes, disguising how poorly they played on offense.
Kamar Baldwin is in a shooting funk: 5-of-17 Friday and tonight.
— David Woods (@DavidWoods007) November 22, 2018
Looking at the box score makes this game even more of a head scratcher. Butler did well taking care of the ball and got after it on the offensive glass, but it was just a bad shooting night that was the difference between the Bulldogs and the Flyers.
Butler got up 14 more shots than Dayton thanks to 6 more offensive rebounds and 6 fewer turnovers. But Butler shot too poorly for it to matter. 40% from the floor, 30% from distance, and 53% from the line. They get upset by Datyon in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis.
— Jared Grubbs (@ButlerWay) November 22, 2018
If you couldn’t watch this game, it was a good one to miss. Both teams played sloppily, but Butler will have more opportunities in the coming days to prove their worth.
FINAL: Dayton 69, Butler 64. That was not pretty. Dawgs need to get back on track tomorrow while facing the loser of Virginia/Middle Tennessee. If the team is able to leave the Bahamas with a 2-1 record, it would not too bad. #GoDawgs
— Lukas Harkins (@hardwiredsports) November 22, 2018
Frustration will certainly come if you did watch this one.
https://twitter.com/BarstoolButler/status/1065414253585272832
But be reminded that this is similar to the way Butler played in the first game of last year’s PK80, and the team did just fine.
A basketball season is a marathon, not a sprint.
— Jimmy Lafakis (@JJLII30) November 22, 2018
Butler will play at 9:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving day against the loser of the Middle Tennessee/Virginia game. Expect the Bulldogs to match up with the Blue Raiders from Middle Tennessee State in a rematch of a round of 32 game in the 2017 NCAA Tournament.
Thankful to be together and have the opportunity to compete again tomorrow. #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/5PqgiftkYy
— Butler Basketball (@ButlerMBB) November 22, 2018
After all, Butler fans have more to be thankful for than most college basketball programs.