Butler will provide a solid test in Providence's Big East opener
Providence kicks off Big East play Saturday afternoon at Hinkle Fieldhouse — a building that hasn’t been kind to the Friars the past two seasons.
Last year saw Butler walk away with an 82-81 victory, beating Providence despite the visitors making 16-32 from three (led by a 7-9 effort from sophomore Rich Barron).
PC had the ball down one on the final possession, but couldn’t get a good shot off.
The prior season was even more painful.
Without center Josh Oduro, Providence rallied from down nine at halftime to set up a last-second dunk attempt by Corey Floyd Jr.
Floyd looked to draw contact at the rim, but he didn’t get the whistle as Butler won another one-possession game against the Friars.
Friartown will be looking for a measure of revenge this afternoon, but it will be harder to come by than most anticipated heading into the season.
Despite losing headliners Pierre Brooks and Jahmyl Telfort, Thad Matta’s group is one of the surprise teams of the Big East. They are 7-2 through nine games — the type of start the program badly needed.
Butler hasn’t played in the NCAA Tournament since 2018 — an appearance that capped a stretch in which they danced in ten of the prior twelve seasons.
Matta’s return to Butler (after more than 20 years away) hadn’t been what most had hoped prior to this season. The last three years have included matching 6-14 conference records in 2023 and 2025 wrapped around a 9-11 campaign in 2024.
Why has Butler started fast this year? Is their hot start legit?
Let’s dig into it.
The Bulldogs are passing the eye test so far.
Butler has trounced the low/mid major competition they’ve faced, enjoyed a pair of neutral site wins over South Carolina and Virginia two days apart, and both of their losses have been to top 50-teams (87-85 to SMU and 77-68 to Boise State).
Their 80-73 win over Virginia was a contest played at a high level by both teams. UVA is off to a 9-1 start this year, and is ranked #23 on KenPom.
The offensive numbers are impressive:
The Bulldogs are shooting 39% from three as a team.
They rank 27th in the country in both fast break points and points in the paint.
They are second nationally in second-chance points per game (17.4) and 13th in Offensive Rebound Percentage, and average 87.6 points per game.
From an Offensive and Defensive Rating perspective, Butler is top 50 in both categories — 42nd in offense and 50th on the other end.
Finley Bizjack has taken a star turn, while Michael Ajayi is back to being Michael Ajayi.
In an era in which so many are quick to turn the page, junior guard Finley Bizjack is a testament to staying the course.
A 4.2 point per game scorer as a freshman, he averaged 10.3 last year on 42% shooting from three as a complementary piece behind Brooks and Telfort.
Bizjack is averaging 18.0 points per game this year on 41% from the arc — scoring 25 against Virginia, despite a rare 2-10 day from beyond the arc.
Meanwhile, Michael Ajayi is an example of deftly navigating the transfer portal.
Two years ago, he was one of the best mid-major players in the country, averaging 17.6 points and 9.9 rebounds per game on 47% shooting from three at Pepperdine.
He transferred to Gonzaga last season, saw his numbers drop to 6.5 points and 5.4 rebounds before Butler smartly pounced this past spring.
Ajayi has been one of the Big East’s most productive players: 16.2 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. He has seven double-doubles, 14+ boards in a game three times, and is one of the top five offensive rebounders in the country (3.1).
Almost all of his damage has come in the paint:
The duo is at the heart of Butler’s bounce back this year.
They will be without starting point guard Jalen Jackson on Saturday. Jackson transferred in with considerable buzz, but dislocated his ankle last summer. He’s missed a few recent games due to the troublesome ankle. Jackson was a 19.2 point per game scorer last year, so his absence hurts.
Fortunately for Butler, their efficiency numbers haven’t dipped dramatically in lineups featuring freshman Azavier “Stink” Robinson subbing in for Jackson. Robinson was the highlight of a very good freshman class for Matta, and he’s ably started three games already this year.
Butler has a knockdown shooter in Evan Haywood (17-36 from three — 47%), while Maryland transfer Jamie Kaiser (10.0 points, 5.6 rebounds) has been solid after being forced to redshirt last year.
Matta leans on a two-man committee at center in Drayton Jones (6.7 points, 5.9 rebounds in 18.7 minutes a night) and Yohan Traore (7.9 points, 2.3 rebounds in 16.2 minutes). Both are new to the program this year, and each stands 6’11.
Jones is grabbing 2.1 offensive rebounds per game, despite playing relatively limited minutes. Traore was a big-time recruit out of France who started his career at Auburn, but is now at his fourth school after spending time at UC Santa Barbara and SMU.
Can Providence’s defense find a way to slow Butler?
The first number that jumps out is Butler’s 39% shooting beyond the arc — that’s troubling for a Friar team that has struggled to contain teams from three.
This game could be won or lost on the glass, however. Providence will lean on Jamier Jones, Ryan Mela, and Duncan Powell to keep the 6’7, 235-pound Ajayi from killing them on second chance points. Boise took it to Butler on the backboard last weekend (a 45-31 advantage), leading to the best effort of any Bulldog opponent this year.
Saturday at Butler represents a critical Quad 1 opportunity for the Friars. It’s a game that will likely come down to which team asserts itself physically.
Providence has enjoyed a spike in production from scoring guard Jaylin Sellers in the month of December. Sellers has shot a scorching 14‑for‑20 from beyond the arc since a tough night against Penn State and looks to be asserting himself as this team’s leader.
Billy Ricci has more on Sellers and his impact: