Butler vs. Marquette: Game Recap

Rebounds determine Butler's fate

When Butler wins the rebound margin, they win games.  That has held true in all but one conference game this season. The only exception was against No. 6 Villanova.  The story was no different versus Marquette. In a game where both teams struggled to hit anything from the field, rebounds became crucial.  Butler racked up 48 boards, outrebounding Marquette by 15.  Kameron Woods led the rebounding effort with a career high 18 boards, seven of which were on the offensive end.  It was good enough for his tenth double-digit rebounding output this season.  Butler's frontcourt ranges from 6-foot-4 to 6-foot-9, but that has not stopped them from dominating the glass.  It helped lift them past Marquette today, and will continue to be an x-factor the rest of the season.

Baskets were a rare sight

Neither team could buy a basket today. Marquette hit 38.7 percent of its shots, compared to Butler's 37.3 percent.  Roosevelt Jones entered the game averaging 13.2 points per game, good enough for second-leading scorer on the team. Today Derrick Wilson made his day miserable. He shot 1-of-12 from the field for two points.  Kellen Dunham, Butler's leading scorer, surpassed his 16.1 points average with 17 points today, but it was not pretty.  Dunham was 5-of-16 from the field, for 31 percent shooting.  But he did come up big at the end of regulation, hitting the game-tying jumper with 26 seconds to go. He also managed to close things out for Butler with his free throw shooting. Dunham scored six points in overtime, including four free throws to ice the game.  Free throws were actually one of the lone bright spots in the game for both teams. Butler shot 94 percent from the line on 17-of-18 shooting. Marquette shot 82 percent on 14-of-17 shooting.

Butler's diamond in the rough

With Butler's scoring leaders struggling, Andrew Chrabascz stepped up in a big way.  He entered the game averaging 10 points per game. Today he shattered that, scoring 30 points on 11-of-17 shooting.  Whenever it seemed like Butler needed a lift, Chrabascz was the guy.  Just like Dunham, he helped lead Butler with six points in overtime.  Butler may not have a deep bench, but that has not stopped them from utilizing the next-man-up strategy, and today it was Chrabascz who did just that.