The Butler Bulldogs men’s basketball team faced yet another disappointing defeat, losing to the No. 20 Wisconsin Badgers 83-74 during the Indy Classic on December 14, 2023. This latest loss marks Butler’s third consecutive defeat, leaving them at 7-4 as they enter the thick of their Big East schedule.
The game unfolded as many had feared, with Butler stumbling out of the gate. The Bulldogs fell behind early, 9-0, as they struggled to find their footing. Despite managing to tie the game at 14-14 briefly, Wisconsin capitalized on Butler’s slow start and pulled away. “We’ve just got to start off gamesbetter,” said Pierre Brooks, Butler’s senior forward. He added, “I think if we get off to a good start we’ll be in a lot more games. The last three we’ve been down [early]… and it’s hard for a team to come back likethat, especially against a good team like Wisconsin.”
Wisconsin took control of the game, illustrating their dominance with impressive statistics. They scored 40 of their total 83 points inside the paint, showcasing their offensive prowess and physicality. The Badgers’ free-throw shooting was equally remarkable, hitting 25 of 27 attempts. Wisconsin’s success from the charity stripe proved detrimental to Butler, who continually found themselves racking up fouls. The Badgers tied a program record by hitting their first 22 free throws, with their accuracy allowing them to maintain pressure on Butler throughout the contest.
Despite the team's poor performance, Pierre Brooks shone as the leading scorer for Butler, racking up 23 points on 7-of-13 shooting, with two three-pointers. Graduate forward Patrick McCaffery contributed significantly as well, adding 16 points and seven rebounds. But the absence of consistency from the Bulldogs’ usual top scorer was glaringly evident. Jahmyl Telfort, who typically averages 16.2 points per game, ended the match with only eight points on 3-of-10 shooting, failing to make a significant impact.
Telfort’s struggles were not lost on the opposing team. Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard praised his players for their strong defensive efforts against Telfort. “When you hold a player of his caliber three for ten, that's a really good night,” Gard remarked. The Badgers’ defensive strategy, which included double-teaming Telfort whenever possible, effectively neutralized Butler’s offensive capabilities.
Wisconsin capitalized on their early lead and never looked back, with Butler unable to rally past the deficit as solid defensive plays from the Badgers halted their momentum time and time again. Whenever the Bulldogs started to inch back closer, Wisconsin countered with decisive scoring runs, maintaining pressure throughout the game. The Badgers extended their lead back to nine points almost effortlessly each time Butler threatened to narrow the gap.
Butler did display moments of resilience, pushing through the discomfort of being down and managing to cut the difference to as little as five points. But each time they seemed poised to mount a serious challenge, Wisconsin would respond with effective scoring to push the gap back to double digits. “We were able to exchange a lot of things,” Gard explained about his team’s defensive composure. This kind of discipline on defense allowed Wisconsin to maintain their lead comfortably.
Moving forward, Butler's coach and players understand the need for changes. McCaffery noted, “Just because you lose three games in a row doesn’t mean you’re going to have a bad season. You’ve just ... got to show up the next day, go to practice, put in the work and keep pushing forward. We have so many games left to play ... so many opportunities. There’s a lot of meaningful basketball left.” The road won't get any easier for the Bulldogs, who are set to face formidable opponents like Marquette and UConn in their next outings.
This game not only highlighted the struggles Butler has faced early this season but also proved to be yet another learning experience. Finding their rhythm and adapting quickly will be keys for the Bulldogs as they head toward their Big East challenges.
