I can't say I was surprised by this outcome. An experienced Bulldogs squad against an inexperienced Vanderbilt team that lost its top six players from last year, three of whom are in the NBA right now. Butler won with little stress in the second half, beating the Commodores 68-49.
Clarke continues, Dunham too
Rotnei Clarke's brilliance from downtown continued on Saturday night, shooting 6-9 from behind the arc. Kellen Dunham also played well scoring 12 points, going 2-5 from three. This really illustrates what was wrong with Butler last year. The Bulldogs made 8 threes in this game, all from Clarke and Dunham. (Neither of them played last year)
Chase Stigall's four year long shooting slump
After going 0/3 behind the arc in this game, he is now at 20.7% on threes for the season. He is at 29.1% for his career. In a career that has consistently shown subpar shooting for Stigall (with the exception of moments during his sophomore season), he has gotten worse as his career has gone on. His shooting is so bad, it makes me wonder if he will still be seeing minutes by season's end. To put it in perspective, Zach Hahn's career low in 3 point % in a season was 32.6%, while Chase Stigall's career high in 3 point % for a season is 32.0%.
Woods and Marshall clean the glass
Both athletic big men had a huge impact on the boards, with Marshall pulling down 11 rebounds and Woods pulling down 9. On a night where Andrew Smith and Erik Fromm combined for 4 rebounds, it was good that at least two of Butler's four bigs were rebounding the ball, and that's usually all it will take on a given night.
There wasn't really any other significant statistics from the box score, but I will point out that Alex Barlow has not averaged 18.8 minutes per game over the last six games.
Butler hosts Pennsylvania on Wednesday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse in a rematch of last years College Basketball Invitational matchup.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Thursday, December 27, 2012
The Future of the Point Guard Spot at Butler
After having Ronald Nored start the majority of four seasons at point guard and having a power-conference transfer in Rotnei Clarke come in and start for one season, the point guard position will be wide open next season, with three potential candidates: Alex Barlow, Jackson Aldridge, and incoming recruit Rene Castro.
While Barlow is getting minutes now and starting alongside Rotnei Clarke, I don't know that he is necessarily the future Butler starting point guard for a couple of reasons. First, Butler is losing a lot of scoring after this season with the departure of Rotnei Clarke and Andrew Smith. Essentially being a non-scorer, I don't know if the Bulldogs can afford to leave him on the floor for long stretches of time next season, especially if they are struggling to score. This is similar to last season, and also why he didn't play much for the first 34 games last season. Since the Bulldogs didn't score much last season, Barlow being on the floor would have only made it worse. In my mind, Barlow would be best served next year bringing energy and a strong defensive presence to the floor of the bench.
Jackson Aldridge is an enigma. Many fans thought he could be the future point guard for Butler, leading them on offense. However, he is shooting just 13% from the field this season in limited minutes. While he has kept turnovers down compared to last season, but will not stay on the floor with poor offense since he is not exactly making up for it on defense. If he puts his offensive game together, shooting the ball well and having a better assist-to-turnover ratio, Aldridge could potentially start at point guard next year. However, those are a lot of ifs, and he will have to improve very quickly as he is currently towards the bottom of Butler's depth chart.
Rene Castro is apparently a combo-guard who has the ability to penetrate the lane greater than Barlow or Aldridge. At 6'1, he might not be a traditional point guard, maybe more of a scoring point guard similar to Mike Green (2006-2008). Considering that Butler is doing well with a scoring point guard this season and that Roosevelt Jones is a point forward, there is no reason why Castro couldn't do what Ronald Nored did and be Butler's starting point guard right from day 1. Still, he will be a freshman and he will still need time to adjust to the college game, so I wouldn't expect too much too early on.
In summary, none of these three players have locked up the starting PG spot for next season, all have weaknesses that they need to improve on, and it will be an exciting battle next fall for the starting point guard position.
I am going an NBA game on Saturday night, so I will watch the Butler @ Vanderbilt matchup on ESPNU recorded on Sunday morning and probably have a game recap up on the blog by Sunday afternoon.
While Barlow is getting minutes now and starting alongside Rotnei Clarke, I don't know that he is necessarily the future Butler starting point guard for a couple of reasons. First, Butler is losing a lot of scoring after this season with the departure of Rotnei Clarke and Andrew Smith. Essentially being a non-scorer, I don't know if the Bulldogs can afford to leave him on the floor for long stretches of time next season, especially if they are struggling to score. This is similar to last season, and also why he didn't play much for the first 34 games last season. Since the Bulldogs didn't score much last season, Barlow being on the floor would have only made it worse. In my mind, Barlow would be best served next year bringing energy and a strong defensive presence to the floor of the bench.
Jackson Aldridge is an enigma. Many fans thought he could be the future point guard for Butler, leading them on offense. However, he is shooting just 13% from the field this season in limited minutes. While he has kept turnovers down compared to last season, but will not stay on the floor with poor offense since he is not exactly making up for it on defense. If he puts his offensive game together, shooting the ball well and having a better assist-to-turnover ratio, Aldridge could potentially start at point guard next year. However, those are a lot of ifs, and he will have to improve very quickly as he is currently towards the bottom of Butler's depth chart.
Rene Castro is apparently a combo-guard who has the ability to penetrate the lane greater than Barlow or Aldridge. At 6'1, he might not be a traditional point guard, maybe more of a scoring point guard similar to Mike Green (2006-2008). Considering that Butler is doing well with a scoring point guard this season and that Roosevelt Jones is a point forward, there is no reason why Castro couldn't do what Ronald Nored did and be Butler's starting point guard right from day 1. Still, he will be a freshman and he will still need time to adjust to the college game, so I wouldn't expect too much too early on.
In summary, none of these three players have locked up the starting PG spot for next season, all have weaknesses that they need to improve on, and it will be an exciting battle next fall for the starting point guard position.
I am going an NBA game on Saturday night, so I will watch the Butler @ Vanderbilt matchup on ESPNU recorded on Sunday morning and probably have a game recap up on the blog by Sunday afternoon.
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Postgame Analysis: Butler vs. Evansville
This game sure meant a lot to all Butler players and fans, who had their hearts broken the last two years by Evansville in overtime. There were definitely feelings of revenge, and I'm sure the players and coaching staff are thrilled about this close win. Lets just say I won't be sad to see Evansville's Colt Ryan graduate, as he has averaged nearly 20 points per game in four games against the Bulldogs in his career. I was not able to watch this game, and this one minute highlight video was the only action I saw from this game. Nonetheless, here are some important points I noticed from yesterday's game.
Smith and Clarke continue to carry the offensive load
Both players had 20 points in the game, and both hit timely three pointers in the second half to keep Evansville at arms distance from the lead. Smith has gotten better and better as the season has gone on, while Clarke has been consistently outstanding on the offensive end.
Kam Woods. Where have you been?
It seemed as though he was falling farther down the depth chart, but rebounded well to have his best game of the season, contributing 10 points and 12 rebounds. His production was absolutely necessary as Khyle Marshall and Erik Fromm's impact on this game was negligible. It is a good sign that Butler has four big men capable of having a great night so that all four do not have to perform well at the same time.
Dunham contributes, albeit inside the arc.
Kellen Dunham scored 13 points, while shooting 0-4 behind the arc, but making five free throws and four 2-point field goals. This is a sign of offensive maturation, as he is able to score when his three point shot isn't on. I think you saw this same development from Gordon Hayward during his sophomore season at Butler, where he did not shoot threes well, but still scored a ton of points.
Butler is off for the Christmas break and will be back in action next Saturday at Vanderbilt on ESPN2. This is a very winnable game against a team that lost all five starters from last season.
Smith and Clarke continue to carry the offensive load
Both players had 20 points in the game, and both hit timely three pointers in the second half to keep Evansville at arms distance from the lead. Smith has gotten better and better as the season has gone on, while Clarke has been consistently outstanding on the offensive end.
Kam Woods. Where have you been?
It seemed as though he was falling farther down the depth chart, but rebounded well to have his best game of the season, contributing 10 points and 12 rebounds. His production was absolutely necessary as Khyle Marshall and Erik Fromm's impact on this game was negligible. It is a good sign that Butler has four big men capable of having a great night so that all four do not have to perform well at the same time.
Dunham contributes, albeit inside the arc.
Kellen Dunham scored 13 points, while shooting 0-4 behind the arc, but making five free throws and four 2-point field goals. This is a sign of offensive maturation, as he is able to score when his three point shot isn't on. I think you saw this same development from Gordon Hayward during his sophomore season at Butler, where he did not shoot threes well, but still scored a ton of points.
Butler is off for the Christmas break and will be back in action next Saturday at Vanderbilt on ESPN2. This is a very winnable game against a team that lost all five starters from last season.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
How things have changed for Alex Barlow
Alex Barlow played a total of 17 minutes during the regular season last year, with all being mop-up minutes. He then played 60 minutes in Butler's three CBI games last March. And now, he is a starter who hit the game winning shot against the #1 ranked team in the country. And if you don't believe when I say things have changed, here is a quote and response from Butler's official message board in March 2012, just as he began receiving consistent minutes.
+1. Please no. The guy wouldn't make the UIC roster.
Source: http://buhoops.yuku.com/reply/117816/Re-Alex-Barlow-#.UM0DNG_AfoI
Remember, this is when UIC was still an awful team (unlike now) at the basement of the Horizon League. I will leave the usernames of these posters out for this blog entry because I do not want to call out those who made largely inaccurate predictions, but this just illustrates the expectations for him coming out of high school, and the level he is playing at now. I couldn't be more proud for Drew Streicher 2.0, and I know all Butler Bulldogs fans feel the same way. Way to put in the hard work to achieve your dreams, Alex.
If Alex Barlow gets a scholarship, I will be pi$$ed. The guy is a freaking DIII level talent!!!!!!
+1. Please no. The guy wouldn't make the UIC roster.
Source: http://buhoops.yuku.com/reply/117816/Re-Alex-Barlow-#.UM0DNG_AfoI
Remember, this is when UIC was still an awful team (unlike now) at the basement of the Horizon League. I will leave the usernames of these posters out for this blog entry because I do not want to call out those who made largely inaccurate predictions, but this just illustrates the expectations for him coming out of high school, and the level he is playing at now. I couldn't be more proud for Drew Streicher 2.0, and I know all Butler Bulldogs fans feel the same way. Way to put in the hard work to achieve your dreams, Alex.
The Unexpected come through as Butler defeats Indiana
The Butler Bulldogs defeated the Indiana Hoosiers in overtime at Bankers Life Fieldhouse by a score of 88-86 on a game winning floater by the defensive specialist Alex Barlow. Butler will be ranked in the Top 25 following this result, and this is a huge win for a team that is still trying to prove they can win without Hayward/Howard/Mack.
Where did that com from?
Alex Barlow and Chase Stigall came into this game scoring a combined 3.5 PPG. However, the two scored 7 of Butler's last 10 points, hitting clutch shot after clutch shot. First it was a driving layup by Barlow to tie the game at 80. Then it was a three from the top of the key by Stigall to give Butler and 86-84 lead. And finally, Barlow got an extremely benevolent bounce on a floater against Jordan Hulls to give Butler the lead for good.
Clarke prevails despite Oladipo's defense
Victor Oladipo was fantastic on defense keeping Rotnei Clarke in front of him, but Rotnei still managed to score 19 points, including a key three pointer in the overtime when Butler was down four. He hit many clutch threes and contributed greatly to this victory as he has done all season.
Woods and Aldridge in the "Dawghouse"
These two players played a combined six minutes in the game today, mainly because of the improvement of Erik Fromm, who took minutes from Kameron Woods, and Alex Barlow, who took minutes from Aldridge. I wouldn't say that Woods and Aldridge will sit on the bench all season, but it does seem as though Brad Stevens has trimmed his rotation from 10 down to 8.
