BLUE DRAGON MEN'S BASKETBALL |
No. 21 Hutchinson (10-2, 5-1) at No. 17 Butler (10-2, 5-1) |
| When: Wednesday, January 3, 2024 Where: Power Plant, El Dorado, KS Time: 7:30 p.m. Radio: KHUT-FM (102.9); KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5), 7:15 p.m. - Sean Boston (PBP); Daren Dunn (Color) Video: Butler Creative TV, 7:15 p.m. Twitter: @bluedragonsport CLICK FOR COMPLETE BLUE DRAGON GAME NOTES (PDF Format) |
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
After a 25-day hiatus for the holiday break, the Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team opens the second semester with a Top 25 road test on Wednesday night.
The No. 21-ranked Blue Dragons (10-2 overall, 5-1 Jayhawk Conference) travels to play at No. 17 Butler (10-2, 5-1) at 7:30 p.m. at the Power Plant in El Dorado.
The game will be broadcast live on Blue Dragon flagship station KHUT-FM (102.9) and sister stations KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5) at 7:15 p.m. with Sean Boston (play-by-play) and Daren Dunn (color) calling the action. The game will be streamed free by Butler Creative TV beginning at 7:15 p.m.
The Blue Dragons are 1-1 against nationally ranked opponents this season, defeating No. 23 NEO 102-84 on November 4 and falling 83-70 to No. 11 Cowley on December 9. Both of those games were played at the Sports Arena.
The Blue Dragons look to rebound from that loss to Cowley to end the first semester. Hutchinson was held to season lows for points and field-goal percentage (32.9 percent). Four Blue Dragon players scored in double figures led by sophomore Kamryn Thomas' 14 points. Valentino Simon posted his third-straight double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Butler, which also hasn't played since December 9, enters play on Wednesday on a two-game winning streak. The Grizzlies closed the first semester with an 80-75 home victory over Dodge City. Despite being out-shot by the Conquistadors, Butler outscored Dodge City 21-9 at the free-throw line. Five Butler players scored in double figures, led by Charles McClenahan Jr.'s 18 points and eight rebounds.
The Blue Dragons continue to set the team scoring pace in the Jayhawk Conference at 91.7 points per game. The Grizzlies are eighth in the league in scoring at 75.0 points per game.
Thomas, Hutchinson's leading scorer at 15.2 points per game, is third in the Jayhawk Conference in 3-point shooting at 46.4 percent. Dre Weathers is second in the KJCCC in overall shooting at 70.1 percent.
Butler's Jamichael Stillwell in the Jayhawk Conference's leading rebounder at 11.8 rebounds per game.
Wednesday's matchup is the 198th all-time matchup in a series that has been continuous since the 1928-29 season. The Blue Dragons own a 128-69 all-time series lead, including a 49-42 series lead in games played in El Dorado. Butler swept the season series with Hutchinson last season. The 128 wins over Butler is third most by the Blue Dragons against a single opponents ( 1. Pratt - 152; 2. Garden City - 141; 3. Butler - 128).