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THE FACTS
Time and Date: Saturday, November 16 @ 8:00 p.m. ET
Records: Butler (3-0) | Wofford (2-1)
Rankings: Butler (#25 KenPom) | Wofford (#121 KenPom)
TV Channel: FS2
Watch Online: FOX Sports Go
GAME PREVIEW
The Wofford Terriers will come to Indianapolis on Saturday to face the undefeated Butler Bulldogs. One of the nation’s favorite mid-majors last year, Wofford upended Seton Hall in the NCAA Tournament, then took #2-seed Kentucky down to the wire before falling in the second round. However, the Terriers lost a lot of firepower in the offseason as Fletcher Magee and his 2,516 points departed.
This year’s Wofford team will still be a major player in the Southern Conference by the end of the season, but likely doesn’t pose much of a threat to Butler. As expected, the Terriers are a very guard-heavy team, with Storm Murphy leading the way. In fact, Wofford’s top four scorers through three games are all guards. As Marcus Carr and Minnesota found out on Tuesday, the Bulldogs’ perimeter defense is a force to be reckoned with.
Wofford is coming off a one-point loss to William & Mary, while Butler is coming off a comfortable victory over Minnesota. Kamar Baldwin clearly asserted himself as the best player on the floor that night and Wofford likely won’t have the athleticism to contend with Baldwin and co.
That being said, Wofford is a well-coached and battle-tested team. The Terriers have enough sharpshooters that they can stay in any game. Their season-low for made three-pointers is twelve. In a win against High Point, they sank 15-37 threes despite the usually accurate Nathan Hoover going 2-11.
The key for Butler will be rotating defensively and preventing open triples. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs should leverage their size and athleticism on the offensive end. If they are able to do these things, they will extend their non-conference home winning streak to 54.