UT-Martin vs. Butler: 3-Point Preview

The Butler Bulldogs are coming off of back to back losses for the first time this season as they head into Monday's contest against UT-Martin. The Bulldogs will look to right the ship before heading into the holiday break this week. Here are three things to focus on.

Home Sweet Home

Butler hasn't lost a game at Hinkle Fieldhouse since February 23, going a perfect 5-0 in Indianapolis so far this season. Obviously Hinkle Fieldhouse always is high on lists of tough places to play, and the Bulldogs use that to their advantage. After Monday's game they'll have one more nonconference home game against Belmont to try and get to 7-0 at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

Bounce Back

It's not as if Butler's losses to Tennessee or Indiana were particularly bad, but they were quite disheartening. They need to use this game against UT-Martin, and the next game against Belmont, as bounce backs. After these two games, Butler travels to Philadelphia to face Villanova and open conference play, in a game that should be as tough for them as the previous two losses. If Butler loses to one of the next two teams, it may be telling of how their season is going to go.

UT-Martin Can Score

Butler is favored by 16 in this game, and they should roll the Skyhawks, however, Tennessee-Martin is 55th in the country in points per game at 75.1. They also have two players, Deville Smith and Twymond Howard, who average 14.3 and 14.2 points per game, respectively. The Bulldogs will need to be sure to key in on those two and not let them shoot at will, otherwise Butler may find themselves on upset alert.