GAME NOTES: The 16th-ranked Butler Bulldogs hit the road for a Horizon League clash with the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers this evening. Butler has won five consecutive games since its only loss of the season, a one-point setback to conference rival Wright State. The Bulldogs, who are coming off a 73-65 victory over Valparaiso on Saturday, are a stellar 13-1 overall, and five of the victories have come in true road games. As for Loyola-Chicago, it dropped a 71-61 decision to Youngstown State on Saturday, and at 5-9 overall, the program is four games below .500 for the first time since the 2004-05 campaign. The Ramblers have won their last two games and four of the last five, but they do own a respectable 4-3 home record. Butler holds a comfortable 43-29 series lead over Loyola, including wins in 16 of the last 20 meetings with the Ramblers.

Butler is led by the outstanding one-two punch of Mike Green and A.J. Graves. Green is scoring 15.6 ppg, and he has dished out 68 assists, more than twice as many as any of his teammates. As for Graves, he is posting 15.5 ppg, despite shooting below 40 percent from the floor. Matt Howard is contributing 11.8 ppg for the Bulldogs, who are getting 11.3 ppg from Pete Campbell. Strong defense has clearly been key to the success of the squad, as Butler is limiting foes to 57.6 ppg. In the most recent win over Valparaiso, Green exploded for 24 points to go along with eight rebounds, five steals and four assists. The Bulldogs only shot 39.6 percent from the field, but their 18-point advantage in scoring from the foul line proved critical.

Four players are averaging double figures in scoring for Loyola-Chicago, but the team is generating only 63.0 ppg on 40.5 percent shooting from the floor, including 24.9 percent from three-point range. J.R. Blount paces the team with 14.9 ppg, but his 36.5 percent efficiency from the field leaves much to be desired. Leon Young is contributing 12.7 ppg, and he is pulling down 7.1 rpg. Loyola trailed Youngstown State by 18 points at intermission on Saturday, and despite outplaying the Penguins over the final 20 minutes, the Ramblers were not able to overcome the large deficit. Tracy Robinson scored 19 points in the setback, and Blount pitched in 16 points. Unfortunately, Young missed the game due to pneumonia, and he may be held out of action today as well.

Go with Butler in this clash, as it appears to be the class of the Horizon League. Expect the Bulldogs to play strong defense and do some damage from three-point range.