“There are times in practice when you’d never guess those two are brothers,” Butler head coach Thad Matta shared with WHBF Davenport, referring to Patrick and Connor McCaffery. Despite their sibling bond, both brothers have remained laser-focused on basketball. While Connor, Caitlin Clark’s boyfriend, leads the team as assistant coach, his younger brother Patrick is making waves as a player. “As hard as Connor is on Patrick, I think it’s great for us. It’s good for our program overall,” Matta added—and he couldn’t be more right.

Under Connor’s guidance, Patrick has blossomed into one of the best three-point shooters in the Big East. Currently, he ranks second in the conference, shooting a remarkable 47% from beyond the arc. Patrick’s consistency doesn’t stop there—he’s averaging 12.9 points per game, shooting 42.5% from the field, and maintaining an impressive 84% accuracy from the free-throw line.

But, not everything is clicking for the McCaffery brothers right now. While Patrick has been lighting it up on the court, Butler has hit a rough patch, struggling through a tough stretch. They’re currently riding a losing streak, dropping four of their last five games—and those losses have come back-to-back.

In their more recent loss against Marquette, McCaffrey dropped 13 points, following Jahmyl Telfort and Kolby King’s game-high 16 each. His 3-point shooting, at 2-4, remained better on the team yet again. It has been a noticeable shift for the forward, following his 31% 3-point average last season. As Matta reveals, and Patrick agrees, Conor bossing his little brother around, could have had some impact on his growth. But it is undeniable who this newly developed skill reminds one of.

Patrick is getting influenced by his brother’s girlfriend

Even in Butler’s loss to the Wisconsin Badgers, Patrick shined, knocking down three of five shots from three-point range for a stellar 60% shooting accuracy. It’s clear he’s picking up some of the same killer instincts that have made Caitlin Clark a star in her own right.

Clark’s presence has undoubtedly had a positive influence on the McCaffery family. She’s been a constant fixture in the crowd, attending nearly every Butler game since the start of her offseason. The constant presence, including one with her entire family during thanksgiving and one right with Conner’s mother and youngest brother, have sparked gushed engagement talks among fans, but that remains unspoken about.

Regardless, the bond between Clark and the McCafferys is strong.

Patrick, who once played alongside Connor at Iowa, decided to transfer to Butler after graduating from there. Shortly after, Connor, who was serving as an assistant coach with the Indiana Pacers, joined Butler as head coach.

For Connor, coaching his younger brother has been a natural transition. Patrick, who averaged 8.5 points and three rebounds per game during his time at Iowa, has shown significant improvement since joining Butler. His elevated stats have positioned him to break records—perhaps even rivaling Caitlin Clark’s remarkable achievements.