Smith holds his own against Zeller
While Zeller outscored Smith 18-12, Smith out rebounded Zeller 9-5. While Smith was plagued with foul trouble, he was definitely able to hold Zeller in check while he was in there. This should be a confidence booster for Andrew Smith that he was able to compete against the second best center in college basketball. (I believe Mason Plumlee is #1)
Butler will be off until next Saturday when they host Colt Ryan and the Evansville Aces at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Where did that com from?
Alex Barlow and Chase Stigall came into this game scoring a combined 3.5 PPG. However, the two scored 7 of Butler's last 10 points, hitting clutch shot after clutch shot. First it was a driving layup by Barlow to tie the game at 80. Then it was a three from the top of the key by Stigall to give Butler and 86-84 lead. And finally, Barlow got an extremely benevolent bounce on a floater against Jordan Hulls to give Butler the lead for good.
Clarke prevails despite Oladipo's defense
Victor Oladipo was fantastic on defense keeping Rotnei Clarke in front of him, but Rotnei still managed to score 19 points, including a key three pointer in the overtime when Butler was down four. He hit many clutch threes and contributed greatly to this victory as he has done all season.
Woods and Aldridge in the "Dawghouse"
These two players played a combined six minutes in the game today, mainly because of the improvement of Erik Fromm, who took minutes from Kameron Woods, and Alex Barlow, who took minutes from Aldridge. I wouldn't say that Woods and Aldridge will sit on the bench all season, but it does seem as though Brad Stevens has trimmed his rotation from 10 down to 8.
Smith holds his own against Zeller
While Zeller outscored Smith 18-12, Smith out rebounded Zeller 9-5. While Smith was plagued with foul trouble, he was definitely able to hold Zeller in check while he was in there. This should be a confidence booster for Andrew Smith that he was able to compete against the second best center in college basketball. (I believe Mason Plumlee is #1)
Butler will be off until next Saturday when they host Colt Ryan and the Evansville Aces at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Update on Crossroads Classic
I wrote a preview for the Butler vs. Indiana matchup back in September. Here is a link to that post, where I previewed the (likely) starting lineups: http://budogs.blogspot.com/2012/09/crossroads-classic-preview-butler-vs.html
These starting lineups have held true with the exception that Kellen Dunham/Alex Barlow have taken Stigall's place in the starting lineup, and it will be one of those two that will matchup against Jordan Hulls. Clarke will still be on Ferrell, and Jones will still be guarding Oladipo. I'm definitely looking forward to the Marshall/Watford and Smith/Zeller matchups as well. I can't wait to see this game, as it will be a great test for a Butler squad that has done fairly well so far this season.
The game is on CBS at 2:00 PM ET.
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Butler vs. Northwestern Preview
I apologize for not writing about Butler vs. IUPUI, but I have been very busy, and it seems as though there wasn't much that was very interesting/out of the ordinary to write about.
The Butler Bulldogs are facing the Northwestern Wildcats today at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Northwestern is another team I followed pretty closely, so I am going to preview the likely starting matchups in this game.
Center: Andrew Smith vs. Alex Olah
While Alex Olah is a promising freshman and an improvement from Northwestern's last two centers (Luka Mirkovic and Davide Curletti), Andrew Smith is a senior who has as much experience as any college basketball player. Smith does give up 32 pounds to Olah, but is a much more polished offensive player than Olah is.
Forward: Khyle Marshall vs. Jared Swopshire
These two players are similar statistically, with Marshall being more athletic and Swopshire being a better jump shooter. All in all, these two players are both very good and I am looking for to see who wins this matchup, as it is a crucial one for both teams.
Guard/Forward: Roosevelt Jones vs. Drew Crawford
Roosevelt Jones will have his hands full guarding Drew Crawford, who is Northwestern's best offensive player, and can creat his own shot with ease, even though his shooting percentage is down from last season. Crawford will be guarding someone in Jones who handles the ball a lot considering he is not the point guard. Another very close matchup, and Jones will have to hold Crawford under 15-17 points for Butler to have a good shot at winning.
Guard: Alex Barlow vs. Reggie Hearn
An interesting matchup of a walk-on against a former walk-on. Now, it is completely possible that Kellen Dunham starts instead of Barlow, but for the sake of this preview, lets just say it is Barlow. Hearn has been scoring the ball well this season, but Barlow is one of Butler's best defenders ever. It will be interesting to see if Hearn's offense of Barlow's defense wins out in this matchup
Point Guard: Rotnei Clarke vs. Dave Sobolewski
Two good three point shooters, Sobolewski a better passer, Clarke a better scorer. Neither one is known for their defense, so I would expect a lot of points and assists out of both them. Overall, Clarke is the better player, and if he can outplay Sobolewski, Butler is in good shape to win this game.
Backup Guard: Chase Stigall vs. Alex Marcotullio
I know I said I was only previewing the starters, but the career paths of these two players is eerily similar. Both played big minutes towards the end of their sophomore season, they both averaged exactly 5.2 ppg last year, and they are both struggling from the field this season in increasingly limited minutes. One of these two could be a huge spark off the bench to help their team win the game.
The Butler Bulldogs are facing the Northwestern Wildcats today at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Northwestern is another team I followed pretty closely, so I am going to preview the likely starting matchups in this game.
Center: Andrew Smith vs. Alex Olah
While Alex Olah is a promising freshman and an improvement from Northwestern's last two centers (Luka Mirkovic and Davide Curletti), Andrew Smith is a senior who has as much experience as any college basketball player. Smith does give up 32 pounds to Olah, but is a much more polished offensive player than Olah is.
Forward: Khyle Marshall vs. Jared Swopshire
These two players are similar statistically, with Marshall being more athletic and Swopshire being a better jump shooter. All in all, these two players are both very good and I am looking for to see who wins this matchup, as it is a crucial one for both teams.
Guard/Forward: Roosevelt Jones vs. Drew Crawford
Roosevelt Jones will have his hands full guarding Drew Crawford, who is Northwestern's best offensive player, and can creat his own shot with ease, even though his shooting percentage is down from last season. Crawford will be guarding someone in Jones who handles the ball a lot considering he is not the point guard. Another very close matchup, and Jones will have to hold Crawford under 15-17 points for Butler to have a good shot at winning.
Guard: Alex Barlow vs. Reggie Hearn
An interesting matchup of a walk-on against a former walk-on. Now, it is completely possible that Kellen Dunham starts instead of Barlow, but for the sake of this preview, lets just say it is Barlow. Hearn has been scoring the ball well this season, but Barlow is one of Butler's best defenders ever. It will be interesting to see if Hearn's offense of Barlow's defense wins out in this matchup
Point Guard: Rotnei Clarke vs. Dave Sobolewski
Two good three point shooters, Sobolewski a better passer, Clarke a better scorer. Neither one is known for their defense, so I would expect a lot of points and assists out of both them. Overall, Clarke is the better player, and if he can outplay Sobolewski, Butler is in good shape to win this game.
Backup Guard: Chase Stigall vs. Alex Marcotullio
I know I said I was only previewing the starters, but the career paths of these two players is eerily similar. Both played big minutes towards the end of their sophomore season, they both averaged exactly 5.2 ppg last year, and they are both struggling from the field this season in increasingly limited minutes. One of these two could be a huge spark off the bench to help their team win the game.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Postgame Analysis: Butler vs. Ball State
Butler beat Ball state by a score of 67-53 to improve to 5-2 on the young season. Here is my quick recap of major themes in the game.
Andrew on Track
Andrew Smith has scored double figures in consecutive games for the first time this season, and his shooting percentage is slowly starting to rise. Smith's 12 points on 6/9 shooting gives me hope that he can return to his form of last season, and continue to be a double figure scorer.
Kellen Dunham's Struggles...
have continued since the North Carolina game. He is now 1/15 on threes since that game, and 6/26 from the field overall. He will need to shoot better than that and perform at a high level now that defenses are giving him more attention.
The Aldridge/Barlow saga continues
While Alex Barlow had his best game of the season (5 points, 3 assists, 3 steals in 18 minutes), Jackson Aldridge only played 2 minutes, contrary to the increased minutes he had been playing recently. Brad Stevens has clearly not decided which of the two will be getting major minutes, and it seems as though it is unlikely for both of them to see double figure minutes at their size. This could be a good thing if it means they will push each other harder in practice for those minutes.
Side Note: Northwestern, Butler's opponent next Saturday, lost at home to the UIC Flames,Butler's former Horizon League opponent, 50-44.
Andrew on Track
Andrew Smith has scored double figures in consecutive games for the first time this season, and his shooting percentage is slowly starting to rise. Smith's 12 points on 6/9 shooting gives me hope that he can return to his form of last season, and continue to be a double figure scorer.
Kellen Dunham's Struggles...
have continued since the North Carolina game. He is now 1/15 on threes since that game, and 6/26 from the field overall. He will need to shoot better than that and perform at a high level now that defenses are giving him more attention.
The Aldridge/Barlow saga continues
While Alex Barlow had his best game of the season (5 points, 3 assists, 3 steals in 18 minutes), Jackson Aldridge only played 2 minutes, contrary to the increased minutes he had been playing recently. Brad Stevens has clearly not decided which of the two will be getting major minutes, and it seems as though it is unlikely for both of them to see double figure minutes at their size. This could be a good thing if it means they will push each other harder in practice for those minutes.
Side Note: Northwestern, Butler's opponent next Saturday, lost at home to the UIC Flames,Butler's former Horizon League opponent, 50-44.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Postgame Analysis: Butler vs. Hanover
Not too surprisingly, the Butler Bulldogs defeated Hanover by a score of 97-73 on Tuesday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse. While I won't get into too much depth since this game was a blowout and I couldn't watch in on TV, here are some major themes I noticed from the game.
Efficient Starters, including Rontei
All five starters scored in double figures and shot at least 50% from the field, led by Rotnei Clarke and Khyle Marshall with 19 points apiece. Rotnei Clarke has been an inefficient scorer so far this season, so it was great to see that he shot 5/6 from three point range and 6/8 overall. Marshall has continued his early season success with overwhelming athleticism, and this game was a step in the right direction for Andrew Smith, who has had some early season struggles.
Defense?
According to Butler IndyStar writer David Woods, this was the fourth consecutive game in which Butler's defense has given up more than 70 points, and that has not happened since 1995. Giving up 73 points to a Division III team is quite uncharacteristic for a Brad Stevens coached Butler team, and the Bulldogs' offense is not good enough to carry them this season. They need to step up defensively, especially with some of the offensive talent they have to face in the next month, before the A-10. (Indiana, Northwestern)
Efficient Starters, including Rontei
All five starters scored in double figures and shot at least 50% from the field, led by Rotnei Clarke and Khyle Marshall with 19 points apiece. Rotnei Clarke has been an inefficient scorer so far this season, so it was great to see that he shot 5/6 from three point range and 6/8 overall. Marshall has continued his early season success with overwhelming athleticism, and this game was a step in the right direction for Andrew Smith, who has had some early season struggles.
Defense?
According to Butler IndyStar writer David Woods, this was the fourth consecutive game in which Butler's defense has given up more than 70 points, and that has not happened since 1995. Giving up 73 points to a Division III team is quite uncharacteristic for a Brad Stevens coached Butler team, and the Bulldogs' offense is not good enough to carry them this season. They need to step up defensively, especially with some of the offensive talent they have to face in the next month, before the A-10. (Indiana, Northwestern)
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Postgame Analysis: Butler vs. Illinois (Sorry for late posting)
Butler was defeated 78-61 by Illinois in the Maui Invitational Championship game. Here is my analysis, after having watched the entire game live on ESPN.
Shot Distribution
Rotnei Clarke and Kellen Dunham combined to take 30 shots, while Andrew Smith took just 4 shots. Smith and Marshall combined for just 10 points in the game, while Clarke and Dunham continued to fire threes at will. For Butler to be successful, they need a balanced attack on offensive, with the interior game of Smith and Marshall and the exterior game of Clarke and Dunham.
