#744 ASA TOP PLAY ON 10* Butler -1 or PK -112 over St John’s, Wednesday at 8:30 PM ET - We’re catching Butler at the bottom of the market, so to speak, here in a must win home game. They’ve lost 4 straight games after they had won 5 of 6 heading into that stretch. After starting the Big East season with a 4-1 conference record, the Johnnies are just 4-8 SU their last 12 games and 2 of those 4 wins came vs DePaul & Georgetown the 2 worst teams on the Big East. They are coming off a huge home upset beating Creighton on Sunday making this a shorter turnaround as Butler played on Saturday. Now STJ goes back on the road where they are just 2-5 SU in conference play with one of those wins coming by 5 points @ Georgetown, the 2nd lowest rated team in the league ahead of only DePaul. The Bulldogs are 11-4 SU at home and 3 of those losses have come vs UConn, Marquette, and Creighton, the 3 highest rated teams in the conference, all in the top 13 nationally per KenPom. These 2 met way back in early January and STJ won 86-70 and Butler was just 9 of 29 from deep (31%) and they only attempted 12 FT’s (21 FT attempts for St Johns). The Johnnies also hit 50% of their shots in that win. Now back at home where Butler shoots very well (36% from 3) and averages 82 PPG. After losing points at the FT line in the first meeting, we should see the Bulldogs have a nice advantage at the stripe as St John’s fouls as much as anyone in the conference and Butler makes nearly 80% of their freebies. St John’s has won only twice in their 9 trips to Hinkle Fieldhouse and we don’t see it happening here. Take Butler.