Houston Cougars vs Butler Bulldogs Picks and Predictions December 7th 2024

No. 17 Houston Bids to Step Up Defensively vs. Butler

After a rocky showing at the inaugural Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, No. 17 Houston will aim to defend its 25-game home-court winning streak against Butler on Saturday in the Big East-Big 12 Battle.

Houston’s Defensive Consistency

The Cougars (4-3), who began the season ranked No. 4, have struggled to maintain their trademark defensive dominance. Losses to Auburn, Alabama, and San Diego State have highlighted lapses in consistency, though Houston still ranks third nationally in defensive efficiency, per KenPom.

“We’ve always prided ourselves on playing (quality defense). We’re just not consistent enough yet,” Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said. “Those are things we’ve been working on this week.”

Despite the setbacks, Houston showed flashes of its defensive potential in stretches, such as when it turned deficits into leads against Auburn and Alabama.

Offensive Challenges

Houston’s inconsistency isn’t limited to defense. Offensively, the Cougars have struggled to find rhythm, particularly in crunch time. Their last outing resulted in a 73-70 overtime loss to San Diego State, leaving the team searching for answers ahead of this matchup.

Butler’s Momentum

The Bulldogs (7-1) enter the game on a six-game winning streak after defeating Eastern Illinois 73-58 on Tuesday. The contest against Houston marks Butler’s first true road game of the season and the beginning of a grueling stretch that includes four ranked opponents in five games.

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Butler has excelled defensively, ranking fifth nationally in field goal percentage defense (36.1 percent), while offensively, the Bulldogs are seventh in 3-point shooting (41.8 percent) and 11th in free throws made per game (19.8).

Key Players

• Houston: The Cougars rely on defense but need scoring contributions across the board. Guard play and finishing close games will be critical to avoid another setback.
• Butler: Jahmyl Telfort leads the Bulldogs with 17.9 points per game and shined in the Arizona Tip-Off, earning MVP honors. Pierre Brooks II (14.5 points) and Patrick McCaffery (13.5 points) have been reliable scoring options.

Historical Context

This will be just the second meeting between the programs. Houston won the previous encounter 70-52 during the 2021 Maui Invitational, which was held in Las Vegas.

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What to Watch

Houston’s defensive intensity and ability to close games will be under the microscope, while Butler looks to overcome its turnover struggles (minus-6.1 turnover margin, ranked 354th nationally) to compete against a top-tier opponent.

For Houston, a return to its defensive identity could be the key to regaining its early-season form. For Butler, the challenge lies in maintaining its offensive efficiency and poise in a hostile environment.