No matter the backcourt position, Butler stays productive Purdue University men's basketball coach Matt Painter said Wednesday he thought Jamar Butler was the Big Ten's best point guard last season.
Now, Butler doesn't even start at the point for Ohio State. After giving way to freshman Mike Conley Jr., Butler has settled in at shooting guard.
During Wednesday night's 78-60 win at Purdue, Butler fired away. The junior hit 6-of-10 shots, including 4-of-7 on 3-pointers, to score 16 points.
"We got some good looks out of transition," Ohio State coach Thad Matta said. "Jamar hit a couple, and Michael stepped up and knocked one down in the corner.
"We do like to shoot the 3, and if we can get that going down for us, it's a tremendous boost."
Butler added five rebounds, three assists and two steals. But the 3s were daggers where Butler pulled up on the break instead of driving.
"That's my favorite shot," Butler said. "I always say, a 3's better than 2 — it's worth more points. If I'm open, I'm going to let it go, break or not."
Butler is OSU's six-leading scorer at 8.5 points per game, down from last year's 10.1. But in Big Ten play, Butler is averaging 10.8 ppg — second behind Greg Oden's 14.6. Said Matta: "I think Jamar is playing tremendous basketball right now."
Talkin' about practice
Daequan Cook played 15 first-half minutes and 26 overall, the most since OSU's win over Indiana.
"He had a tremendous practice (Tuesday)," Matta said. "I told him after the game, when you put that type of performance with practice, it gives me a heck of a lot of confidence."
Daequan Cook paid back that faith with 12 points and 10 rebounds — his second career double-double. "When you work hard in practice and the coaches see that," Daequan Cook said, "you get the opportunity to play (more)."
Daequan Cook scored nine first-half points when Oden had just two.
"I was just in rhythm," the freshman guard said. "I had a good shoot around. I felt very comfortable taking shots."
Bench help
All nine regulars played between 14 minutes (Othello Hunter) and 33 (Butler). The bench accounted for 26 points, 20 rebounds, four assists and three blocks.
Junior post player Matt Terwilliger had three boards in 18 minutes. David Lighty, who's had several shots this season bounce out, scored a big basket when Purdue got within eight.
"He's just active, scrappin', doing a good job defensively," Matta said. "He's a tough kid and he likes to win."
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