For so many reasons, Butler’s 70-60 loss at Providence on Monday was its most discouraging of this college basketball season:
• Road wins are precious, and this was winnable. The Bulldogs built an 11-point lead in the first half. They should have led by more than 29-25 at halftime, considering Providence was shooting 29 percent (8-of-28) late into the half.
• Kelan Martin, just as he was building an All-America candidacy, was not even all-intramural. He lost his cool, exchanging words with the Friars’ Jalen Lindsey, and was benched by coach LaVall Jordan for most of the closing minutes.