{"id":14932,"date":"2024-02-13T13:40:40","date_gmt":"2024-02-13T13:40:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/?p=14932"},"modified":"2024-02-13T13:40:40","modified_gmt":"2024-02-13T13:40:40","slug":"revenge-in-hinkle-why-the-underdog-play-might-roar-in-marquette-vs-butler","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/revenge-in-hinkle-why-the-underdog-play-might-roar-in-marquette-vs-butler\/","title":{"rendered":"Revenge in Hinkle? Why the Underdog Play Might Roar in Marquette vs. Butler"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana, on February 13, 2024, 6:30 PM ET<\/em><\/p>\n

Will Fireworks Explode or Defense Dictate the Score?<\/h4>\n

The spotlight shines brightly on Hinkle Fieldhouse, bathed not just in the glow of history, but in the embers of a burning rivalry. No. 4 Marquette, their seven-game winning streak a sizzling testament to their prowess, storms in seeking vengeance against a Butler team that stunned them earlier this season. The narrative screams offensive fireworks, a clash of titans thirsty for points. But hold on, basketball fans, there’s a whisper in the stands, a murmur from the stats sheet, hinting at a different story. What if, in this much-anticipated rematch, defense reigns supreme, and the underdog play of under 154 points roars victorious?<\/strong> Let’s delve into the trenches, dissect the strategies, and unearth the hidden gem in this Big East battle.<\/p>\n

Model Consensus for Total Score<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. CBS Sports:<\/strong>\u00a0Over 142.5<\/li>\n
  2. ESPN BPI:<\/strong>\u00a0150.1 points total<\/li>\n
  3. KenPom:<\/strong>\u00a0149.5 points total<\/li>\n
  4. SportsLine:<\/strong>\u00a0Over 143.5<\/li>\n
  5. BetQL:<\/strong> Under 154<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Average Prediction:<\/strong> 148.12 points total<\/p>\n

    My Prediction:<\/strong> 150 points total<\/p>\n

    Factors Affecting Total Score<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    • Pace:<\/strong>\n
        \n
      • Marquette: 71.3 possessions per game (35th in NCAA)<\/li>\n
      • Butler: 67.2 possessions per game (108th in NCAA)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
      • Offensive Efficiency:<\/strong>\n
          \n
        • Marquette: 109.4 (21st in NCAA)<\/li>\n
        • Butler: 103.1 (106th in NCAA)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
        • Defensive Efficiency:<\/strong>\n
            \n
          • Marquette: 94.5 (21st in NCAA)<\/li>\n
          • Butler: 97.4 (72nd in NCAA)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Marquette’s Offensive Hiccups in Bulldog Territory<\/strong><\/p>\n

            Remember their first dance? Marquette, averaging a sizzling 84 points per game, sputtered to a mere 62 against Butler’s resolute defense. Their star point guard, Tyler Kolek, was rendered mute with a measly 2 points. Butler’s ability to disrupt rhythm, force contested shots, and frustrate even the most potent offenses shouldn’t be underestimated.<\/p>\n

            Butler’s Defense: Gritty Guardians, Not Doormats<\/strong><\/p>\n

            Ranked 72nd in defensive efficiency, Butler doesn’t brag about flashy blocks; they excel at the silent art of limiting possessions and contesting every shot. They held Providence, known for their offensive fireworks, to a mere 72 points. Marquette’s recent scoring outbursts might face a wall in the form of Butler’s disciplined defense.<\/p>\n

            Playing the Long Game: Pace Dictates the Score<\/strong><\/p>\n

            Both teams prefer a slower burn. Marquette averages 71.3 possessions per game, while Butler sits at 67.2. This deliberate style minimizes scoring opportunities compared to fast-paced games where points pile up quickly. Think of it as a chess match, not a track race.<\/p>\n

            Revenge: Fueling Fire or Adding Pressure?<\/strong><\/p>\n

            While revenge can ignite motivation, it can also add a double-edged sword of pressure. Marquette might push for offensive heroics, leading to forced shots, turnovers, and ultimately, hindered scoring efficiency. This aligns with their struggles against Butler’s disciplined defense, where patience, not panic, will be key.<\/p>\n

            Missing Pieces: Can They Adapt?<\/strong><\/p>\n

            Marquette misses the inside presence of Sean Jones, while Butler navigates without Connor Turnbull’s defensive contributions. These absences might impact offensive and defensive dynamics, potentially leading to lower scoring outputs as both teams adjust to new rotations and roles.<\/p>\n

            History Whispers: Tight Battles, Not Scoring Fests<\/strong><\/p>\n

            Marquette’s road record against Butler since 1990 tells a tale of close, low-scoring games. Their last victory in Indianapolis was a 72-56 affair, further solidifying the trend of limited offensive explosions. While revenge might paint a picture of fireworks, history suggests a more controlled, defensive battle.<\/p>\n

            When All Signs Point to Under<\/strong><\/p>\n

            Carefully analyzing offensive struggles, defensive prowess, pace of play, psychological factors, and historical trends, a compelling case emerges for the under 154 points. While narratives might favor explosive offenses, the data whispers a different story. In this clash between a hungry Marquette and a resolute Butler, the battle might be tighter, the points fewer, and the under the wiser choice.<\/strong><\/p>\n

            Pick: Under 154 points<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana, on February 13, 2024, 6:30 PM ET Will Fireworks Explode or Defense Dictate the Score? The spotlight shines brightly on Hinkle<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":14936,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[22,102],"tags":[204,316,585,499,584,258,586],"class_list":["post-14932","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-college-basketball","tag-analysis","tag-basketball","tag-butler-bulldogs","tag-free-pick","tag-marquette-golden-eagles","tag-ncaa","tag-total-scores","two-columns"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/w640xh480_GettyImages-1923842221.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14932","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14932"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14932\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14937,"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14932\/revisions\/14937"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14936"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14932"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14932"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14932"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}