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6:30pm - 18 Butler @ 16 Providence, FS1

8:30pm - Georgetown @ 5 Xavier, FS1

Providence -1.0, O/U 148.5
Xavier -10.0, O/U 144.5

Looking forward to seeing Providence and how they respond to the upset loss against Seton Hall. Couple that with the loss to Marquette, they could really use a big win.

Two really good games tonight.

GoldenWarrior11 wrote:Looking forward to seeing Providence and how they respond to the upset loss against Seton Hall. Couple that with the loss to Marquette, they could really use a big win.

Two really good games tonight.

Think it's just as big for Butler. They are only 1-4 vs top 50 so need to get some more wins if not for getting in the tourney for seeding in the tourney.

GTown could propel themselves into tournament consideration with a win tonight

These are some good ones.

Wins from either team in the matches have interesting results



Obviously I am rooting for Xavier because I want to see that top five match up in February.

A couple of really good games tonight. Georgetown with a huge opportunity and Butler/Providence with a chance to get back on the right track.

Definitely rooting for Georgetown. Both PC and Butler need this game so I dont know who to root for here.

Potentially 2 very good games.
However, both home court venues are tough on roadies.
I'll go with the home teams winning.

NovaBall wrote:Obviously I am rooting for Xavier because I want to see that top five match up in February.

With the way top 10 teams are losing, if Nova and X keep winning, it'll end up being a 1 vs. 2 game.

interesting from ESPN:
2. Butler and Providence have both had recent struggles. Which issues most need addressing as they play each other on Tuesday?
Katz: The onus is still more on Butler. Providence did lose two home games, but the Marquette game was on the last possession. Finishing games and executing in the final few minutes is still an issue. But it's one that can be solved with one of the top players in the country, point guard Kris Dunn. Butler doesn't have that one player who can create on his own with the game on the line. The Bulldogs need to ensure they have the necessary balance to be a consistent offensive threat. Providence still has two cracks at Villanova. Butler has already lost at home to the Wildcats, the top team in the Big East. That's another reason why Butler needs this game a bit more.
Brennan: The Friars' two recent losses (Marquette, Seton Hall, both at home) have featured unusually not-amazing performances from Dunn, the All-American point guard, which is a crazy thing to say about somebody who netted 36 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists in those two games. It's also a reasonable one, given the 11 turnovers Dunn coughed up in those games. Beyond Ben Bentil, Providence doesn't have enough to routinely survive merely human efforts from its point guard. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, are slumping from the field in conference play, which explains how their best defensive performance of the season (against Villanova) was for naught.
Medcalf: I hate to pin the struggles on individuals, but Butler and Providence were significantly impacted by what Kellen Dunham and Dunn did (or failed to do) in their recent losses. Dunn fouled out against Seton Hall, and his foul troubles ruined Providence's shot at a late comeback. His seven turnovers against Marquette didn't help matters, either. Dunham went 0-for-5 from the 3-point line in the first game against Providence. In losses to Villanova, Providence and Xavier, Dunham missed 16 of his 22 attempts inside the arc. Better nights from Dunham and Dunn -- which could be the name of a great Lite Jazz duo -- seem like the obvious elixirs for the two programs.