Butler will seek revenge on his mind in his final game of the regular season.
It was a disappointing season for LaValle Jordan's group, leading just 6–13 in Big East play.
The Bulldogs were struggling to close the game, as eight of their 13 conferences had seven or fewer points. But that was not the case when Butler traveled to Villanova earlier in the season – it lost by 40 points.
Villanova missed her chance at another Big East Regular Season Championship. However, the Wildcats have won six of their last seven matches, and are expected to end the season on a high note.
It's easy to imagine that we're looking at a fired-up Butler program that would rather end its season with a marquee victory than revenge.
Villanova Wildcats
In terms of efficiency, the crime of wildcats ranks seventh in the country. They have six players averaging over nine points per game, but it is this dynamic pairing on the backcourt that has been the difference maker this season.
Colin Gillespie and Justin Moore lead the team in field goal attempts, points, assists and steals. Gillespie has been fantastic this season, hitting 91% from Charity Stripe and 43% from Beyond Arc.
Villanova's offense takes 45% of his shot attempts from deep. Gillespie and Moore led the team, putting together 40% of their 387 attempts. Meanwhile, the rest of the roster has converted only 32% of their efforts.
The Wildcats' defense has taken a step back in the last seven games, particularly defending the perimeter. Each of his last five opponents has scored more than eight 3-pointers.
During that period, Villanova's opponents have made 49-in-131 attempts from beyond the arc (37%). Though Buttler hasn't shot the ball well, he won't be afraid to fire from the deep.
Butler bulldog
Butler has had a disappointing year, but he has the opportunity to enter the Big East tournament with some momentum.
Bulldogs aren't shy about dodging 3-pointers, as 42% of their shot attempts come from beyond the perimeter.
The team hits just a 31% clip, but it has proven capable of catching fire on any given night. Butler has scored 10 or more 3-pointers in five different matchups this season, four of which were won.
But after the Bulldogs lost to Villanova in the first season, he shot just 30% off the field, his lowest point ever.
The Bulldog's strength comes at the defensive end of the floor. The group has been particularly strong in defending the perimeter, catching opponents with depth only 31%.
It will be crucial in this matchup, as the way to compete with Villanova is to stop Gillespie and Moore deep.
Villanova vs butler betting pick
Jay Wright's program plays with a bottom-10 pace in the country. Butler is not far behind the wildcats, ranked 341st in the country in the same state. With each team using an average of about 20 seconds from the shot clock, the game should be played at one of the slowest speeds of the day.
In the first matchup versus Butler, Villanova hit 12-of-19 (63%) from 3-point range. Since that game, opponents have shot just 29% against the superior Bulldog defense.
Butler has lost four games in a row and is desperate to end his season on a high note. Three of those four losses have fallen to the wire, including an overtime loss to Providence.
The Bulldogs will be hungry to avenge their historic 40-point loss from earlier in the season. Villanova has already locked out a 2-seed in the Big East tournament and there isn't much reason to get up for this matchup.
This could leave the Wildcats vulnerable in this matchup.
I'm backing Butler to keep things close at home on Senior Night.