Stevens Needs to Decide on a Backup Point Guard
He still has not made it clear who will handle the ball when Rotnei Clarke is subbing out or playing off the ball. While Aldridge received minutes against Marquette and UNC, Alex Barlow received more minutes in the Illinois game. It is not fair for either one of them to have them just play a couple minutes each at point guard each game.
Who is the Three Point Shooter?
While Butler held Illinois top two three point shooters (Richardson and Paul) to 4/14 from three, they left forward Tyler Griffey open on multiple occasions, and he ended up shooting 4/5 on 3 pointers. Griffey had not shot many threes this season, but Butler still needed to recognize that he was capable and close out harder on him, as a couple of his threes were huge momentum swings in favor of Illinois.
Dunham off the Mark
Kellen Dunham was 0/9 from behind the arc, something I bet he's never done before in his basketball career. As poorly as he played, backup Chase Stigall is not really challenging for minutes. Stigall, who has been known for his defense the past couple of seasons, has been quite susceptible to allowing dribble penetration so far this season.
Shot Distribution
Rotnei Clarke and Kellen Dunham combined to take 30 shots, while Andrew Smith took just 4 shots. Smith and Marshall combined for just 10 points in the game, while Clarke and Dunham continued to fire threes at will. For Butler to be successful, they need a balanced attack on offensive, with the interior game of Smith and Marshall and the exterior game of Clarke and Dunham.
Stevens Needs to Decide on a Backup Point Guard
He still has not made it clear who will handle the ball when Rotnei Clarke is subbing out or playing off the ball. While Aldridge received minutes against Marquette and UNC, Alex Barlow received more minutes in the Illinois game. It is not fair for either one of them to have them just play a couple minutes each at point guard each game.
Who is the Three Point Shooter?
While Butler held Illinois top two three point shooters (Richardson and Paul) to 4/14 from three, they left forward Tyler Griffey open on multiple occasions, and he ended up shooting 4/5 on 3 pointers. Griffey had not shot many threes this season, but Butler still needed to recognize that he was capable and close out harder on him, as a couple of his threes were huge momentum swings in favor of Illinois.
Dunham off the Mark
Kellen Dunham was 0/9 from behind the arc, something I bet he's never done before in his basketball career. As poorly as he played, backup Chase Stigall is not really challenging for minutes. Stigall, who has been known for his defense the past couple of seasons, has been quite susceptible to allowing dribble penetration so far this season.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Postgame Analysis: Butler vs. North Carolina
Butler was able to survive a furious second half comeback to beat North Carolina 82-71. This was the first game I was able to watch live on TV this season, and I was busy with my notepad, so I have quite a bit to say about this game. Here is my postgame analysis with major themes from the game.
Kellen and Rotnei from Downtown; Stigall too
These trio combined to shoot 11 for 18 from downtown, but good shooting should be expected, at least from those first two guys. Nonetheless, three point shooting is definitely a major reason why Butler was able to jump out to a 29 point lead in the first half.
Andrew Smith is the new version of 2009-10 Matt Howard
Smith did have 13 points tonight, but fouled out for the third time in four games this season. The Bulldogs need him on the floor, as Erik Fromm's post defense was sub par. Like Howard, Smith also showed good ability to pass the ball on several occasions during the game.
Fromm, Woods both struggle shooting
Ever since the midway point of last season, I have dreaded every single jump shot Kam Woods has taken, since I know that they are just not going to go in. Fromm on the other hand, is a capable shooter who should be able get out of his slump, especially if that starts by attacking the glass and getting layups, which he was able to do tonight.
Stigall, Clarke on Defense
Chase Stigall started on the 2011 NCAA runner-up team because of his defensive ability, but he had multiple defensive breakdowns in this game, allowing Dexter Strickland and P.J. Hairston to drive by him to the basket. Rotnei Clarke had similar difficulties guarding point guard Marcus Paige, especially towards the end of the game.
Butler struggles to Break the Press
This looked very similar to the 2011 NCAA Tournament game against Wisconsin. Butler blew a big lead because of their inability to break the press from North Carolina. Their key mistake was continually passing into the corner, which adds two extra defenders in the sideline. The Bulldogs need to get the ball in the middle to a big man since they do not have elite ball-handling guards.
Barlow back to Walk-On; Aldridge far from Major Minutes
Alex Barlow has played a total of one minute in the two games in Maui. With Clarke playing about 35 minutes per game, don't expect Jackson Aldridge to ever get double figure minutes.
Butler will play the winner of the Illinois/Chaminade game that is taking place as I am writing this blog, playing for the Maui Invitational Championship. I will be watching the entire game live on TV, and I can't wait to see if the Bulldogs can make it three in a row.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Postgame Analysis: Butler vs. Marquette
Rotnei Clarke hit a game winning three pointer, as Butler beat Marquette 72-71. I was not able to watch the game but I will be watching the next two games. Here is my postgame analysis based on the box score.
Rotnei Clutch, but not Consistent
Rotnei Clarke did hit the game winning three pointer, but 7-21 shooting and 4-14 from three definitely leave something to be desired. He needs to be able to score 20 points without taking 20 shots for Butler to be successful offensively this season.
Khyle, Khyle, Khyle
After a sub par effort against Xavier, Khyle Marshall bounced back with 24 points on 11-15 shooting. An assertive Marshall will suck defenses into the paint leaving more open looks for Clarke and Dunham, and also help Andrew Smith on the opposite block.
Barlow? Aldridge?
Alex Barlow did not play in this game, and Butler's official post game release does not mention anything about an injury. It seems as though Brad Stevens went with Aldridge instead, looking for some much needed offensive. However, Aldridge did not do much, so look for Stevens to go back to Alex Barlow at Point Guard.
*Update: This tweet from IndyStar writer David Woods confirms that Barlow not playing was a coaches decision. https://twitter.com/DavidWoods007/status/270657402662174720
Kellen, Kam were MIA
Kellen Dunham attempted one field goal in 27 minutes, while Kam Woods only played 3 minutes. Woods' playing time was diminished largely due to the fact that Khyle Marshall played 31 minutes, but 3 minutes is his career low for minutes played, with the exception of the Indiana game last year. Dunham, on the other hand, got plenty of playing time, but was rather uninvolved on the offensive end, much like Gordon Hayward was in spurts during his freshman season.
Rotnei Clutch, but not Consistent
Rotnei Clarke did hit the game winning three pointer, but 7-21 shooting and 4-14 from three definitely leave something to be desired. He needs to be able to score 20 points without taking 20 shots for Butler to be successful offensively this season.
Khyle, Khyle, Khyle
After a sub par effort against Xavier, Khyle Marshall bounced back with 24 points on 11-15 shooting. An assertive Marshall will suck defenses into the paint leaving more open looks for Clarke and Dunham, and also help Andrew Smith on the opposite block.
Barlow? Aldridge?
Alex Barlow did not play in this game, and Butler's official post game release does not mention anything about an injury. It seems as though Brad Stevens went with Aldridge instead, looking for some much needed offensive. However, Aldridge did not do much, so look for Stevens to go back to Alex Barlow at Point Guard.
*Update: This tweet from IndyStar writer David Woods confirms that Barlow not playing was a coaches decision. https://twitter.com/DavidWoods007/status/270657402662174720
Kellen, Kam were MIA
Kellen Dunham attempted one field goal in 27 minutes, while Kam Woods only played 3 minutes. Woods' playing time was diminished largely due to the fact that Khyle Marshall played 31 minutes, but 3 minutes is his career low for minutes played, with the exception of the Indiana game last year. Dunham, on the other hand, got plenty of playing time, but was rather uninvolved on the offensive end, much like Gordon Hayward was in spurts during his freshman season.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Postgame Analysis: Butler @ Xavier
I really don't need to watch this game to realize that this Butler team has not changed as much from last season as I had hoped. I have not gotten a chance to watch this game, and after hearing about, I probably will not watch it at all. Nonetheless, here is my analysis of the Butler vs. Xavier Game.
Is it 2008 again?
Kellen Dunham is having success that no Butler freshman has had since Gordon Hayward and Shelvin Mack in 2008-09. Dunham is averaging 14.5 points through two games, and played a significant 32 minutes against Xavier. He has the potential to be a Hayward/Mack player, and if he does, the Bulldogs will be quite successful for years to come.
Smith on Track; Stigall on Downfall
While he still has not reached double figures in scoring, Smith's nine point effort was a good sign that he is heading in the right direction offensively. Still, he got outplayed by Xavier's Jeff Robinson, also and Indianapolis native. On the other hand, Chase Stigall is slowly falling out of the rotation, losing minutes to Kellen Dunham. This is a guy who played 33 minutes in an NCAA tournament game in 2011, but has only averaged 15.6 minutes per game over his last 17 regular season games dating back to last season.
Inconsistent Rotnei
Let's face it. The Bulldogs aren't going to win many games where Rotnei Clarke scores seven points on 1/7 three point shooting. He needs to score for the Bulldogs to well. Yes, I know the Bulldogs were an NCAA Tournament team three consecutive years with a point guard who didn't score much (Ron Nored), but those teams had other consistent perimeter scoring. As of now, this years team does not, maybe outside of Dunham.
Bad Loss is an Understatement
Considering Xavier lost all five starters from last year's team and was picked in the bottom half of the A-10, this is one of the worst losses Butler has had in many years, and 47 points as a team is unacceptable. This about as bad a loss as the Bulldogs have had since the game at Youngstown State in February 2011, a team that went 2-16 in the Horizon League.
Is it 2008 again?
Kellen Dunham is having success that no Butler freshman has had since Gordon Hayward and Shelvin Mack in 2008-09. Dunham is averaging 14.5 points through two games, and played a significant 32 minutes against Xavier. He has the potential to be a Hayward/Mack player, and if he does, the Bulldogs will be quite successful for years to come.
Smith on Track; Stigall on Downfall
While he still has not reached double figures in scoring, Smith's nine point effort was a good sign that he is heading in the right direction offensively. Still, he got outplayed by Xavier's Jeff Robinson, also and Indianapolis native. On the other hand, Chase Stigall is slowly falling out of the rotation, losing minutes to Kellen Dunham. This is a guy who played 33 minutes in an NCAA tournament game in 2011, but has only averaged 15.6 minutes per game over his last 17 regular season games dating back to last season.
Inconsistent Rotnei
Let's face it. The Bulldogs aren't going to win many games where Rotnei Clarke scores seven points on 1/7 three point shooting. He needs to score for the Bulldogs to well. Yes, I know the Bulldogs were an NCAA Tournament team three consecutive years with a point guard who didn't score much (Ron Nored), but those teams had other consistent perimeter scoring. As of now, this years team does not, maybe outside of Dunham.
Bad Loss is an Understatement
Considering Xavier lost all five starters from last year's team and was picked in the bottom half of the A-10, this is one of the worst losses Butler has had in many years, and 47 points as a team is unacceptable. This about as bad a loss as the Bulldogs have had since the game at Youngstown State in February 2011, a team that went 2-16 in the Horizon League.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Postgame Analysis: Butler vs. Elon
The Butler Bulldogs defeated the Elon Phoenix 74-59 on Saturday afternoon at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Here is my game recap with major themes from the game:
Shooters Make all the Difference
Newcomers Rotnei Clarke and Kellen Dunham have really added three point shooting ability that the Bulldogs were severely lacking in 2011-12. They combined for eight threes and 39 of Butler's 74 points on Saturday. Butler will be very difficult to beat if those two are able to spread the floor so well.
Where has Smith been?
Andrew Smith fouled out in nine minutes against Elon, and has yet to score in double digits in three total games so far. While Khyle Marshall has been a pleasant surprise, it would be great if both Smith and Marshall could play well at the same time.
