GAME NOTES: The 10th-ranked Butler Bulldogs kick off a three-game road trip tonight, as they invade the Athletics-Recreation Center to take on the Valparaiso Crusaders in Horizon League play. The Bulldogs have been idle since January 26th, when they notched a 73-57 victory over Illinois-Chicago. It was the third straight win for Butler, which ran its overall mark to a healthy 19-2. The triumph also pushed the team to 8-2 in HL and that is good for first place, two games ahead of both Wright State and Cleveland State. As for Valpo, it dropped a heart-breaker in the last outing, falling to Loyola- Chicago, 65-63, back on January 26th. It was just the second loss in 10 home games, as the Crusaders dipped to 14-7 overall and 5-4 in conference play. With respect to the all-time series, Butler holds a 61-32 advantage over Valpo and that includes a 73-65 triumph in an earlier meeting this season in Indianapolis.

The Bulldogs have done a sensational job of slowing down opposing teams this season, as they are limiting foes to a mere 57.9 ppg. Offensively, Butler is turning a respectable 69.0 ppg and it has done well to protect the ball, committing a league-low 10.8 turnovers per game. Mike Green currently leads the squad in scoring at 15.1 ppg and he is also dishing out a team-high 4.9 apg and grabbing 6.0 rpg. Matt Howard is pulling down the same amount of boards as Green and he is also averaging 14.0 ppg on a blistering 60.4 percent shooting from the floor. A.J. Graves contributes 13.5 ppg and he is a tenacious defender, leading Butler with 34 steals. Pete Campbell rounds out the double-digit scorers with 11.1 ppg on the strength of 46.6 percent shooting from three-point range. In the team's last game, Howard drained 7- of-8 field goals and he ended up with 20 points in a 73-57 triumph over Illinois-Chicago. Graves turned in 16 points and five boards, and Green finished with 15 points and six assists. The Bulldogs connected on 52.9 percent of their field goal attempts and they turned the ball over just eight times.

The Crusaders are shooting 46.2 percent from the floor and an equally solid 40.0 percent from long distance and that has them averaging 72.0 ppg for the season. Shawn Huff and Jarryd Loyd are tied for the team-lead in scoring at 11.6 ppg, with Huff grabbing 4.8 apg and Loyd handing out a club-best 4.0 apg. Samuel Haanpaa puts forth 10.9 ppg and he is the team's top three-point threat, hitting 44.9 percent of the time from long range. In the squad's prior contest, Loyola's J.R. Blount hit a shot with five seconds remaining, sending Valpo to a tough 65-63 setback. Loyd had a chance to give the Crusaders the win, but his three-point try in the closing moments was off the mark. Loyd finished the game with 10 points and six assists, while Haanpaa logged 11 points and five boards.

It won't come easy against a scrappy Valpo squad, but the Bulldogs' ability to clamp down on defense and avoid costly mistakes should help them come out victorious in this one.