INDIANAPOLIS — The Butler basketball team jumped out to a big lead early and rolled to an 88-58 season opening win over Southern Indiana.
The Bulldogs played without freshman forward Efeosa Oliogu-Elabor (ankle) and junior center Kevin Ndzie (back), but the Dawgs’ depth was not tested against USI.
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Michael Ajayi recorded a double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Jamie Kaiser Jr. also recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. It’s the first time two Butler players recorded double-doubles since 2021. Yohan Traore scored 15 points off the bench.
Here’s what I liked and disliked from Butler’s season-opening rout of USI.
What I liked in Butler basketball’s win vs Southern Indiana
Michael Ajayi’s aggressiveness: Heading into the season, junior Finley Bizjack was the Dawgs’ top returning player and favorite to lead the team in scoring. Through one game, Ajayi is stating his case as the Dawgs’ top scorer. The Gonzaga transfer scored 18 of his 24 in the first half. Midway through the first half Ajayi had 14 points, and USI had 15.
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Ajayi used his strength to power his way to the rim. His length allowed him to finish over the top of the defense, and the Screaming Eagles had no defender capable of stopping him. Throughout the offseason Ajayi’s established himself as a high-energy player with a non-stop motor. The high effort always translates on the defensive end, but the way he hunted shots in the first half was a welcome surprise.
∙ Jalen Jackson’s passing: What a difference it makes with a true point guard running the offense. Last season, the Dawgs struggled to find consistency at the point guard position, relying on Jahmyl Telfort and Bizjack to run the show, two players best used in other ways on offense. In Fort Wayne transfer Jalen Jackson, Butler has a player who is always under control, using his speed to turn the corner in pick and rolls, and his passing ability to throw lobs and kick outs to the perimeter. Jackson finished with a team-high six assists, but his scoring ability is what stood out against USI. He has a strength advantage over most guards, and his ability to get downhill creates easy scoring chances. He scored 11 points on an efficient 5-for-8 shooting.
∙ Jamie Jackson Jr. hunting shots: Too often during Butler’s two exhibition games, redshirt sophomore Jamie Kaiser Jr. faded into the background on offense. Ajayi and Bizjack were consistently aggressive when looking to score and, against USI, Kaiser did a better job asserting himself on offense. He leaked out in transition, beating the defense down the floor for a two-handed dunk in the first half. He fired a deep 3 off a screen and added another 3-pointer in transition the following possession. Kaiser is in a category with Bizjack and Evan Haywood as one of the deadeye shooters on the team. A consistently aggressive Kaiser will give the Dawgs a strong three-person scoring punch with Bizjack and Ajayi.
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∙ Yohan Traore’s finishing: USI was at a serious disadvantage in the paint against Butler, and center Traore did a great job of exploiting his matchup. The SMU transfer finished with 15 points and six rebounds, showing an ability to finish at the rim in multiple ways. He’s a capable scorer with either hand, and his athletic ability allows him to beat his man down the floor, scoring a close basket or drawing a foul and shooting free throws. He added a powerful putback slam on a Haywood missed layup and added another dunk off a feed from Yame Butler in the second half.
Traore played how the team needs Drayton Jones to play. Jones had a fine game and will likely need time to adjust to playing at a higher level after transferring in from South Carolina State, but Traore’s experience allowed him to hit the ground running. Jones’ ceiling is likely higher than his older teammate, but Traore’s consistent play could move him into a starting role.
What I disliked in Butler basketball’s win vs Southern Indiana
Second-unit struggles: Butler controlled the game and was never in any real danger of losing, but the Screaming Eagles did make runs once the Bulldogs starters left the game. Butler played 11 players and had numerous lineup combinations. As the season progresses, the rotation will shrink, and more minutes will go to the players playing the best. All three of Butler’s available freshmen entered off the bench. The youngsters showed growing pains, as a freshman didn’t score until Jack McCaffery’s 3-pointer in the second half.
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∙ Butler turnovers: Even with two exhibition games under their belt, the Dawgs looked sloppy on offense at times. Butler committed 13 turnovers to USI’s 12. The Screaming Eagles were only able to turn the miscues into eight points, but against stronger competition, the turnovers will cost the Dawgs.
∙ Missing Efeosa Oliogu-Elabor: Butler’s most electrifying freshman did not play Wednesday after rolling his ankle during pregame warmups against Indiana State. In a game against a USI team playing with a significant athleticism disadvantage, Oliogu-Elabor could’ve pulled off some highlight-reel plays in transition.
Of the Butler freshmen, Oliogu-Elabor seems the most ready to contribute due to his experience playing high-level basketball on the FIBA circuit with Team Canada. A healthy Oliogu-Elabor gives Butler another player who can get his own shot. Jackson Keith and Jack McCaffery are skilled players, but their offense needs to come within the flow of the offense.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Butler basketball score today vs Southern Indiana, game stats, likes, dislikes
