Michael Ajayi showcased his scoring ability with 17 points in Butler’s earlier matchup against DePaul on January 20. Now, as the Bulldogs prepare to face the Blue Demons again on March 7, they seek to bounce back from a disappointing performance against Creighton.
The game will take place at noon at Wintrust Arena and will be broadcast live on FS1.
Currently, there is little at stake for Butler as they head into this crucial game, being tied for the eighth seed with Xavier and Marquette. This positioning almost guarantees that they will enter the conference tournament in the 8 vs. 9 matchup. However, a loss to DePaul could drop them to the tenth seed, complicating their path to the tournament. Meanwhile, a victory for DePaul could elevate them to a tie for the fifth seed, giving them a strategic advantage with a first-round bye.
DePaul is enjoying a successful season under second-year head coach Chris Holtmann, achieving their highest win total since the 2019-20 season and eyeing a possible 20-win season for the first time since 2007. Holtmann, a former Big East Coach of the Year with Butler, has led the Blue Demons to exceed expectations with standout performances from his players. Senior guard CJ Gunn has been instrumental, averaging nearly 14 points per game and scoring 16 points in their previous encounter with Butler. Additionally, junior guard Layden Blocker emerged with a season-high 20 points in that same game, underscoring the threat posed by DePaul’s balanced scoring attack, which features multiple players capable of putting up significant numbers.
For Butler to triumph and claim the season sweep over DePaul, they’ll need to ride the momentum of graduate forward Michael Ajayi and ensure that other players, such as graduate guard Yame Butler and junior guard Finley Bizjack, contribute effectively. Diversifying their scoring options will be key to overcoming the Blue Demons’ offense and securing a much-needed victory as they head into the conference tournament.