PreGame

Game Preview: Butler – NJIT

by Collin O'Connor

Butler will close out its non-conference schedule on Saturday as they are set to host New Jersey Institute of Technology at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The Bulldogs are currently 9-2 and look to finish the first phase of the season with a very solid record that will put them in position to be in the NCAA tournament if they can finish in the top half of the Big East. Saturday will be the finishing piece of that part of the Bulldogs’ resume.

 

NJIT Notes

  • The Highlanders from Newark, New Jersey are the lone Independent team in Division I this season and come into the game at 6-8. It’s lone game against another Big East team came in a 16-point loss to Seton Hall earlier this month where they were able to hold their own and hang in the game for most of the 40 minutes.
  • Offensively, the Highlanders bring a balanced attack where four players average over nine points per game.  Freshman combo guard, Damon Lynn, is the scoring leader at just under 17 points per game and has had his share of impressive outings. Lynn has scored over 20 points five times this season in just 14 games, including a 27-point barrage against Army early in the year. He is followed closely behind by sophomore forward, Terrence Smith, who comes in averaging 13.8 points per game while shooting 57% from the field.
  • Kenpom.com rates the Highlanders at No. 305 in the country, which is the second lowest of Butler’s opponents to date. The lowest is Lamar at No. 331.
  • As a team, NJIT shoots at a high percentage. The Highlanders are shooting 44% from the field, including 39.5% from beyond the the arc. Winfield Willis leads the team with a 45% shooting percentage from beyond the arc and exploded for 30 points against LIU Brooklyn while knocking down five 3-pt field goals.
  • This is the first time the two programs have met on the basketball court.

Butler Notes

  • As the non-conference schedule comes to a close, Kellen Dunham is currently fourth in the Big East in scoring and Khyle Marshall is fifth. Combined, the two have totaled 46.7% of Butler’s scoring this season.
  • Kameron Woods is about as close as you can get to averaging a double-double with 9.5 points per game and 9.6 rebounds per game so far this season. He is leading the Big East in rebounds per contest.
  • At No. 51, Butler is the highest rated team that NJIT has played to date according to Kenpom.com’s ratings. The closest is Seton Hall at No. 133.

Game Notes

  • The game will be played at Hinkle Fieldhouse at 1 PM this Saturday. It will be shown on TV on Fox Sports 2.