Barlow makes a move toward Streicher territory
Alex Barlow's career path from walk-on to getting major minutes is quite similar to that of former Butler forward Drew Streicher. Both are not in there to score the ball, but for defensive purposes. Against Elon, Barlow played 17 minutes, and had 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and just one turnover. If he keeps this up, he will eventually crack the starting lineup the same way the former walk-on Streicher did.
Roosevelt Jones is the Point Guard?
While Rotnei Clarke is technically the starting point guard for Butler, Roosevelt Jones could very well lead this team in assists since Clarke is more of a combo guard. Jones had six assists against Elon and seems very comfortable with the ball in his hands.
Butler will next play a non-conference game against at Xavier on Tuesday at 4:00 PM ET. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN. I am not available to watch the game live, so I will DVR it and watch it later. Expect a game recap of Butler vs. Xavier by Wednesday night.
Shooters Make all the Difference
Newcomers Rotnei Clarke and Kellen Dunham have really added three point shooting ability that the Bulldogs were severely lacking in 2011-12. They combined for eight threes and 39 of Butler's 74 points on Saturday. Butler will be very difficult to beat if those two are able to spread the floor so well.
Where has Smith been?
Andrew Smith fouled out in nine minutes against Elon, and has yet to score in double digits in three total games so far. While Khyle Marshall has been a pleasant surprise, it would be great if both Smith and Marshall could play well at the same time.
Barlow makes a move toward Streicher territory
Alex Barlow's career path from walk-on to getting major minutes is quite similar to that of former Butler forward Drew Streicher. Both are not in there to score the ball, but for defensive purposes. Against Elon, Barlow played 17 minutes, and had 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and just one turnover. If he keeps this up, he will eventually crack the starting lineup the same way the former walk-on Streicher did.
Roosevelt Jones is the Point Guard?
While Rotnei Clarke is technically the starting point guard for Butler, Roosevelt Jones could very well lead this team in assists since Clarke is more of a combo guard. Jones had six assists against Elon and seems very comfortable with the ball in his hands.
Butler will next play a non-conference game against at Xavier on Tuesday at 4:00 PM ET. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN. I am not available to watch the game live, so I will DVR it and watch it later. Expect a game recap of Butler vs. Xavier by Wednesday night.
Friday, November 9, 2012
Freshman Guard Chris Harrison-Docks to Transfer
It was announced today that freshman guard Chris Harrison-Docks is transferring from Butler. “I believe that another school would better complement me both personally and athletically,” Harrison-Docks said in a statement released by the university. While he was not expected to play very many minutes this season, he could have been more important for the Bulldogs in future seasons. All in all, this is not a huge loss for Butler as they have three point guards this year (Clarke, Aldridge, Barlow) and will have three next year (Aldridge, Barlow, and 2013 Recruit Rene Castro). The day before the first regular season game is an odd time to transfer, and it really makes one question his commitment to the Butler program, and any other school he transfers to. This loss means very little compared to the loss of Chrishawn Hopkins, and this does not have a major effect on how Butler's season will turn out.
Stay tuned tomorrow for my Butler vs. Elon game recap.
Stay tuned tomorrow for my Butler vs. Elon game recap.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Postgame Analysis: Butler vs. Indianapolis
I knew coming in that Butler should not overlook UIndy at all, since they beat Valparaiso at the ARC in an exhibition game in November 2009. This game was close for a while, but Butler's defense won them the game at the end. Nevertheless, here is my box score analysis.
Highs and Lows: While Khyle Marshall has looked great on the offensive end, getting to the free throw line and shooting well from the field, Andrew Smith has struggled to get involved on offense. He scored just 5 points, and was only 1/4 at the free throw line. If Butler is going to be successful in the Atlantic 10, both Smith and Marshall will have to be consistent scorers in the post.
Three Point woes: Kellen Dunham and Rotnei Clarke were a combined 4 of 14 beyond the arc, and the team was a total 4/16. If Butler continues to shoot threes like this and the way they shot them last year, they will likely be under .500 in the A-10.
Defense: As poor as Butler's offense was, their defense remains tough, holding and Indianapolis team with multiple Division 1 transfers to 47 points. The Bulldogs have shown that they are very capable of winning games in the 50s and 60s, and it looks as though they will have to continue to do so.
Shorter Rotation: The Bulldogs essentially played a nine man rotation, which included Alex Barlow but did not include Erik Fromm, who played double figure minutes last season. Barlow's defense should earn him about 10 minutes a contest, and look for Fromm and Andrew Smeathers to get minutes as well this season.
Highs and Lows: While Khyle Marshall has looked great on the offensive end, getting to the free throw line and shooting well from the field, Andrew Smith has struggled to get involved on offense. He scored just 5 points, and was only 1/4 at the free throw line. If Butler is going to be successful in the Atlantic 10, both Smith and Marshall will have to be consistent scorers in the post.
Three Point woes: Kellen Dunham and Rotnei Clarke were a combined 4 of 14 beyond the arc, and the team was a total 4/16. If Butler continues to shoot threes like this and the way they shot them last year, they will likely be under .500 in the A-10.
Defense: As poor as Butler's offense was, their defense remains tough, holding and Indianapolis team with multiple Division 1 transfers to 47 points. The Bulldogs have shown that they are very capable of winning games in the 50s and 60s, and it looks as though they will have to continue to do so.
Shorter Rotation: The Bulldogs essentially played a nine man rotation, which included Alex Barlow but did not include Erik Fromm, who played double figure minutes last season. Barlow's defense should earn him about 10 minutes a contest, and look for Fromm and Andrew Smeathers to get minutes as well this season.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Game Recap: Butler vs. Marian (Exhibition)
Since I do not live in the Indianapolis-TV Market area, if Butler's game is not on a nationally televised network (or CBSSports Network), my only analysis can come from a box score, which never does tell the whole story. Nonetheless, he is my first Butler Bulldogs game recap.
Positives
1. Andrew Smeathers: I had quickly pegged Smeathers at the bottom of the depth chart based on offseason hip surgery and his ineffective play last year. However, Smeathers looked good on the court today 3-4 on threes, and hustle plays on defense according to IndyStar writer David Woods. He still has the opportunity to earn some minutes in the rotation this season.
2. Kellen Dunham: Dunham could also fix Butler's three point shooting woes from a year ago, going 4-6 this afternoon on threes. It was good to see that he didn't have any first game jitters, and was able to go out and execute.
3. Defense: I don't care who you play against, but 40 points is getting it done on the defensive end. The Bulldogs held Marian to 34% shooting.
Negatives
1. Andrew Smith: He only played 14 minutes, and did not have a field goal. I was hoping he would be more consistent this season, but this is not a good sign. It is just an exhibition game, so don't get too worried.
2. Roosevelt Jones: Only 3 points, but 1 of 5 from the free throw line. He needed to improve on his free throw shooting this offseason and it doesn't look like it has happened so far.
3. Only 11 2-point baskets made: This speaks Butler's inability for post players to convert. Outside of Khyle Marshall, none of the bigs looked impressive on the offensive end.
Overall
While Chrishawn Hopkins' absence was clearly noticable on the offensive end, with Butler only scoring 62 points, the tremendous defense played by the Bulldogs gives me optimism that this could be a team that wins close games down the stretch. If Butler's bigs can be more effective on offense, Butler could still be a great team in the Atlantic 10.
Positives
1. Andrew Smeathers: I had quickly pegged Smeathers at the bottom of the depth chart based on offseason hip surgery and his ineffective play last year. However, Smeathers looked good on the court today 3-4 on threes, and hustle plays on defense according to IndyStar writer David Woods. He still has the opportunity to earn some minutes in the rotation this season.
2. Kellen Dunham: Dunham could also fix Butler's three point shooting woes from a year ago, going 4-6 this afternoon on threes. It was good to see that he didn't have any first game jitters, and was able to go out and execute.
3. Defense: I don't care who you play against, but 40 points is getting it done on the defensive end. The Bulldogs held Marian to 34% shooting.
Negatives
1. Andrew Smith: He only played 14 minutes, and did not have a field goal. I was hoping he would be more consistent this season, but this is not a good sign. It is just an exhibition game, so don't get too worried.
2. Roosevelt Jones: Only 3 points, but 1 of 5 from the free throw line. He needed to improve on his free throw shooting this offseason and it doesn't look like it has happened so far.
3. Only 11 2-point baskets made: This speaks Butler's inability for post players to convert. Outside of Khyle Marshall, none of the bigs looked impressive on the offensive end.
Overall
While Chrishawn Hopkins' absence was clearly noticable on the offensive end, with Butler only scoring 62 points, the tremendous defense played by the Bulldogs gives me optimism that this could be a team that wins close games down the stretch. If Butler's bigs can be more effective on offense, Butler could still be a great team in the Atlantic 10.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Chrishawn Hopkins "Taking his Talents" to Wright State
Taking my Talents
Taking my talents to Dayton Ohio to join the Wright State Raiders
I was surprised that he was staying in the Horizon League, but I was also surprised that his recent dismissal from Butler hasn't humbled him enough so that he would refrain from using the phrase, "Taking my Talents." While Hopkins had his ups last year, he certainly had his downs, including a four game stretch in December where he played a total of 23 minutes and scored 5 total points. He was inconsistent all year for Butler, and it is not as though high-major college basketball programs were begging Hopkins to come to their school. Wright State, picked last in the Horizon League preseason poll, is on a downward trend. So he may be "taking his talents" to another school, but it is to one that is significantly worse than Butler. As desperate as Wright State head coach Billy Donlon may be to put the Raiders back on the map, the will not even have Hopkins' "talents" until January 2014.
Two main things I learned from Hopkins' tweet above:
1. Hopkins has not been humbled by his dismissal from Butler University and his inconsistent play for a majority of last season. Boastful statements like "taking my talents" illustrate his character, and why he does not truly fit The Butler Way.
2. He is going to a basketball program that really needs his help, but he will have to stay disciplined and out of trouble for the next year and a half to even get that chance.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Best Foreshadowing/Bold Prediction Ever?
I found this article in David Woods' IndyStar Blog Archive. This article is from February 2010 written after a come from behind home victory against Loyola.
http://blogs.indystar.com/butler/2010/02/08/bench-helps-dawgs-overcome-cold-start/
"I see Chase Stigall becoming a major contributor, perhaps as early as next season and maybe even as a starter."
This could not have been a more accurate prediction, and an excellent one, considering that Chase Stigall averaged 0.7 points per game and 3.1 minutes per game as a Freshman, rarely seeing non-garbage time minutes. Not only did Stigall become part of the regular rotation the following season, but started every game down the stretch of Butler's second Final Four run in 2011. This is why Woods does what he does, because he is a great evaluator of Butler's players. Most Butler fans probably had not even heard of Chase Stigall in February 2010. Next time David Woods makes a bold prediction about the Bulldogs that you might not agree with, listen to it, since there is a good chance that the prediction will one day become a reality.
http://blogs.indystar.com/butler/2010/02/08/bench-helps-dawgs-overcome-cold-start/
"I see Chase Stigall becoming a major contributor, perhaps as early as next season and maybe even as a starter."
This could not have been a more accurate prediction, and an excellent one, considering that Chase Stigall averaged 0.7 points per game and 3.1 minutes per game as a Freshman, rarely seeing non-garbage time minutes. Not only did Stigall become part of the regular rotation the following season, but started every game down the stretch of Butler's second Final Four run in 2011. This is why Woods does what he does, because he is a great evaluator of Butler's players. Most Butler fans probably had not even heard of Chase Stigall in February 2010. Next time David Woods makes a bold prediction about the Bulldogs that you might not agree with, listen to it, since there is a good chance that the prediction will one day become a reality.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Butler Basketball Alumni Update
Here are all the former Butler Bulldogs who are playing professional basketball for 2012-13. All info is courtesy of eurobasket.com and NBA.com. The years in parenthesis represent the years that the player played for Butler.
