Butler's Woes Deepen With Villanova's Scorching Run, Extending Dawgs' Losing Streak

The Butler Bulldogs' struggles continued on Wednesday night as they fell to the Villanova Wildcats, 86-63, at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The loss marked Butler's fifth straight defeat and dropped the team's record to 10-14 overall and 3-9 in the Big East Conference.

Dawgs Digging a Deeper Hole

Butler has now lost nine of its last 11 games and has not won since a 69-62 victory over DePaul on January 11th. The Bulldogs have struggled mightily on both ends of the floor during their recent skid, averaging just 60.4 points per game while allowing opponents to score an average of 74.5 points per game.

Scorching Wildcats

Villanova was led by a trio of double-figure scorers, with Eric Dixon leading the way with 22 points. Caleb Daniels added 20 points, while Bryan Antoine chipped in 15 points. The Wildcats shot 52.7% from the field and 36.4% from three-point range, while Butler shot just 36.4% from the field and 21.4% from three-point range.

Perspectives on the Dawgs' Demise

There are several perspectives on the reasons for Butler's struggles this season. Some believe that the team is still adjusting to the loss of several key players from last year's NCAA Tournament team. Others point to the team's lack of depth and experience. Still, others believe that the Bulldogs are simply not playing with the same level of intensity and focus that they did in the past.

Whatever the reasons for Butler's struggles, it is clear that the team is in a downward spiral. The Bulldogs need to find a way to turn things around quickly or they could be in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014.

Data and Evidence

The following data and evidence support the claims made in this news article:

Butler has lost five straight games and nine of its last 11 games.
The Bulldogs are averaging just 60.4 points per game during their current losing streak.
Butler is allowing opponents to score an average of 74.5 points per game during their current losing streak.
Villanova shot 52.7% from the field and 36.4% from three-point range in its win over Butler.
Butler shot just 36.4% from the field and 21.4% from three-point range in its loss to Villanova.

Impact on the Bulldogs

Butler's losing streak has had a significant impact on the team's morale and confidence. The Bulldogs are now in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014. If Butler does not turn things around quickly, it could have a long-term impact on the program.

Conclusion

Butler's woes deepened on Wednesday night with a 86-63 loss to Villanova. The Bulldogs have now lost five straight games and nine of their last 11 games. Butler is struggling on both ends of the floor and is in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014. The Bulldogs need to find a way to turn things around quickly or they could be facing a long and disappointing season.