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The Bulldogs will be spending Thanksgiving in Florida as one of the eight teams participating in the 2024 Gulf Coast Showcase. The games will be held in Bonita Springs at Hertz Arena, with all contests streamed on FloHoops.com.
Game Day
Date: Friday, November 29, 2024
Time: 5:00 PM EST
Location: Bonita Springs, Fla. – Hertz Arena
Live Stats: GulfCoastShowcase.com
Watch: FloHoops.com
Bulldog Bits
– The Bulldogs have started the season 5-1, their best start since 2018-19 (6-0).
– Caroline Strande tied her career-high point total with 26 in the recent win over UMass Lowell.
– Strande has scored in double figures in five straight games and has been the leading scorer for the Bulldogs in the last four games.
– Kilyn McGuff recorded her second double-double of the season against UMass Lowell.
– Cristen Carter leads the league in blocked shots.
– Lily Carmody ranks second in the conference in total steals.
– Riley Makalusky dished out a career-high five assists in the last game.
– Karsyn Norman ranks fifth in the BIG EAST in assist to turnover ratio.
– Butler leads the league in bench points per game.
– The Bulldogs lead the BIG EAST in free throw attempts and free throws made per game.
BIG EAST Standings
– St. John’s 6-0
– UConn 5-0
– Butler 5-1
– Seton Hall 4-1
– Villanova 4-2
– Creighton 3-2
– Xavier 3-2
– Providence 3-3
– Marquette 2-2
– Georgetown 2-3
– DePaul 2-4
Scouting Santa Clara
– Santa Clara is 3-2 at the start of the season.
– Head Coach Michael Floyd is in his ninth season at Santa Clara.
– Their top returning player is Olivia Pollerd, averaging 22.6 points per game.
All-Time Series
– This is the first meeting between Butler and Santa Clara.
Bracket Breakdown
– Boise State, Illinois State, #13 West Virginia, and High Point are the other teams in the tournament bracket.
Gulf Coast Showcase History
– Previous champions include Iowa, Michigan, Iowa State, Gonzaga, and Texas.
Return to the Sunshine State
– Butler will be returning to Florida for a tournament for the first time since 2022-23.
A Look At Last Week
– Butler went 2-0 last week, with Caroline Strande earning a spot on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll.
Defense Travels
– Butler’s defense has been strong at the start of the season, holding opponents to an average of 56.8 points per game.
Winning Ways
– Butler is 4-0 this season when leading at halftime, shooting 40% or higher from the field, and attempting more free throws than their opponents.
Carter’s Second Chance Points
– Cristen Carter leads the team in offensive rebounds.
Point Guard Play
– Karsyn Norman and Ari Wiggins have combined for 33 assists and just 11 turnovers this year.
Strande Stretches the Floor
– Caroline Strande ranks second in the BIG EAST in 3-point attempts and makes.
1,000 Point Watch List
– Three Bulldogs are closing in on 1,000 career points this year.
Fight for 400
– Caroline Strande needs three rebounds to reach 400 in her collegiate career.
Cheers To 50
– The Butler women’s basketball program is celebrating 50 years of Bulldog basketball in 2024-25.
Up Next
– Butler will play either #4 Texas or New Mexico State on Saturday.
