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Butler hands Villanova first home loss in four years

02/23/2017, 9:30am EST
By Austin Petollilo

Austin Petolillo (@AustinPSports)
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For the first time since February 3, 2013, No. 2 Villanova lost a game at the Pavilion. It was a span of 48 games, during which the Wildcats were hardly even challenged, let alone beat.

None of the players on that 2012-13 Villanova team are on the roster this season.

But finally, it was No. 22 Butler who took advantage of a shorthanded Wildcats squad by a final score of 74-66 on Thursday night.

For seniors Josh Hart and Kris Jenkins, this was the first time they ever experienced a loss at the Pavilion.

“When you lose, it’s a tough pill to swallow.” Hart said. “Especially at home no matter what, it always stings a bit losing but no matter if we won this one or lost this one, we were going to go back tomorrow and prepare for Creighton so it is what is is.”

The Villanova seniors came up two games short of having an undefeated four-year career at the Pavilion.

“I’m proud of them. Really proud of them.” Villanova head coach Jay Wright said. “You can tell a lot by guys when they do get beat and how our guys compete right to the last second. I’m proud of them for that.”

Butler beat Villanova 66-58 earlier in the year and it seems like that this particular Villanova squad’s kryptonite is the Butler Bulldogs.

“Yeah I’d say that, they guard us really well.” Wright said. “Their physicality defensively we don’t handle well. That’s the second game we turned the ball over and did not get any assists and couldn’t get any offensive rebounds either.”

It was a night full of struggles for the Villanova Wildcats having turned the ball over 15 times, 10 in the first half alone. They also could not connect from deep shooting only 6-of-24 from beyond the arc.

“We turned the ball over 15 times and a lot of it was just their physicality defensively they just did a great job.” Wright said.

The biggest moment of the game was midway in the second half where Butler went on a huge 18-0 run.

“When they got down, they didn’t crack at all and they just kept executing.” Wright said. “We didn’t crack either but we couldn’t get buckets against them or execute well and a lot of it is because of their good defense, you have to give them credit."

“We have to have better attention to detail and it starts with myself, it starts with Kris, it starts with Darryl.” Hart said. “On the defensive end we got exposed and it started with me first and foremost."

One of the lone bright spots for Villanova tonight was sophomore point guard Jalen Brunson, who finished with 24 points on 9-13 shooting from the field. Hart also added in 18 points to go along with six rebounds.

Butler was led by three players on the scoring front.

Junior wing Kelan Martin had 22 points with eight rebounds, Freshman guard Kamar Baldwin had 15 points and senior guard Avery Woodson had 13 points of his own.

Knowing that Villanova had won 48 straight games at the Pavilion, the Bulldogs used that to motivate the team.

“Coach told us that during shootaround and we took that upon ourselves and we wanted to be the first team to beat them but we knew it would take some work and it was going to be tough.” Martin said.

To come here and win when they won their last 48 in this building is a great testament to our guys.” Butler head coach Chris Holtmann said.

The win improved Butler to 22-6 overall and 11-5 in Big East Play.

Villanova fell to 22-3 overall and 13-3 in Big East play which is still good enough to give them the regular season conference championship.

Up next for Villanova is senior day at the Pavilion on Saturday at 3:00 when they take on the Creighton Blue Jays.

“No matter if we won this one or lost this one, we were going to go back tomorrow and prepare for Creighton so it is what is is.” Hart said. “It’s over now and we will learn from it.”

“Right now this stings but we’ll come back tomorrow and go to work.” Wright said.

“We’ll enjoy the process of getting better.”


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