Matt Howard (2007-2011)
Team: Chorale de Roanne Basket
League: France-ProA
Team Website: http://www.eurobasket.com/team.asp?Cntry=FRA&Team=417
Pete Campbell (2006-2008)
Team: SAM BASKET MASSAGNO
League: Switzerland-LNA
Team Website: http://www.eurobasket.com/team.asp?Cntry=SUI&Team=1428
Mike Green (2006-2008)
Team: CIMBERIO VARESE
League: Italy-SerieA
Team Website: http://www.eurobasket.com/team.asp?Cntry=ITA&Team=88
Avery Jukes (2007-2010)
Team: YDRA ASFALISTIKI ENAD AGIOS DOMETIOS
League: Cyprus-Division A
Team Website: http://www.eurobasket.com/team.asp?Cntry=Cyprus&Team=351&Page=0
Gordon Hayward (2008-2010)
Team: Utah Jazz
League: NBA
Team Website: http://www.nba.com/jazz/
Shelvin Mack (2008-2011)
Team: Washington Wizards
League: NBA
Team Website: http://www.nba.com/wizards/
You can follow each player all season long by going to their team's website. I apologize if I have missed any players who are currently playing professional basketball. This post is subject to addition/alteration if these players sign with another team, or an additional player is signed to a professional contract.
Matt Howard (2007-2011)
Team: Chorale de Roanne Basket
League: France-ProA
Team Website: http://www.eurobasket.com/team.asp?Cntry=FRA&Team=417
Pete Campbell (2006-2008)
Team: SAM BASKET MASSAGNO
League: Switzerland-LNA
Team Website: http://www.eurobasket.com/team.asp?Cntry=SUI&Team=1428
Mike Green (2006-2008)
Team: CIMBERIO VARESE
League: Italy-SerieA
Team Website: http://www.eurobasket.com/team.asp?Cntry=ITA&Team=88
Avery Jukes (2007-2010)
Team: YDRA ASFALISTIKI ENAD AGIOS DOMETIOS
League: Cyprus-Division A
Team Website: http://www.eurobasket.com/team.asp?Cntry=Cyprus&Team=351&Page=0
Gordon Hayward (2008-2010)
Team: Utah Jazz
League: NBA
Team Website: http://www.nba.com/jazz/
Shelvin Mack (2008-2011)
Team: Washington Wizards
League: NBA
Team Website: http://www.nba.com/wizards/
You can follow each player all season long by going to their team's website. I apologize if I have missed any players who are currently playing professional basketball. This post is subject to addition/alteration if these players sign with another team, or an additional player is signed to a professional contract.
Friday, October 5, 2012
Brad Stevens Podcasts; Butler Picked 6th
Brad Stevens on Tim Brando Show: http://www.yahoosportsradio.com/college-basketball/brad-stevens-gaining-from-the-perimeter-in-preparations-for-the-a-10-35623/
Brad Stevens at A-10 Media Day, speaking with ESPN's Andy Katz: http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=8462539 (starting at 22:45 mark of podcast)
At Atlantic 10 Media Day, the Butler Bulldogs were picked 6th in the pre-season poll. Rotnei Clarke was on the preseason Second Team, Roosevelt Jones was on the All-Defensive Team, and Kellen Dunham is on the All-Newcomer Team.
While I was initially surprised the Bulldogs were picked as low as 6th, I realized that that would have been higher a few weeks ago before Chrishawn Hopkins got dismissed from Butler University.
Stevens has emphasized how Rotnei Clarke is not just a shooter, Andrew Smith is in the best shape of his life, Khyle Marshall had the best summer ever at Butler, and Kameron Woods is flying under the radar. He also emphasized the importance of scheduling strength, as that is how you really find out what team you are.
Brad Stevens at A-10 Media Day, speaking with ESPN's Andy Katz: http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=8462539 (starting at 22:45 mark of podcast)
At Atlantic 10 Media Day, the Butler Bulldogs were picked 6th in the pre-season poll. Rotnei Clarke was on the preseason Second Team, Roosevelt Jones was on the All-Defensive Team, and Kellen Dunham is on the All-Newcomer Team.
While I was initially surprised the Bulldogs were picked as low as 6th, I realized that that would have been higher a few weeks ago before Chrishawn Hopkins got dismissed from Butler University.
Stevens has emphasized how Rotnei Clarke is not just a shooter, Andrew Smith is in the best shape of his life, Khyle Marshall had the best summer ever at Butler, and Kameron Woods is flying under the radar. He also emphasized the importance of scheduling strength, as that is how you really find out what team you are.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Top 10 Bulldogs from last 10 Seasons
With the official start of practice still a couple of weeks away, I thought an interesting post would be one ranking the best Butler players over the last 10 years (2002-03 through 2011-12). One important thing to remember is that this ranking is based on performance at Butler, not success at the professional level. However, the teams success factors in somewhat to the rankings. Here is the list.
1. Gordon Hayward, 2008-2010
2. Matt Howard 2007-2011
3. A.J. Graves, 2004-2008
4. Shelvin Mack, 2008-2011
5. Mike Green, 2006-2008
6. Brandon Polk, 2004-2006
7. Ronald Nored, 2008-2012
8. Brandon Miller, 2000-2003
9. Bruce Horan, 2002-2006
10. Pete Campbell, 2006-2008
Analysis: Some may think Shelvin Mack was ranked too low, but remember, at no point in his Butler career was he considered the best player on the roster, and he never led Butler in scoring. Also, I was thinking about putting Willie Veasley at #10 instead of Campbell, but Campbell did more for the Bulldogs offensively in a shorter period of time, and was hit more clutch baskets than Veasley did in his career (save the Syracuse game). Plus, I didn't seem right putting to primarily defensive players (Nored and Veasley) on this list together. Andrew Smith could make this list eventually if he had a HUGE senior season. While some may disagree on the order, I think I pretty fairly judged which guys would be in the top 10.
1. Gordon Hayward, 2008-2010
2. Matt Howard 2007-2011
3. A.J. Graves, 2004-2008
4. Shelvin Mack, 2008-2011
5. Mike Green, 2006-2008
6. Brandon Polk, 2004-2006
7. Ronald Nored, 2008-2012
8. Brandon Miller, 2000-2003
9. Bruce Horan, 2002-2006
10. Pete Campbell, 2006-2008
Analysis: Some may think Shelvin Mack was ranked too low, but remember, at no point in his Butler career was he considered the best player on the roster, and he never led Butler in scoring. Also, I was thinking about putting Willie Veasley at #10 instead of Campbell, but Campbell did more for the Bulldogs offensively in a shorter period of time, and was hit more clutch baskets than Veasley did in his career (save the Syracuse game). Plus, I didn't seem right putting to primarily defensive players (Nored and Veasley) on this list together. Andrew Smith could make this list eventually if he had a HUGE senior season. While some may disagree on the order, I think I pretty fairly judged which guys would be in the top 10.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Crossroads Classic Preview: Butler vs. Indiana
With today's announcement that the Butler vs. Indiana game in the 2012 Crossroads Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, I thought it would be an interesting to preview and compare both teams. I will be doing this by position.
Point Guard: Yogi Ferrell vs. Rotnei Clarke
While Ferrell is a young talented point guard with good court vision and scoring ability, the edge in this matchup has to favor the Senior Rotnei Clarke, who has proven himself to be one of the better scorer's in Division 1 basketball the past four years. With his point guard skills having improved after going against Ronald Nored in practice, Clarke will be ready to lead the Bulldogs this season, and certainly has the edge in this matchup. I am sorry I cannot say more about Ferrell because I have not really seen him play.
Shooting Guard: Jordan Hulls vs. Chase Stigall
It is hard to imagine someone who is only 6'0 at shooting guard, but Hulls is too good to be kept out of the starting lineup. His three point shooting is 20% better than Chase Stigall, and Hulls is a better ball-handler than Stigall. Stigall may have the edge on defense, but overall, Jordan Hulls is the more complete player, and will win the edge in this matchup.
Small Forward: Victor Oladipo vs. Roosevelt Jones
Both players have the ability to get to the basket and finish around the rim, so this is a very close matchup. Roosevelt Jones is a great rebounder for his size, but Oladipo is a great all-around defender. I am going to go with Jones on this one, but that could be slightly biased. Still, he is a better rebounder and a more physical player, which is a style of play that will be rewarded in this game.
Power Forward: Christian Watford vs. Khyle Marshall
While Marshall may be more athletic, Watford is clearly the more complete player offensively. He posses an inside-outside threat that Marshall does not, and has a significant height advantage on Marshall. This matchup should be won easily by Watford.
Center: Cody Zeller vs. Andrew Smith
While both are good rebounders who shoot a high percentage from the field, Zeller is the more physical of the two and the more agressive looking to score in the post. Smith does have the three-point shot that Zeller does not. Still, Andrew Smith will get worn out facing Zeller on a possesion by possession basis, and Zeller will prevail in the end in this matchup.
Sixth Man: Will Sheehey vs. Kellen Dunham
Sheehey started last year when Verdell Jones was injured, but I think he will be very effective as a scoring threat of the bench this season to allow for a three guard lineup. Dunham, like Sheehey has a great shooting stroke, but Sheehey has a height and significant weight advantage on Dunham, and two years of college basketball experience. While both have similar offensive skills, Sheehey's experience will give him the edge in this matchup.
Overall: While Butler can keep this game close for a while, Indiana has too much depth and talent to not win this game. I didn't even mention Maurice Creek, who was on the verge of becoming a star at IU before injuries derailed his career. My final score prediction is: Indiana 83, Butler 67.
Point Guard: Yogi Ferrell vs. Rotnei Clarke
While Ferrell is a young talented point guard with good court vision and scoring ability, the edge in this matchup has to favor the Senior Rotnei Clarke, who has proven himself to be one of the better scorer's in Division 1 basketball the past four years. With his point guard skills having improved after going against Ronald Nored in practice, Clarke will be ready to lead the Bulldogs this season, and certainly has the edge in this matchup. I am sorry I cannot say more about Ferrell because I have not really seen him play.
Shooting Guard: Jordan Hulls vs. Chase Stigall
It is hard to imagine someone who is only 6'0 at shooting guard, but Hulls is too good to be kept out of the starting lineup. His three point shooting is 20% better than Chase Stigall, and Hulls is a better ball-handler than Stigall. Stigall may have the edge on defense, but overall, Jordan Hulls is the more complete player, and will win the edge in this matchup.
Small Forward: Victor Oladipo vs. Roosevelt Jones
Both players have the ability to get to the basket and finish around the rim, so this is a very close matchup. Roosevelt Jones is a great rebounder for his size, but Oladipo is a great all-around defender. I am going to go with Jones on this one, but that could be slightly biased. Still, he is a better rebounder and a more physical player, which is a style of play that will be rewarded in this game.
Power Forward: Christian Watford vs. Khyle Marshall
While Marshall may be more athletic, Watford is clearly the more complete player offensively. He posses an inside-outside threat that Marshall does not, and has a significant height advantage on Marshall. This matchup should be won easily by Watford.
Center: Cody Zeller vs. Andrew Smith
While both are good rebounders who shoot a high percentage from the field, Zeller is the more physical of the two and the more agressive looking to score in the post. Smith does have the three-point shot that Zeller does not. Still, Andrew Smith will get worn out facing Zeller on a possesion by possession basis, and Zeller will prevail in the end in this matchup.
Sixth Man: Will Sheehey vs. Kellen Dunham
Sheehey started last year when Verdell Jones was injured, but I think he will be very effective as a scoring threat of the bench this season to allow for a three guard lineup. Dunham, like Sheehey has a great shooting stroke, but Sheehey has a height and significant weight advantage on Dunham, and two years of college basketball experience. While both have similar offensive skills, Sheehey's experience will give him the edge in this matchup.
