Butler has not played stout defense in this college basketball season. Perhaps it will never do so.
But the Bulldogs are showing improvement, especially since opening the Big East season by losing to Providence 81-73 and Xavier 88-69.
No. 18 Butler will face the No. 16 Friars for the second time in 20 days in Tuesday’s rematch at Providence. The Bulldogs climbed five spots in the Associated Press poll released Monday.
If it is a foregone conclusion that Villanova and Xavier will fight it out for the regular-season championship; third place is impossible to project.
This week represents a crossroads for Butler, which would fall to 2-5 in the Big East if it loses at Providence and Creighton (Saturday).