Last season was magical for the Butler Bulldogs. Last year, they captured the hearts of basketball fans around the country as the Bulldogs finished 2nd to Duke in the NCAA finals.
Butler returns three starters from last year’s miraculous run but the team took a huge hit losing Brownsburg’s Gordon Hayward. Hayward was drafted ninth by the Utah Jazz last June. The Bulldogs set all kinds of new standards on their way to a 33-5 record.
Senior Matt Howard and juniors Shelvin Mack and Ronald Nored each started against Duke and will be three key players on this year’s Butler squad. Howard was Butler’s second-leading rebounder (5.2) and third leading scorer (11.6) last year, while Mack finished as the team’s second-leading scorer (14.1). Nored led the Bulldogs in assists (3.6) and steals (1.8) in 2009-10.
Coach Stevens gave his team no favors while scheduling. The 17th ranked Bulldogs begin a series of five games in 14 days beginning today versus Marian. Butler’s busy early schedule will continue with a game at Louisville on Tuesday, a home game against Ball State on Saturday, at Siena for a game on Tuesday, Nov. 23, and then return home to close the five-game stretch against Evansville on Saturday, Nov. 27.
The Bulldogs will be playing Marian for the first time in 30 years and for just the second time ever. They were an undefeated 15-0 in Hinkle Fieldhouse last year, Butler’s first unbeaten home record since 2002-03. Butler is 30-2 at home over the past two seasons, and the Bulldogs are 44-3 in Hinkle Fieldhouse in three seasons under head coach Brad Stevens. Stevens, heading into his fourth year as head coach, is one of the top young coaches in the NCAA and has clearly been successful in his time at BU.
The squad wrapped a quality pair of exhibition games, most recently with a 80-41 win over Hanover. Coach Stevens used his entire roster in the game, and twelve different Bulldogs played at least 10 minutes en route to an easy win. Junior Shelvin Mack led the Bulldogs with a game-high 13 points, while senior Matt Howard added a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The win came five days after Butler defeated Florida Southern, 90-70, in its first preseason contest.
A consistent approach is one of many unique features at Butler. The players are not often ranked nationally coming out of high school but they have got it done on the court. The Bulldogs boast six players with at least 60 career games played: Matt Howard, Zach Hahn, Shawn Vanzant, Shelvin Mack, Ronald Nored and Garrett Butcher.
Despite the loss of Hayward and Avery Jukes, expect Butler to pick up where they left off. Again, they will dominate the Horizon League and have no trouble. Detroit will be their most difficult foe but I do not envision any problems.
Broadcast:
Before last year, the small fan base would be forced to attend the game or listen on 1430, a small, low-watt radio station. This season, Butler has moved to the number one sports station in Indiana, ESPN 1070 The Fan.
Due to Butler’s relevance and growing popularity, all but three games will also be available to watch in some capacity. Currently, Butler is scheduled to play eleven times on the ESPN family of networks, once on CBS and thirteen times on WNDY channel 23.
Anthony Calhoun and Ralph Reiff return as the commentators for the thirteen locally televised games. I have the pleasure of being a part of those broadcasts, providing stats for the duo again this year.
I’m a diehard Indiana fan, but it’s hard to ignore ‘The Butler Way’ and the Bulldogs’ success in the last decade. They do things the right way and it starts with the coaching staff on down. The players are compete and play hard night in and night out.
If you’re a basketball fan, come to the historic Hinkle Fieldhouse this season to completely appreciate the program.