If you’ve spent any time at Hinkle Fieldhouse lately, you know the vibe is just different this year. Thad Matta is back in the saddle for his fourth season of this second stint, and honestly, the butler bulldogs basketball schedule for 2025-26 has been a total roller coaster. People talk about "Butler Way" like it's some ancient scroll, but right now, it's about survival in a Big East conference that's basically a meat grinder.
We are officially in the home stretch. January and February are where the season either crystallizes into a March Madness bid or dissolves into "wait until next year" talk. If you're looking at the remaining games, there is a lot of ground to cover before we hit Madison Square Garden for the Big East Tournament in March.
The Gauntlet: Remaining Butler Bulldogs Basketball Schedule
Looking at the calendar, the Bulldogs have some massive opportunities to make a statement. You've got the standard home-and-home battles that define the Big East, but a few of these matchups are carrying way more weight than usual.
Take the upcoming game against DePaul on January 20. On paper? It's a game Butler should handle at home. But in this league, you can't sleep on anyone. Then it gets real. Marquette visits Hinkle on January 23, followed by a trip to the "World’s Most Famous Arena" to play St. John's on January 28.
The February stretch is arguably even tougher:
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- February 4: At Providence (Amica Mutual Pavilion is never a fun place to play).
- February 11: The heavyweights arrive. UConn comes to Indianapolis for a 7:30 PM tip. This is the game everyone has circled.
- February 21: Xavier at home. There is no love lost here. It's a 1:30 PM Saturday tip, which usually means Hinkle will be absolutely rocking.
- March 4: The home finale against Creighton.
Butler’s road finale happens in Chicago against DePaul on March 7, right before the madness begins in New York. The Big East Tournament officially kicks off March 11, 2026.
Why This Roster Is Keeping Fans On Their Toes
You can't talk about the schedule without talking about who is actually on the floor. Thad Matta went hard in the portal, and it's sort of a "new look" Bulldogs squad compared to the last few years.
Michael Ajayi, the transfer from Gonzaga, has been a massive bright spot. He’s been averaging a double-double (roughly 16 points and 12 rebounds) and basically carrying the frontcourt. Then you have Finley Bizjack, who has really stepped up his scoring. Seeing a guy like him go from a role player to a primary option is part of why college hoops is so fun.
Honestly, the defense has been the bigger question mark. While the offense is putting up over 80 points a night, they’ve had some lapses that cost them close games—like that heartbreaking two-point loss at SMU earlier in the season.
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The "Hinkle Magic" Factor
There's something about playing in a building that opened in 1928. It’s not just the history; it’s the way the sound bounces off the rafters. If Butler is going to sneak into the NCAA Tournament, they basically have to protect home court for the rest of the season.
Winning at home is a necessity when you have to travel to places like the Cintas Center or Gampel Pavilion. The Bulldogs have shown they can win the big ones at home, evidenced by that wild double-overtime win against Providence back in December where they dropped 113 points.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Big East Standings
People look at the conference record and panic. "Oh, they're under .500 in the Big East, it's over."
Wait a second.
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The Big East is arguably the deepest conference in the country this year. A loss to a top-10 UConn or a tough road game at Creighton doesn't kill your RPI (or NET rankings, if we're being modern). The butler bulldogs basketball schedule is designed to be a strength-of-schedule booster. Every single game is a "Quality Win" opportunity.
If Matta can get this group to finish the regular season strong—maybe snagging 4 or 5 more wins before the tournament—they’ll be in the conversation. It really comes down to whether Jalen Jackson and Yohan Traore can find a consistent rhythm together in the paint.
Practical Next Steps for Fans
If you're planning on catching a game or following the stretch run, here is what you need to do:
- Check the TV Listings: A lot of these remaining games are on FS1, but several are tucked away on Peacock or even TNT/truTV. Don't be the person scrambling for a login five minutes after tip-off.
- Watch the Bubble: Keep an eye on the "Bracketology" updates from experts like Joe Lunardi. Butler is currently hovering right on that fringe, so every win against a ranked opponent (like the upcoming UConn or Marquette games) moves the needle significantly.
- Get to Hinkle Early: If you're going in person, the 100-year-old corridors get crowded. If you want a decent parking spot or time to grab a jersey at the spirit shop, give yourself an hour.
- Follow the Big East Tournament Brackets: The seeding for the March 11–14 tournament at Madison Square Garden is determined by the final regular-season standings. Butler wants to avoid that "opening night" tripleheader if possible, which means finishing in the top six.
The path isn't easy, but it's clear. The Bulldogs have the talent to play with anyone; they just need to prove they can close out games when the pressure is highest in February.