Xavier Musketeers (15-16) vs. Butler Bulldogs (18-13)
March 13, 2024 4:00 pm EDT
The Line: Butler Bulldogs +1; Over/Under: 151.5
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The Xavier Musketeers and the Butler Bulldogs meet Wednesday in Big East Tournament college basketball action from Madison Square Garden. Let’s get into our Xavier vs. Butler prediction. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.
Xavier Musketeers
The Musketeers got off to a 13-10 start over their first 23 games this year. Xavier would then lose their next four to Creighton, Seton Hall, Providence and Marquette. Since then it’s been a pair of wins over DePaul and Georgetown before two losses to Butler and Marquette.
In the Marquette game on Saturday, the Musketeers were down by four points at halftime. Xavier didn’t end up getting any closer on a 39-37 run and took the loss 86-80 in the end. Quincy Olivari was the top team scorer with his 32 points, four rebounds and three assists.
Butler Bulldogs
Over on the Butler side, they got through their first 22 games at 15-7 overall. The Bulldogs would win just one of the next seven outings though, otherwise falling to UConn, Marquette, Creighton, Villanova, Seton Hall and St. John’s. Since then it’s been wins over DePaul and Xavier.
Last Wednesday in the Xavier game, the Bulldogs were up 37-24 in the locker room. Butler took a 42-35 deficit the rest of the way but still held on to win 72-66 by the final buzzer. Leading team scorer Jahmyl Telfort put up 18 points with six rebounds and four assists in the victory.
ANDREW’S FREE XAVIER VS BUTLER PREDICTION
I’ll lean toward Butler here. You could obviously make a case either way, though. In last Wednesday’s matchup, the Bulldogs took advantage of 15 Xavier turnovers for 12 points and held the Musketeers to just 37.3 percent shooting on the other side. Butler didn’t shoot particularly well themselves though (40.9 percent) and lost the rebounding battle 44-35.
The Bulldogs had been in a scoring slump prior to their wins over DePaul and Xavier, notching fewer than 65 points in four straight games. Butler is going to need some offense in this one, as Xavier has hit 80 or more points in three of their last four. I do like the Bulldogs to keep the Musketeers in check, but it’s a coin flip.
