The Seton Hall Pirates, boasting a 17-8 overall record and a 7-7 mark in the Big East, are on the NCAA Tournament bubble, with their recent form showing 3 wins in their last 5 games, including a 75-68 victory over the Georgetown Hoyas. Meanwhile, the Butler Bulldogs, with a 13-12 overall record and a 4-10 conference record, are struggling to find their footing, having lost 5 consecutive games, including a 70-65 heartbreaker to the Marquette Golden Eagles. With the Pirates seeking to solidify their tournament position and the Bulldogs needing a quality win to boost their resume, this matchup has real consequences for both teams, particularly in terms of their quad records, with Seton Hall looking to improve their 1-4 mark in Quad 1 games and Butler aiming to add to their 2-5 record in the same category.
Seton Hall Pirates Have Dominated Butler Bulldogs in Recent Meetings, Winning 7 of Last 10
The game is scheduled for February 15, 2026, at 7:00 PM ET, and will be held at the historic Hinkle Fieldhouse, with television coverage available on FS1. Fans can also stream the game online through the Fox Sports app.
The Seton Hall Pirates have been inconsistent this season, with a 17-8 overall record and a 7-7 mark in the Big East. They boast a respectable 53 NET ranking, but their quad record tells a different story, with a 1-4 mark in Quad 1 games, a 4-4 record in Quad 2 games, and a perfect 7-0 mark in Quad 4 games. The Pirates have been led by their strong defense, which has allowed just 65.4 points per game, ranking 43rd nationally. In their last 5 games, the Pirates have averaged 72.2 points per game, while shooting 45.1% from the field and 36.2% from beyond the arc.
Key Matchups
The Butler Bulldogs, on the other hand, have struggled to find their footing, with a 13-12 overall record and a 4-10 mark in the Big East. They currently sit 74th in the NET rankings, with a quad record of 2-5 in Quad 1 games, 1-6 in Quad 2 games, and a perfect 5-0 mark in Quad 4 games. The Bulldogs have been plagued by a 5-game losing streak, during which they have averaged just 64.2 points per game, while allowing 71.4 points per contest. Butler's offense has been led by their 35.5% three-point shooting, which ranks 124th nationally, but they have struggled to defend the three, allowing opponents to shoot 36.1% from beyond the arc.
The key matchup in this game will be between the Seton Hall Pirates' stingy defense and the Butler Bulldogs' struggling offense. The Pirates have allowed just 65.4 points per game, while the Bulldogs have averaged 67.5 points per contest. Seton Hall's defense has been particularly effective in the paint, allowing just 42.1% shooting from two-point range, which ranks 32nd nationally. Meanwhile, Butler's offense has been reliant on their three-point shooting, with 37.2% of their points coming from beyond the arc. The Bulldogs must find a way to penetrate the Pirates' defense and get easy baskets, as they have struggled to score in the paint, averaging just 23.5 points per game from two-point range.
CHD Scout Prediction
Seton Hall
74
Butler
73
For the Seton Hall Pirates, guard Bryce Aiken has been on a tear, averaging 18.2 points per game over his last 5 contests, while shooting 47.1% from the field and 42.1% from three-point range. Meanwhile, forward Jared Rhoden has been a force on the glass, averaging 7.5 rebounds per game, while also chipping in 13.5 points per contest. For the Butler Bulldogs, guard Chuck Harris has been the team's leading scorer, averaging 14.5 points per game, while also dishing out 3.2 assists per contest. Forward Bryce Golden has been a consistent contributor, averaging 12.2 points per game, while shooting 51.2% from the field.
Tournament Stakes
The CHD Scout prediction has the Seton Hall Pirates winning by a narrow 0.8-point margin, with a 47.3% win probability for the Butler Bulldogs. This prediction is based on the Pirates' strong defense and the Bulldogs' struggling offense, as well as the significant difference in their NET rankings. However, with the game being played at Hinkle Fieldhouse, the Bulldogs will have the home-court advantage, which could give them an edge in a close contest.
This game has real consequences for both teams' tournament resumes. A win for the Seton Hall Pirates would be a valuable Quad 1 victory, improving their record to 2-4 in such games, while also bolstering their NET ranking. Meanwhile, a win for the Butler Bulldogs would be a much-needed quality win, improving their record to 3-5 in Quad 1 games, and potentially boosting their NET ranking into the top 60. With the Pirates currently on the NCAA Tournament bubble, a loss could drop them to 17-9 overall and 7-8 in the Big East, making their tournament bid more precarious.