Overall: While Butler can keep this game close for a while, Indiana has too much depth and talent to not win this game. I didn't even mention Maurice Creek, who was on the verge of becoming a star at IU before injuries derailed his career. My final score prediction is: Indiana 83, Butler 67.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Alex Barlow: Next Drew Streicher?
Could Butler Sophomore walk-on Alex Barlow make the same jump for Butler player Drew Streicher made, from walk-on to starter? Barlow averaged 20.0 MPG in Butler's three CBI contests this past March, taking all of Jackson Aldridge's minutes. Barlow averaged 3.0 RPG and 2.0 APG in those three contests, and has a chance to take some of Chrishawn Hopkins' minutes, in addition to possibly stealing some from the turnover-prone Aldridge. While he will not start this year, if he can be effective in minutes off the bench, he has a chance to overtake Aldridge as Butler's point guard of the future, especially if Butler's 2013 recruiting class does not include another point guard.
Where Barlow will win his minutes is on the defensive end, as he is quite pesky despite only being 5'11. He averaged 2.7 steals per game in the three CBI contests. While that is a small sample size, he seems to be someone who could continue to the Butler tradition of strong defensive point guards (Ronald Nored, Shawn Vanzant).
Realistically, Barlow could get maybe 5-10 minutes this year with Rotnei Clarke starting at point guard, and maybe 10-15 minutes as a junior is Aldridge is ineffective/or Chris Harrison-Docks cannot prove himself at the Division 1 level. If he has this progression, Barlow could be a starter by his senior year. While this is certainly far-fetched, it is interesting to think about what walk-ons can mean to a program, both on and off the court.
Where Barlow will win his minutes is on the defensive end, as he is quite pesky despite only being 5'11. He averaged 2.7 steals per game in the three CBI contests. While that is a small sample size, he seems to be someone who could continue to the Butler tradition of strong defensive point guards (Ronald Nored, Shawn Vanzant).
Realistically, Barlow could get maybe 5-10 minutes this year with Rotnei Clarke starting at point guard, and maybe 10-15 minutes as a junior is Aldridge is ineffective/or Chris Harrison-Docks cannot prove himself at the Division 1 level. If he has this progression, Barlow could be a starter by his senior year. While this is certainly far-fetched, it is interesting to think about what walk-ons can mean to a program, both on and off the court.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Offensive Improvements Necessary for Returners
We all know Butler struggled offensively last year. Here is one or two things each returner needs to improve on to become a more complete offensive player.
Jackson Aldridge: TURNOVERS: Yes, the all caps was necessary. His assist to turnover ratio last season was 0.58/1. That is as bad as I have seen in all my years watching basketball, especially for a point guard. How can you have a point guard that turns it over almost twice as much as he gets an assist? No wonder his playing time diminished at the end of last season. He could be the starting point guard in 2013-14, but to do so, he will have to improve his decision making on the court when running the point.
Chase Stigall: Dribble Penetration: While it may seem like it would be 3 point shooting for Chase, the ability to dribble penetrate will cause defenders to give him more space on the perimeter, which would get him better 3 point looks, hopefully improving upon his percentage of under 30% from last season. 78% of his career field goals made are 3 pointers, so attacking the basket would definitely give him a more complete offensive game.
Andrew Smith: Staying Assertive: Smith scored four points or fewer 7 times last season. That is quite outrageous considering is combination of skill and size. Often he would get pushed around in the post, disappearing on the offensive end. If Smith can play a more physical post game like Matt Howard did, he will at least get to the free throw line more than he did last year, which was 4 attempts per game. Be a continual presence in the post while still being able to step out to shoot the 3 will enable Smith to improve upon his 11 points per game average.
Khyle Marshall: Mid-Range Jumper: While it did get better in between his Freshman and Sophomore seasons, it needs to take an even bigger step this season. If defenders are hugging him out on the perimeter concerned about his jump shot, it will allow him to go backdoor for more alley-oops, as he is a very good finisher around the rim. Also, Marshall would score more if he could improve upon his 55% free throw shooting.
Erik Fromm: Low Post Game: Nearly all of Fromm's baskets came from 15 feet and out last season. If Erik can develop some post moves, he will become an excellent inside-outside threat. By doing so, he would get to the free throw line more often. Fromm only attempted 0.8 charity tosses per game in 11.0 mpg, or 2.3 attempts per 30 minutes.
Kameron Woods: Jump Shots and Interior Strength: I gave Woods two areas to improve on because I think he has a ton of potential to become a complete player. Woods' jump shot held him back last year, and is the main reason why his shooting percentage was so low. If he develops a jump shot, like Marshall, he will find more open opportunities in the paint. Woods also needs to get to the free throw line and be more physical and finish around the rim. He only shot 2.0 free throws per 30 minutes, which is quite low, even lower than Fromm.
Roosevelt Jones: Jump Shot and Free Throws: Similar to Woods and Marshall, Jones could become a more complete offensive player by improving his jump shot, and giving it more arc. He is already physical in the paint, so he is truly just a consistent jump shot away from becoming an all-league player. Since he has good touch on his floaters, I see no reason why he cannot consistently hit a 15 foot jump shot.
Not Listed Here: I wanted to include Andrew Smeathers here, but he did not play enough meaningful minutes last season for me to evaluate his game. Same goes for the walk-ons, including Alex Barlow and the Kampen brothers.
Newcomers are also not listed here: Rotnei Clarke, Kellen Dunham, Chris Harrison-Docks, Devontae Morgan, because I have not seen enough of their game to give them an analysis.
Jackson Aldridge: TURNOVERS: Yes, the all caps was necessary. His assist to turnover ratio last season was 0.58/1. That is as bad as I have seen in all my years watching basketball, especially for a point guard. How can you have a point guard that turns it over almost twice as much as he gets an assist? No wonder his playing time diminished at the end of last season. He could be the starting point guard in 2013-14, but to do so, he will have to improve his decision making on the court when running the point.
Chase Stigall: Dribble Penetration: While it may seem like it would be 3 point shooting for Chase, the ability to dribble penetrate will cause defenders to give him more space on the perimeter, which would get him better 3 point looks, hopefully improving upon his percentage of under 30% from last season. 78% of his career field goals made are 3 pointers, so attacking the basket would definitely give him a more complete offensive game.
Andrew Smith: Staying Assertive: Smith scored four points or fewer 7 times last season. That is quite outrageous considering is combination of skill and size. Often he would get pushed around in the post, disappearing on the offensive end. If Smith can play a more physical post game like Matt Howard did, he will at least get to the free throw line more than he did last year, which was 4 attempts per game. Be a continual presence in the post while still being able to step out to shoot the 3 will enable Smith to improve upon his 11 points per game average.
Khyle Marshall: Mid-Range Jumper: While it did get better in between his Freshman and Sophomore seasons, it needs to take an even bigger step this season. If defenders are hugging him out on the perimeter concerned about his jump shot, it will allow him to go backdoor for more alley-oops, as he is a very good finisher around the rim. Also, Marshall would score more if he could improve upon his 55% free throw shooting.
Erik Fromm: Low Post Game: Nearly all of Fromm's baskets came from 15 feet and out last season. If Erik can develop some post moves, he will become an excellent inside-outside threat. By doing so, he would get to the free throw line more often. Fromm only attempted 0.8 charity tosses per game in 11.0 mpg, or 2.3 attempts per 30 minutes.
Kameron Woods: Jump Shots and Interior Strength: I gave Woods two areas to improve on because I think he has a ton of potential to become a complete player. Woods' jump shot held him back last year, and is the main reason why his shooting percentage was so low. If he develops a jump shot, like Marshall, he will find more open opportunities in the paint. Woods also needs to get to the free throw line and be more physical and finish around the rim. He only shot 2.0 free throws per 30 minutes, which is quite low, even lower than Fromm.
Roosevelt Jones: Jump Shot and Free Throws: Similar to Woods and Marshall, Jones could become a more complete offensive player by improving his jump shot, and giving it more arc. He is already physical in the paint, so he is truly just a consistent jump shot away from becoming an all-league player. Since he has good touch on his floaters, I see no reason why he cannot consistently hit a 15 foot jump shot.
Not Listed Here: I wanted to include Andrew Smeathers here, but he did not play enough meaningful minutes last season for me to evaluate his game. Same goes for the walk-ons, including Alex Barlow and the Kampen brothers.
Newcomers are also not listed here: Rotnei Clarke, Kellen Dunham, Chris Harrison-Docks, Devontae Morgan, because I have not seen enough of their game to give them an analysis.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Breakout Player?
Even with many returning faces, there are many players who could have a breakout season this year? While I do not think any particular player will have this type of season, there are still players who have the potential to do so. Here are the options:
1. Any of the four big men. In my opinion, Andrew Smith, Khyle Marshall, Kam Woods, and Erik Fromm all underachieved last season. Erik Fromm has the potential to become a player similar to Erik Murphy at Florida, a great consistent 3 point shooter who can really space the floor, and they will need him to do that more with the loss of Hopkins. Khyle Marshall has faced very few players in his career who are more athletic than he is (UDM's Doug Anderson may be an exception). Even at 6'6, his athleticism on alley-oops and a mid range jump shot that is continuing to develop could make Marshall at 13-14 ppg guy if his effort and performance are consistent. Last year, many expected Andrew Smith to become the next Matt Howard, and that did not happen. Those expectations were slightly high, but expecting more than 11 points per game would have been realistic. Smith could benefit the most from Rotnei Clarke's perimeter prowess, and as more attention is focused around the perimeter, Smith could have the opportunity to score a lot more in the post. Why has Kam Woods ever shot a jumper, he needs to realize his strengths and athleticism around the rim. It is not an accident that he shot under 40% from the field, which is terrible for someone his size. Even if he doesn't score a lot of points, he can make his presence felt even more on the defensive end this season.
2. Jackson Aldridge. This guy was supposed to be the point guard of the future for Butler, similar to fellow Aussie Matthew Dellavedova at St. Mary's. However, he lost all of his playing time to a walk-on in March of last season. He has the potential to be a double digit scorer if he is making threes and floaters in the lane, while still making smart decisions on passes. I hope to see a lot more from him in the future.
Any player could really go on this list, but these five guys are the first ones that came to mind.
1. Any of the four big men. In my opinion, Andrew Smith, Khyle Marshall, Kam Woods, and Erik Fromm all underachieved last season. Erik Fromm has the potential to become a player similar to Erik Murphy at Florida, a great consistent 3 point shooter who can really space the floor, and they will need him to do that more with the loss of Hopkins. Khyle Marshall has faced very few players in his career who are more athletic than he is (UDM's Doug Anderson may be an exception). Even at 6'6, his athleticism on alley-oops and a mid range jump shot that is continuing to develop could make Marshall at 13-14 ppg guy if his effort and performance are consistent. Last year, many expected Andrew Smith to become the next Matt Howard, and that did not happen. Those expectations were slightly high, but expecting more than 11 points per game would have been realistic. Smith could benefit the most from Rotnei Clarke's perimeter prowess, and as more attention is focused around the perimeter, Smith could have the opportunity to score a lot more in the post. Why has Kam Woods ever shot a jumper, he needs to realize his strengths and athleticism around the rim. It is not an accident that he shot under 40% from the field, which is terrible for someone his size. Even if he doesn't score a lot of points, he can make his presence felt even more on the defensive end this season.
2. Jackson Aldridge. This guy was supposed to be the point guard of the future for Butler, similar to fellow Aussie Matthew Dellavedova at St. Mary's. However, he lost all of his playing time to a walk-on in March of last season. He has the potential to be a double digit scorer if he is making threes and floaters in the lane, while still making smart decisions on passes. I hope to see a lot more from him in the future.
Any player could really go on this list, but these five guys are the first ones that came to mind.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Farewell, Chrishawn Hopkins
Boy, was tonight a great night to be on Twitter.
