INDIANAPOLIS – For years, Butler basketball coaches and players have spoken about setting a tone from tip-off. What happens early does not necessarily determine victory.
Yet it often does.
So when Eric Paschall swished two 3-pointers before this game was five minutes old, a tone was set. It was set by a defending NCAA champion that could — after losing four players to the NBA — win more Big East games than it did a year ago.
Paschall set the tone.
“It does make a statement,” coach Jay Wright said.