La Salle to face Butler in Atlantic 10 Tournament quarterfinals
La Salle guard Sam Mills averages 7.9 points per game but there may be no more important performer when the Explorers meet Butler in Friday's 2:30 p.m. Atlantic Ten tournament quarterfinal at the Barclays Center.
La Salle guard Sam Mills averages 7.9 points per game but there may be no more important performer when the Explorers meet Butler in Friday's 2:30 p.m. Atlantic Ten tournament quarterfinal at the Barclays Center.
Despite his low scoring output, Mills is second on the team in minutes played, averaging 33.8 and there is a simple reason - defense.
The 6-foot-2 junior is a relentless defender, and La Salle will need somebody to offset the versatility of Butler point guard Rotnei Clarke, who didn't play in the Bulldogs' 54-53 loss at La Salle in January due to a neck injury. Clarke might not be the quickest player, but he does have a good burst. And the 6-footer is strong, with a great ability to create his own shot.
He doesn't need much room to operate and his shooting well is well beyond NBA three-point distance. La Salle should also utilize 6-3 Ramon Galloway, another accomplished defender, on Clarke, but Galloway (17.4 points per game) is needed so much to create offense that it isn't prudent to use him on Clarke all game or even for long stretches. That is where Mills comes in.
Butler runs great plays and everything is done hard, with hard cutting, hard picks, in a clean but physical style.
And for La Salle, Clarke creates only part of the headache. Another is 6-11 Andrew Smith, who has three-point range and is adept operating inside.
La Salle 6-8 sophomore Jerrell Wright will be giving up size, but he jumps extremely well and his top priority is to not allow Smith to catch the ball with his back to the basket. So Wright will have to front Smith and dare the Bulldogs to lob it over his head.
Expect Butler to try to kick it inside to Smith and so how should La Salle counter? Use its quick guards, gambling on weakside help and attempting to make steals.
La Salle will have to be calculated in its gambles because if Butler's perimeter players are left open, they are capable of drilling one three after another. The Explorers were first in the A-10 in three-point field goal defense (.303) and will have to be at that level if not better in order to beat the 25-7 Bulldogs and give their NCAA hopes a major boost.
Atlantic 10 Tournament Quarterfinals: No. 4 La Salle (21-8) vs. No. 5 Butler (25-7)
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Venue: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, N.Y.
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Storyline: La Salle likely needs the win to earn an NCAA berth. Butler is already in, especially with wins over the likes of Indiana, Gonzaga and North Carolina.
Regular Season: La Salle won, 54-53, at Tom Gola Arena
Head Coaches
Butler: Brad Stevens (Sixth year, 164-47)
La Salle: John Giannini (Ninth season at La Salle, 140-136; 24th year overall, 437-285)
Projected Starters
Butler
Rotnei Clarke, 6-0 Sr., 16.8 points per game, 2.8 assists per game
Kellen Dunham, 6-6, Fr., 10.1 points per game
Roosevelt Jones 6-4, So., 10.4 points per game 5.8 rebounds per game, 3.6 assists per game
Andrew Smith, 6-11, Sr., 11.2 points per game, 5.8 rebounds per game
Khyle Marshall, 6-6 Jr., 9.8 points per game
La Salle
D. J. Peterson, 6-5 So., 4.3 points per game
Tyreek Duren, 6-0 Jr., 15.0 points per game, 3.4 assists per game
Sam Mills, 6-2 Jr., 7.9 points per game
Ramon Galloway, 6-3 Sr., 17.4 points per game
Jerrell Wright, 6-8, So,, 10.2 points per game, 6.7 rebounds per game
Notes: Butler is coming off Thursday's 73-67 win over No. 12 seed Dayton as Clarke had 21 points and five assists and Smith added 18 points and six rebounds ... La Salle had a first-round bye and hasn't played since losing 78-54 Saturday at St. Louis ...
La Salle is expected to be without 6-11 sophomore Steve Zack (sprained left foot) ... Clarke didn't play in the loss to La Salle due to a neck injury ...
A key could be the play of La Salle's Tyrone Garland (12.7 points per game) a major offensive spark off the bench…Dunham was just 1 for 7 from the field against Dayton, but is the type of player who can hurt La Salle if left open ... In the win over Butler, Duren had 16 points and six assists while Smith had 16 points and eight rebounds and Dunham added 15 points.