While it is not certain what exactly he did wrong, Butler announced on Wednesday that junior guard Chrishawn Hopkins has been dismissed from Butler University for a violation of team rules. A devastating blow to a team looking to contend in its inaugural season in the A-10.
What does this mean for Butler's rotation?
Considering that neither Freshmen (Morgan and Harrison-Docks) was expected to be in the rotation, that just shows how deep a team Butler was.
With Rotnei Clarke and Roosevelt Jones having almost essentially clinched two of the three guard spots, lets see who could take the other spot. (Butler has always had a 3 guard rotation under Brad Stevens, although it could be argued that Jones is a forward).
Two Legitimate Options
Option A: Chase Stigall
My preference over option B, Chase would bring senior leadership and defense to a backcourt that will need some 3 point shooting with Hopkins gone, so that teams do not zero in on Rotnei Clarke. While he may not be as good a shooter as option B, he's been in the program four years longer than option B, and is much more physically ready on the defensive end to start for the Bulldogs.
Option B: You guessed it, Kellen Dunham
Butler has only had one freshman starter in the last three seasons, but Dunham now has a chance to become the second. A better shooter than Chase Stigall, he is not a strong as Chase and certainly a worse defender.
The starter between these two will be determined by Butler's needs on a specific night. If they need scoring, Dunham will play more, and if they need defense, Stigall should start and play the bulk of the minutes.
After Jones, Dunham, Stigall, and Clarke, there will be the two freshman and Jackson Aldridge behind them. That's still a very deep bench, and while Butler will miss Hopkins' play-making ability, they shouldn't be affected too much by his absence.
Update as I was writing this blog: http://blogs.indystar.com/recruitingcentral/2012/09/12/release-from-hopkins-family-on-butler-dismissal/
This article is from Hopkins' legal guardian. It sounds as though it was not one major rules violation but a series of small rules violations, similar to former UCLA forward Reeves Nelson.
While it is not certain what exactly he did wrong, Butler announced on Wednesday that junior guard Chrishawn Hopkins has been dismissed from Butler University for a violation of team rules. A devastating blow to a team looking to contend in its inaugural season in the A-10.
What does this mean for Butler's rotation?
Considering that neither Freshmen (Morgan and Harrison-Docks) was expected to be in the rotation, that just shows how deep a team Butler was.
With Rotnei Clarke and Roosevelt Jones having almost essentially clinched two of the three guard spots, lets see who could take the other spot. (Butler has always had a 3 guard rotation under Brad Stevens, although it could be argued that Jones is a forward).
Two Legitimate Options
Option A: Chase Stigall
My preference over option B, Chase would bring senior leadership and defense to a backcourt that will need some 3 point shooting with Hopkins gone, so that teams do not zero in on Rotnei Clarke. While he may not be as good a shooter as option B, he's been in the program four years longer than option B, and is much more physically ready on the defensive end to start for the Bulldogs.
Option B: You guessed it, Kellen Dunham
Butler has only had one freshman starter in the last three seasons, but Dunham now has a chance to become the second. A better shooter than Chase Stigall, he is not a strong as Chase and certainly a worse defender.
The starter between these two will be determined by Butler's needs on a specific night. If they need scoring, Dunham will play more, and if they need defense, Stigall should start and play the bulk of the minutes.
After Jones, Dunham, Stigall, and Clarke, there will be the two freshman and Jackson Aldridge behind them. That's still a very deep bench, and while Butler will miss Hopkins' play-making ability, they shouldn't be affected too much by his absence.
Update as I was writing this blog: http://blogs.indystar.com/recruitingcentral/2012/09/12/release-from-hopkins-family-on-butler-dismissal/
This article is from Hopkins' legal guardian. It sounds as though it was not one major rules violation but a series of small rules violations, similar to former UCLA forward Reeves Nelson.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Conference Schedule Released
The A-10 released the complete schedule for men's basketball.
Here is Butler's conference schedule (Unfortunately I had to keep the Non-League Gonzaga game in this in order to keep a smooth chart):
Date Opponent/TV Time
Here is Butler's conference schedule (Unfortunately I had to keep the Non-League Gonzaga game in this in order to keep a smooth chart):
Date Opponent/TV Time
| Jan. 9 | at Saint Joseph's * | TBA | ||||
| Jan. 12 | at Dayton * | 2:00 PM | ||||
| A-10 TV | ||||||
| Jan. 16 | Richmond * | TBA | ||||
| Jan. 19 | Gonzaga | 9:00 PM | ||||
| ESPN | ||||||
| Jan. 23 | at La Salle * | TBA | ||||
| Jan. 26 | Temple * | 6:00 PM | ||||
| ESPN2 | ||||||
| Jan. 31 | at Saint Louis * | 9:00 PM | ||||
| CBS SN | ||||||
| February | ||||||
| Feb. 2 | Rhode Island * | 4:00 PM | ||||
| CBS SN | ||||||
| Feb. 6 | St. Bonaventure * | TBA | ||||
| CBS SNR | ||||||
| Feb. 9 | at George Washington * | TBA | ||||
| Feb. 13 | Charlotte * | TBA | ||||
| Feb. 16 | at Fordham * | 4:00 PM | ||||
| CBS SN | ||||||
| Feb. 19 | Duquesne * | TBA | ||||
| Feb. 22 | Saint Louis * | 7:00 PM | ||||
| ESPNU | ||||||
| March | ||||||
| Mar. 2 | at VCU * | 12:00 PM | ||||
| ESPN | ||||||
| Mar. 7 | at Massachusetts * | 7:00 PM | ||||
| A-10 TV | ||||||
| Mar. 9 | Xavier * | 2:00 PM | ||||
| CBS SN | ||||||
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Chase Stigall. Credit Deserved.
Since this has been a recurring topic of conversation I felt it deserved its own blog post. Chase Stigall may not be the best three point shooter, but he is a very good defender who contributed immensely to the 2011 NCAA Runner Bulldogs' team. While I agree that he should be shooting at least 35% from the 3 point line if healthy this season, it is not necessary for one to go on the Butler forum and undermine everything he has meant to this program the past four years.
I believe people are so critical of Chase's 3 point shooting because of the great outside shooters the Bulldogs have had in the past decade: Shelvin Mack, A.J. Graves, Pete Campbell, Bruce Horan, Zach Hahn, Darnell Archey, Matt Howard as a Senior, and I could go on. So Chase may not be the 3 point shooter that those guys are. But I believe he is a better defender than every single player I listed, and defense is what wins games and championships more than offense.
Will Chase Stigall start this upcoming season? Maybe not.
Will he get minutes and contribute defensively? Absolutely.
Will he have more open looks with the attention drawn to Rotnei Clarke and others? Yes.
Will he shoot a better % if his wrist is healed? More than likely.
Please just give credit to this guy for all that he has meant to the Butler program for four years, and don't just zero in on his 30% career 3 point percentage.
Completely unrelated side note: Ralph Reiff will no longer do color commentary for Butler games on MyIndy-TV. He is focusing on his position as executive director of St. Vincent's Sports Performance.
I believe people are so critical of Chase's 3 point shooting because of the great outside shooters the Bulldogs have had in the past decade: Shelvin Mack, A.J. Graves, Pete Campbell, Bruce Horan, Zach Hahn, Darnell Archey, Matt Howard as a Senior, and I could go on. So Chase may not be the 3 point shooter that those guys are. But I believe he is a better defender than every single player I listed, and defense is what wins games and championships more than offense.
Will Chase Stigall start this upcoming season? Maybe not.
Will he get minutes and contribute defensively? Absolutely.
Will he have more open looks with the attention drawn to Rotnei Clarke and others? Yes.
Will he shoot a better % if his wrist is healed? More than likely.
Please just give credit to this guy for all that he has meant to the Butler program for four years, and don't just zero in on his 30% career 3 point percentage.
Completely unrelated side note: Ralph Reiff will no longer do color commentary for Butler games on MyIndy-TV. He is focusing on his position as executive director of St. Vincent's Sports Performance.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Xavier Guard Wells Dismissed
While this is not directly about the Butler Bulldogs, Xavier Sophomore Point Guard Dezmine Wells has been expelled from the University. Butler now has a much greater chance to win the two Xavier games on their schedule. As I mentioned a couple of months ago, Xavier was already losing 4/5 of their starting lineup in Tu Holloway, Mark Lyons, Kenny Frease, and Andre Walker. Now their entire starting five is gone. What this means for Butler is that two of their non-conference games will be played against teams who lost their entire starting 5. (Vanderbilt is the other) While Butler was already considered the favorite in the games against Xavier, they will now be heavy favorites against a team that is in 100% rebuilding mode.
To read more about Xavier's outlook without Wells, read this ESPN blog written by Dana O'Neil:
http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/62817/with-no-wells-can-xavier-find-the-magic
To discuss the Dez Wells Situation on the Bulldogs' message board click here.
To read more about Xavier's outlook without Wells, read this ESPN blog written by Dana O'Neil:
http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/62817/with-no-wells-can-xavier-find-the-magic
To discuss the Dez Wells Situation on the Bulldogs' message board click here.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Schedule Update... One More Game to Go
As per the latest IndyStar Butler Basketball blog, Butler will play Division III Hanover in a regular season game on Tuesday, November 27 at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Normally, Butler would not be allowed to schedule this game as a Member of the Atlantic 10 Conference, but since they had such a small amount of time to get three extra games scheduled (2 conference games, BracketBuster), they were given a waiver by the A-10 to allow this game to be played. Also in David Woods' article is the dates for the home games vs. Evansville and Ball State, which are December 22 and December 1 respectively. Butler will be playing one more home game against an opponent to be determined, but the date will be some time between Saturday 12/15 and Saturday 12/22.
Here is a breakdown of Butler's Schedule for 2012-13:
4 Neutral Site Games
3 Road Games
9 Home Games
This could mean quite a few road games next season.
Here is a breakdown of Butler's Schedule for 2012-13:
4 Neutral Site Games
3 Road Games
9 Home Games
This could mean quite a few road games next season.
Friday, August 10, 2012
It's Official. Gameday.
ESPN College Gameday will be at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Saturday, January 19 for the Butler vs. Gonzaga Game. Coverage times are 10 am and 8 pm on ESPN.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Maui Invitational Bracket Released
Today, the bracket for this November's Maui Invitational was released, and Butler has a first round game against Marquette. If they were to win that game they could potentially play North Carolina in the next round. While Marquette lost Jae Crowder and Darius Johnson-Odom, they return everyone else, and it will be interesting to see if center Chris Otule can recover from the many injuries he has sustained at Marquette.
North Carolina will be led by James Michael McAdoo, who was very successful down the stretch of his Freshman season replacing John Henson due to injury. While Marcus Page will run the point, expect to see a lot of Dexter Strickland at that position as well. Also lookout for Reggie Bullock, who became a starter after the Strickland injury, Leslie McDonald, and P.J. Hairston on the wing.
While Butler did not get Chaminade in the first round, I still think they have a good chance to beat Marquette which has to replace over half of its scoring from 2011-12. It will be tough to beat North Carolina, so my projection for Butler in the tournament is either third or fourth.
Here is the link to ESPN's article about the Maui Invitational:
http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/61669/bracket-reveal-maui-invitational
Here is a link to the Bracket:
http://espn.go.com/photo/preview/!pdfs/120725/2012_Maui_Bracket.pdf
North Carolina will be led by James Michael McAdoo, who was very successful down the stretch of his Freshman season replacing John Henson due to injury. While Marcus Page will run the point, expect to see a lot of Dexter Strickland at that position as well. Also lookout for Reggie Bullock, who became a starter after the Strickland injury, Leslie McDonald, and P.J. Hairston on the wing.
While Butler did not get Chaminade in the first round, I still think they have a good chance to beat Marquette which has to replace over half of its scoring from 2011-12. It will be tough to beat North Carolina, so my projection for Butler in the tournament is either third or fourth.
