Highly Anticipated Matchup: Butler Bulldogs Take on Xavier Musketeers as Doubts Surround Xavier's Reliability

Game outlook

On Tuesday night, Butler will be facing off against Xavier in a basketball match at Cintas Center in Cincinnati. Both teams have had varying success in their previous encounters, with Butler managing to cover the spread and secure a victory in their home game last season, while Xavier emerged victorious as a 14-point favorite in their home game. Currently, Xavier holds the status of the betting favorite, opening at -5 and the odds have remained unchanged.

Betting Odds

Moneyline: Bulldogs +194 | Musketeers -236

Spread: Bulldogs +5 (-110) | Musketeers -5 (-110)

Total: Over/Under 150.5 (-110)

Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Xavier will win straight-up is 70%.

Butler Bulldogs

Butler University, led by coach Thad Matta, currently ranks 63rd in the KenPom rankings and 103rd in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. In their conference, the Big East, the Bulldogs hold a record of 10-6, with their most notable victory being a win at home against Georgetown and a road win against Marquette. However, their recent performance has been less than ideal, as they have lost four out of their last five games, including a home loss to Seton Hall. Seton Hall ended the game with eight unanswered points, resulting in a 78-72 victory for the Pirates. Posh Alexander and Jalen Thomas were the standout performers for Butler in that game, with Alexander scoring 17 points and providing four assists, while Thomas contributed 15 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks. Seton Hall had success with their shooting, making 50.8% of their field goals and 36.4% of their three-point attempts. They also outrebounded Butler by seven and limited their opponents to 40.7% shooting from beyond the arc. Despite their recent struggles, one positive aspect for Butler has been their proficiency at free throws. In their loss to Seton Hall, they made 15 out of 16 free throws, showcasing their accuracy from the charity stripe. This has been a consistent strength for the team throughout the season, as they currently rank sixth in the nation, with a free throw percentage of 79.1%. Their overall shooting has been solid as well, averaging 80.8 points per game with a field goal percentage of 46.4% and a three-point shooting percentage of 35.9%. Pierre Brooks, a transfer from Michigan State, has been a key contributor for the Bulldogs, leading the team in scoring with 16.1 points per game and shooting 48.1% from the field and 41.1% from three-point range. Another transfer, Jaymyl Telfort from Northeastern, has added 13.9 points and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 43.5% overall and 36.2% from beyond the arc. Taking into consideration Butler's performance this season, they currently hold a power ranking of 266. Offensively, they are ranked 48th, averaging 81.31 points per game. They have been efficient in their field goal shooting, making 46.73% of their attempts, and PBJ from the corner 👌 pic.twitter.com/hsOWc4N6UZ