Butler vs. Georgetown: Time, TV channel, watch online

THE FACTS

Time and Date: Saturday, February 15 @ 2:30 pm ET

Records: Butler (19-6) | Georgetown (14-10)

Rankings: Butler (#12 NET) | Georgetown (#54 NET)

TV Channel: FOX

Watch Online: FOX Sports GO

GAME PREVIEW

One of the great boons to playing in the Big East is that almost every week, you have at least one tremendous resume-building opportunity. Georgetown, who is still hanging around the bubble despite double-digits in the loss column, has just such an opportunity Saturday when they travel to Indianapolis to face the Butler Bulldogs.

Butler is the nation’s #12 team according to the NCAA’s NET ranking, and has lost at home just twice all season. A road kill at Hinkle Fieldhouse would do wonders for the Hoyas’ middling NCAA Tournament resume. While Georgetown has won many of its toss-up games, the Hoyas have failed to capitalize on several opportunities to beat elite teams, having lost to Duke, Seton Hall (X2), Villanova, Marquette, and Butler. Their best win to this point in the season came on January 15 when they eked out a win over Creighton.

Of course, elite teams are elite for a reason, and beating Butler in Indy is no small task. The Bulldogs are coming off a home win against Xavier in what was probably their best all-around performance in several weeks, and are probably relishing the opportunity to play one more game at home before taking on Seton Hall and Creighton on the road next week.

Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, they may be without Aaron Thompson again; having recently recovered from a wrist injury, Thompson took a blow to the head against Xavier and has since manifested concussion symptoms. He is questionable for Saturday. While Butler’s previous win over Georgetown also came without Thompson, the Bulldogs always have a tough time operating on both sides of the ball without him.

In the previous matchup between these two teams, Georgetown jumped out to an early lead, but Butler was rescued in the second half by Sean McDermott who was inexplicably left open by the Hoyas possession-after-possession. McDermott put on a shooting clinic, scoring 25 to lift Butler to victory. If the Hoyas can once again take advantage of a hobbled Butler squad (the Bulldogs will likely also be without Derrik Smith), but this time keep a body on McDermott, an upset could be in the making.

Will the Hoyas rise to the challenge and take advantage of this huge opportunity? Or will it be business as usual for the Bulldogs as they tune up for a challenging slate next week?