Game notes vs. Butler

CSTV's Gametracker

Horizon League Network

Detroit vs. Butler has historically been one of the best rivalries in the Horizon League and on Sunday, the Titans and Bulldogs will square off at Calihan Hall in a test for two of the top teams in the conference. Game time is set for 1:05 p.m., and will be televised live by FOX Sports Detroit.

Dan Dickerson will have the play-by-play and former Titan standout Earl Cureton will handle the color. The game is the second of four to be aired on FS Detroit on the year, and is the fifth in a total of nine Titan games on television this season.

The game can also be seen on the Horizon League Network and viewed with live stats through CSTV's gametracker. Both links are on the top of the page.

The Titans (11-5, 4-1 HL) have won two in a row, both by ways of second half comebacks. Detroit trailed Valparaiso on Friday by 10 early in the second half but would tie it at 56 with under six minutes to go. From there, the red, white and blue put the game in the win column with a 14-2 run, defeating the Crusaders 77-67.

Butler comes into the contest ranked No. 24 in the coaches' poll, while receiving six votes in the AP Poll. The Bulldogs started the year at No. 11/10 in the country and come into the game at 11-4, 4-0 in the conference. Three of BU's four setbacks have been to ranked teams and all four were away from home, although only one was a true road contest when Butler fell at UAB in late December. The Bulldogs, who have won three in a row, are led by sophomore Gordon Hayward's 16.8 ppg., and 9.1 rpg.

The game could be an early match up for the top spot in the Horizon League. If Green Bay, who stands at 4-1 in the HL, loses to Milwaukee on Saturday, than the Butler-Detroit game will be for first place through three weeks of conference action.

TV GAME NO. 5 FOR DETROIT
Detroit will play its fifth game on television this season and second of a four-game package on FOX Sports Detroit. 

In all, the Titans will be on the television at least nine times this year between ESPNU, FS Detroit and the HL Game of the Week. 

DETROIT VS BUTLER
Butler has won six in a row and eight of the last nine games as the Bulldogs lead the all-time affair, 38-28. The Titans are 17-12 against BU in the Motor City, despite dropping the last three in Detroit. 

The last UDM victory in the series came on Feb. 25, 2006, when the Titans won a thrilling 73-71 game at home on a Jon Goode basket with less than two seconds left in the game.

IT'S BEEN AWHILE
UDM has dropped its last 15 games against ranked opponents. In fact, the last time Detroit defeated a ranked team was on Jan. 10, 2002, when the Titans earned a 63-54 triumph over #23/24 Butler in Calihan Hall.

BACK TO BACK COMEBACKS
Detroit has won two consecutive games in which it has trailed at the half. UDM was 0-4 to start the year when they went into the locker room with a deficit.

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
UDM is averaging 76.8 points in its eight home games, while shooting 50% from the field and 40% from behind the arc. 

In the other eight games, which have produced four Titan victories, Detroit is posting 65.2 ppg., shooting just 26% from three and 42% overall. 

Detroit is 7-1 this season in historic Calihan Hall matching its best start since going 12-1 for the year during the 2005-06 season.

TAKING THE ROCK AWAY
This season, Detroit's defense has forced 20+ turnovers in six games, and 15 or more in 11 games. This season, UDM is forcing its opponents into 17.1 turnovers per game.

DOUBLE THE FUN
Sophomore Eli Holman posted his sixth double-double of the year Valparaiso with 18 points and 12 rebounds. He is currently tied with Butler's Gordon Hayward for the league lead.