Michael Pointer

michael.pointer@indystar.com

Chattanooga at Butler%2C 9 p.m. Tuesday

Let's get what didn't go well for Butler in its season opener against Maine on Saturday out of the way first.

The Bulldogs trailed for 16 seconds early in the first half. They shot a rather pedestrian 56 percent from the free-throw line, making 9-of-16 shots. They lost reserve guard Jackson Aldridge to a sprained ankle.

Other than that, they showed some maturity. They did what a team is supposed to do in an early-season game against an overmatched opponent from a lower-level conference. Six players scored in double figures and Butler shot a record-breaking percentage en route to a 99-57 victory before 7,652 fans at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

"The most dominant thought in this particular game was how our guys shared the ball," Butler interim coach Chris Holtmann said. "Their ability to find each other, play really unselfishly, has been a constant theme through these first games (including the two exhibition games). I'm really proud of them for that."

Butler shot a school-record 71.9 percent from the field (41-for-57), breaking the old mark of 69.7 percent (23-for-33) set in an 80-52 victory over Illinois State in December 1993.

Here are some other gaudy Butler stats from the carnage:

• The Bulldogs got 18 fast-break points. Maine had just two.

• They scored 64 points in the paint. The visiting Black Bears out of the America East Conference had just 26.

• Butler got 38 points from its bench, led by freshman Kelan Martin's 12. Maine had 15 bench points.

• Butler scored 32 points off turnovers. Maine had just 13.

The Bulldogs looked good doing it, too. During one sequence midway through the second half, Roosevelt Jones — who missed last season because of a wrist injury — saved a ball from going out of bounds, tipped it ahead to Martin, who threw a lob pass while on the run to Kameron Woods for a dunk.

Fans didn't see those plays often by Butler last season. They were commonplace on Saturday.

"Rose can run the break himself," Butler's Kellen Dunham said. "We've got guys that have a better attitude about it. They're very aggressive when it comes to those kind of plays and getting those 50-50 balls. Coach Holt talks about how important they are in winning basketball games."

Dunham, the preseason all-Big East choice, had a strong game himself, hitting 3-pointers on the first two possessions of the second half and finishing with 18 points. Jones had the type of strong all-around game he's expected to have, finishing with 14 points, nine assists (against just three turnovers) and two steals.

Freshman forward Tyler Wideman, who missed nearly a week of pre-season practice because of a concussion, played 14 minutes and scored eight points.

Aldridge, a senior who has had a relatively quiet college career, was getting extended minutes after Alex Barlow picked up his second foul midway through the first half. Aldridge was injured when he stepped on a Maine player's foot. He watched the second half wearing warmups and a walking boot.

Holtmann said Aldridge is going to be out "a little while. We're a little thin at that position. We hope to get him back when he's 100 percent healthy."

Maine went 6-23 last season, fired its coach and saw its two of its three leading scorers transfer. The Black Bears lost an exhibition to NCAA Division III Southern Maine.

Not surprisingly, they struggled from the start. First-year coach Bob Walsh came away impressed with the Bulldogs.

"They were physically very tough and really invested in what they do," he said. "They had a purpose in what they do. They were really together. They really took it to us."

Next up for Butler is a Tuesday game against Chattanooga at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The Mocs are expected to contend for the Southern Conference preview and rolled to a 110-53 victory over Hiwassee in its season opener.

"I think our guys are well aware the competition is going to change a great deal," Holtmann said. "We need to prepare ourselves for that."

Call Star reporter Michael Pointer at (317) 444-2709. Follow him on Twitter @michaelpointer.

BUTLER 99, MAINE 57

MAINE (0-1) Valjarevic 3-10 4-6 12, Gloger 4-9 0-0 8, Mackey 3-4 0-1 6, Calixte 4-8 3-3 12, Lawton 2-9 0-0 4, Little 4-11 0-0 9, Pirovic 0-0 1-2 1, Ward 0-2 2-2 2, Melmed 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 21-54 10-14 57.

BUTLER (1-0) Jones 7-9 0-0 14, Woods 5-7 0-0 10, Chrabascz 5-6 3-4 13, Barlow 2-2 0-1 6, Dunham 6-10 1-2 18, Etherington 5-6 1-1 11, Wideman 4-4 0-1 8, Aldridge 0-0 0-0 0, Davis 0-0 2-4 2, Bennett 0-1 0-0 0, Martin 5-10 2-3 12, Pettus 2-2 0-0 5. Totals 41-57 9-16 99.

Halftime—Butler 43-27. 3-Point Goals—Maine 5-21 (Valjarevic 2-5, Melmed 1-1, Calixte 1-4, Little 1-5, Ward 0-1, Lawton 0-5), Butler 8-16 (Dunham 5-7, Barlow 2-2, Pettus 1-1, Bennett 0-1, Etherington 0-1, Martin 0-4). Fouled Out—Mackey, Pirovic. Rebounds—Maine 21 (Valjarevic 6), Butler 31 (Barlow, Woods 6). Assists—Maine 11 (Lawton, Little 3), Butler 29 (Jones 9). Total Fouls—Maine 20, Butler 19. A—7,652.

Chattanooga at Butler, 9 p.m. Tuesday