Stanford @ Butler preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 22, 2011 ) Butler 71, Stanford 66

Butler and Stanford - a pair of undefeated teams with smothering defenses - meet Tuesday in the championship game of the Hall of Fame Classic at Kansas City, Mo. The Bulldogs shut down Missouri 63-52 in Monday's first round, while the Cardinal had little trouble with Oklahoma 73-54 behind 20 points and 11 rebounds from freshman guard Tyrell Terry.

Butler, which allows 53.2 points per game, survived a season-high 14 turnovers Monday after committing less than 10 in each of its first five games this season. Senior guard Kamar Baldwin and sophomore forward Bryce Golden scored 13 points apiece versus Missouri, and are two of five Bulldogs averaging at least 9.2 points while Stanford has five at 9.4 or better. The Cardinal have yielded 65 points or fewer in every game this season - their longest such stretch since 2007 - and are 7-0 for the first time since starting the 2008-09 season with 10 victories. Terry is the second Division I player in the last 20 years to have at least 10 points, two steals and two assists in each of his first seven career games, joining Oklahoma’s Trae Young (2017).

TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2

ABOUT THE BUTLER (6-0): Baldwin (team-high 14.5 points per game) averaged 22.3 in his previous three games before going 4-for-12 from the floor and 1-for-5 from 3-point range Monday. Junior forward Bryce Nze (12.7 points, club-best 7.5 rebounds) had eight points, seven boards and three steals versus Missouri and is shooting a team-high 68 percent from the floor. Senior forward Sean McDermott (12.3 points), junior forward Jordan Tucker (9.4) and Golden (9.2) provide scoring depth with McDermott recording 10 on Monday for the third consecutive game.

ABOUT STANFORD (7-0): Terry paces the Cardinal with 15.9 points and contributes 5.1 rebounds while making 20-of-23 from the free-throw line. Junior forward Oscar da Silva (14.9 points) scored nine Monday - the first time this season he's been held to fewer than 12 - and added a season-high 11 rebounds. Freshman forward Spencer Jones (10.1 points) is 21-for-40 from 3-point range and 1-for-6 from inside the arc this season after going 4-for-8 versus Oklahoma - all from deep.

TIP-INS

1. The Bulldogs, who had 13 assists Monday, were second nationally entering Monday with a 1.95 assist-turnover ratio.

2. The Cardinal didn't win their seventh game last season until Dec. 29 en route to a 15-16 campaign.

3. Butler was eighth in the country in fewest points allowed.

PREDICTION: Butler 59, Stanford 58