Here is the link to ESPN's article about the Maui Invitational:
http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/61669/bracket-reveal-maui-invitational
Here is a link to the Bracket:
http://espn.go.com/photo/preview/!pdfs/120725/2012_Maui_Bracket.pdf
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Any News? Will be Some Soon!
While middle to late July has not produced very much Butler news, other than the Hopkins and Marshall at the Indy Pro-Am and a possible ESPN College Gameday visit to Hinkle Fieldhouse for the Gonzaga Game, the bracket for the 2012 Maui Invitational will be announced on Thursday July, 26. The closer we are to Chaminade in the bracket, the better!
Monday, July 16, 2012
Another Butler Article
This one written by CBSsports.com's Jeff Goodman, talks about how Butler will be an improved shooting team with the additions of Rotnei Clarke and Kellen Dunham. Brad Stevens said that these two will take the pressure off the guys who were supposed to be shot makers last year. (He is most likely referring to Hopkins and Stigall.) Goodman also gave the same projected starting lineup I have which is:
Andrew Smith
Khyle Marshall
Roosevelt Jones
Chrishawn Hopkins
Rotnei Clarke
Here is a link to the article:
http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/blog/eye-on-college-basketball/19594991/butlers-duo-of-clarke-dunham-solve-bulldogs-shooting-woes
Andrew Smith
Khyle Marshall
Roosevelt Jones
Chrishawn Hopkins
Rotnei Clarke
Here is a link to the article:
http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/blog/eye-on-college-basketball/19594991/butlers-duo-of-clarke-dunham-solve-bulldogs-shooting-woes
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Interesting Butler Article
Here is a link to a Butler Basketball article with Brad Stevens talking about some of Butler's top players for 2012-13
http://flyergroup.com/sports/x694481910/Stevens-Bulldogs-embark-on-new-journey
The lack of updates on this blog is most certainly due to the fact that college basketball news is pretty slow in mid July. Hopefully things will pick up as the calendar turns to August and then September.
I believe Butler still has to make two new schedule announcement as well as announcing the dates of the home games vs. Ball State and Evansville.
Open dates: Sat. 12/1
Sat. 12/22 and a game towards the beginning of this week
Sat. 12/29
http://flyergroup.com/sports/x694481910/Stevens-Bulldogs-embark-on-new-journey
The lack of updates on this blog is most certainly due to the fact that college basketball news is pretty slow in mid July. Hopefully things will pick up as the calendar turns to August and then September.
I believe Butler still has to make two new schedule announcement as well as announcing the dates of the home games vs. Ball State and Evansville.
Open dates: Sat. 12/1
Sat. 12/22 and a game towards the beginning of this week
Sat. 12/29
Friday, July 6, 2012
How I Became a Butler Fan, Butler Memories
How I Became a Butler Bulldogs Fan: History
2009-Present
While I remember
seeing numerous highlights on SportsCenter of Butler during the A.J. Graves
years (2004-08), the first Bulldogs basketball game that I remember watching to
this day was the Butler vs. LSU game in the 2009 NCAA Tournament. While the Bulldogs let one slip away in the
last few minutes, there was definitely a lot to like about this team,
especially with the entire roster returning for 2009-10. I was impressed with Matt Howard’s ability in
the low post to finish and to draw fouls, despite being undersized for the
position he was playing (a 6-8 center) and not very athletic. Shelvin Mack impressed me with his confidence
shooting from the outside, and his willingness to never be afraid of a shot in
a big moment. (This would become a
realization when hitting the game winning jump shot in a game against Detroit
in January 2010.) Then there was the
enigma, Gordon Hayward. Hayward was 6-8
with a guard’s skill set, including excellent ball handling, quickness,
athleticism, and a deadly 3 point shot.
However, over the final five games of his freshman season, he only
averaged 8.8 points per game, compared to Matt Howard’s 19.4 ppg during that
same stretch. In fact, he only had one shot attempt in Butler’s
semi-final victory over Wright State in the 2009 Horizon League
tournament. While this speaks to his
unselfish nature, I knew he had too much talent to take just one shot in a
game. I knew that if he ever became more
assertive on the offensive end, he could be a dominant player in the Horizon
League and a name recognized nationally.
What was even more disappointing about the final five games of Hayward’s
freshman season is that he had just come off a game of 27 points against
Stephen Curry and Davidson, on 11/12 shooting from the free throw line. So it wasn’t that he had to become more
assertive, he just had to stay assertive for 40 minutes on the court, looking
for his shot in addition to looking for his teammates.
To start the
2009-10season, my expectations were very high for this team considering Mack
and Hayward’s Team USA experience during the summer of 2009. The first half of the 2009-10 season was
pretty simple: Hayward and Mack exceeded expectations, Matt Howard was a huge
disappointment due to his inability to stay out of foul trouble. Also, Howard struggled against future NBA
players such as Trevor Booker and Greg Monroe, as his shooting percentage was
way down from what it was his first two seasons. Nonetheless, Butler was able to stay perfect
in the Horizon League with wins at Detroit and Loyola, two games I really do
not think they deserved to win, as a charging call on Detroit’s Xavier Keeling
when Gordon Hayward attacked the basket when Butler was down by one point, and Loyola’s
Terrance Hill’s unlucky bounce on a game winning three point attempt were both gifts
given to Butler, who could have easily lost both games. An illness kept Gordon Hayward inconsistent
through late January and February, and Shelvin Mack had his fair share of
struggles during that stretch. Someone
had to step up during that time, and that guy was Matt Howard. He had been staying out of foul trouble,
playing 32.0 mpg during a 6-game stretch in January from 1/8-1/23. However, he only averaged 10.5 ppg during
those six games. The turning point for
Matt Howard’s season came on an ESPNU game at Green Bay on January 29,
2010. Mack was not scoring much, Hayward
was in foul trouble, but Matt Howard led the Bulldogs with 18 points in that
game helping Butler to a comfortable victory.
From that game through the Horizon League Tournament, Howard returned to
his old self, averaging 14.8 ppg and shooting 58% from the field during that time
span, leading Butler in scoring.
Butler was
entering the 2010 NCAA Tournament not having lost a game in 11 weeks, and were
maybe a little too confident entering the tournament, getting a wake-up call in
the first half of both the UTEP and Murray State games. As Butler resumed facing non-conference
opponents, Hayward and Mack resumed their roles as the carriers of the scoring
load for the Bulldogs, with Howard on the bench far too frequently in foul
trouble. Still, it was the Butler
defense that led them to win after win, and eventually to a half-court miracle
away from being NCAA Division I basketball champions. It was during the 2009-10 season that I knew
I would be a huge Butler fan for life.
Now I know I have
talked a great deal about Hayward, Howard and Mack, but it is hard not to
considering those players scored 59% of Butler’s points of those two
seasons. But there are many other
players I feel I need to mention as a Butler Bulldogs fan:
Willie
Veasley (2006-2010): I think Brad Stevens said it
best during Senior Night in February 2010: “He may have improved as much as any
we’ve ever had here.” Also: “Just like
his classmates, I can’t think of a better person to walk out of here the
winningest player in Butler basketball history.” Willie Veasley started out as an unassuming
freshman under Coach Todd Lickliter, mainly a defensive specialist. During his sophomore season, he outplayed Senior
Julian Betko and received more minutes than Betko during the second half of the
season. But Veasley made leaps and
bounds going into his Junior season as he became a major offensive threat for a
team that needed it, and became a consistent three point shooter, after not
having a single three point attempt during his first two seasons at
Butler. This continued into his Senior season,
where he was the glue guy for a team that made it to the National Championship
game. His clutch baskets down the
stretch of the Syracuse game not only made announcer Gus Johnson go nuts, but
they are what sealed the deal for the Bulldogs in that game. Going from 2.7 ppg as a Freshman to 9.8 ppg
as a Senior, in addition to becoming one of the best defensive players in the
Horizon League is what makes Willie Veasley the most improved player to ever
walk in and out of the doors of Butler University.
Ronald
Nored (2008-2012): No player was a better leader
and floor general than Ron Nored. A
vocal point guard whose selfless nature got guys like Matt Howard and Shelvin
Mack easy baskets. While point guards
are often called “coaches on the floor”, Nored actually was one, coaching AAU
teams over the summer, and he is now a high school coach at Gordon Hayward’s
Alma Mater, Brownsburg High School.
While I never thought he would score enough to make an All-Horizon
League team, he made the Second Team as a Senior leading a very inexperienced
team to multiple postseason victories in the College Basketball
Invitational. He accepted every role of
leadership on and off the basketball court.
He was on Butler’s student council, and was involved in student teaching
at nearby elementary schools. In my opinion,
he was truly the greatest leader Butler ever had.
Shawn
Vanzant (2007-2011): Just like Willie Veasley,
Shawn Vanzant spent three years as a backup point guard to Mike Green and then
Ronald Nored, as a defensive specialist.
During his senior year, he became an excellent offensive option averaging
8.1 ppg and shooting 40% from the three point line. He took Ronald Nored’s spot as the starting
point guard, and was one of the main reasons the Bulldogs were able to turn
around what looked to be a dying season in early February. I think what best speaks to his improvement
is that he played 34.0 mpg during the 2011 NCAA Tournament, showing that Brad
Stevens trusted him on the court during the big games.
Avery
Jukes (2007-2010): I cannot think of a bigger 10 points
then what Butler got out of Avery Jukes in the 2010 National Championship game
against Duke in the first half. Without
Jukes, that game could have been a blowout for Duke. Matt Howard’s success did not keep Aver Jukes
on the court for too long in his three years at Butler, but he was an excellent
backup with a good shooting touch.
However, what Jukes has done off the court completely outshines what he
has done on the court, now embarking on a professional career in Europe. His work in establishing the Jukes Foundation
for Kids is quite admirable, and he has worked hard to sponsor as many kids as
possible for secondary school in Africa. For more
details about Jukes’ work, watch this piece from the Horizon League Network,
narrated by Damon Lewis:
http://www.horizonleague.org/video.html?page=10&sport_id=2&teams[]=1Garrett Butcher (2008-2012): Injuries may have limited Butcher's impact on the court, but he was always well respected for his work ethic and his positive attitude knowing that he could have been a great player had it not been for injuries. His leadership was most seen during his senior season with a team filled with inexperienced players. I think what he means to Butler is most clearly shown in the applause he got after making a long two point basket on Senior Night this past February.
Grant Leiendecker (2006-2011): In the same line as Butcher, Grant Leiedecker's story is one that could have been a lot better without injuries. Yet, as a deadly shooter, he was always ready to play when called upon. His hard work and dedication earned him the respect of his teammates, who were ready to cheer loudly whenever he would make a basket. This was even the case on January 3, 2011, when Butler was losing badly to Milwaukee, but Leiendecker's 3-pointer in the second half still brought everyone on the bench to its feet.
Alex Anglin (2006-2011): All Alex Anglin needed was a shot. Well he got that shot on November 27, 2010 against Evansville. Ron Nored was out with a concussion, so the Bulldogs were thin on the perimeter for that game. Even though Butler lost the game, Anglin had a key basket in overtime and had many key rebounds and defensive moments throughout his 20+ minutes in that game. This is what I feel defines Butler's walk-ons and differentiates them from walk-ons elsewhere. They are always ready to play and have an effective impact on the game. I think that can be seen even this past season with Eliot Kampen and Alex Barlow. Nonetheless, it was this one game that defined Alex Anglin's career, after years of hard work in practice on the scout team.
Nick Rodgers (2006-2010): Another walk-on who contributed to Butler's on-court success with hard work in practice on the the scout team. He was truly a selfless player who deserves every bit of credit he gets for improving the players who did play a lot in the game.
That is all for this blog, I know it is a lot to read, but I think fans should know why I am such a Big Butler fan.
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