INDIANAPOLIS — Butler basketball squandered a first-half lead, falling apart in the second half and losing to Creighton 76-57.
The Bluejays started the second half on a 26-6 lead, taking control of the game.
Michael Ajayi led Butler (15-15, 6-13 Big East) with 26 points and 13 rebounds. Josh Dix led Creighton with 22 points. He was one of four Creighton (15-16, 9-11) players in double figures.
Here’s what I liked and disliked, and what the loss means.
Ajayi’s high motor and versatility covers up so many weaknesses for Butler. He rotates weakside to contest and block shots, he can muscle his way into the paint when the offense bogs down, and when he’s hitting his jump shots, he’s nearly unguardable. The grad transfer had a sequence in the first half where he rotated over, blocked a shot, corralled the rebound, dribbled down to start the break and fed Yohan Traore for a dunk.Ajayi has a case for one of the best defenders in the Big East, in part because of his elite-level rebounding. He can contest shots, but most importantly, he ends possessions with high degree of difficulty rebounds, soaring high above the opposition for rebounds or using his strength to snatch a ball just before an opponent can secure it.
For the second game in a row, a second-half collapse cost Butler. The Bulldogs led by four after the first half, but the visitors went on a 15-0 run to start the second half, taking control of the game.Butler’s second-half swoon had a lot to do with Creighton’s improved 3-pointer shooting. The Bluejays started the game 1 for 8 from 3, but a team that makes 10 3-pointers a game won’t be held down for long. Creighton finished the first half 3 for 7 from 3 and sank two 3-pointer during its 15-0 run to start the second half.Creighton blitzed Bulter’s ball screens when Yame Butler entered the game, and Butler struggled to navigate them. The pressure pushed Butler out of bounds on one possession, forcing a turnover. When Butler did handle the pressure, it took the Dawgs too long to get into their offense, leading to a poor shot. Creighton used Efeosa Oliogu-Elabor’s inability to shoot from deep to slow down Butler’s offense. The Bluejays sagged way off of the freshman guard, taking away passing lanes while daring him to shoot. Oliogu-Elabor finished 0 for 1 from 3 and is just 2 for 18 (11%) from deep for the season. Oliogu-Elabor has to add a consistent jump shot to his game this offseason.Oliogu-Elabor wasn’t the only Dawg struggling from deep, Jamie Kaiser Jr. missed all five 3-point shots he took against the Bluejays. Over his last three games, Kaiser is shooting just 2 for 12 (16%) from 3.
Butler hasn’t been playing for an NCAA tournament bid since early January. A once promising season cratered due injury and poor play and now all Butler has to play for is a winning season. The loss moves Butler to 15-15 (.500) for the season. Saturday’s game at DePaul and the first round of the Big East tournament are must-win games if the Dawgs want to finish with a winning record.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Butler vs Creighton basketball score today, Michael Ajayi, Josh Dix game stats
