This topic contains 24 replies, has 8 voices, and was last updated by 
gatorheels 14 years, 12 months ago.
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- Posted on: Tue, 07/19/2011 - 11:52am #31948
JNixonParticipant29: Butler Bulldogs
Frontcourt- Matt Howard is gone and he was of course a solid contributor for the Bulldogs, but there is talent. Fr. Roosevelt Jones, Soph’s SF/PF Khyle Marshall, PF Eric Fromm, and Jr. Andrew Smith are all going to factor for PT. Smith is going to be asked to be the big man for Butler. He’s a big guy at 6’11 245, and he can be effective against Horizon League competition due to his size. But did you guys see him against Uconn in the title game, when he actually faced athletic bigs? Terrible. Still, he will probably be a 11 ppg, 6 or 7 rpg guy next year. Marshall is an energetic and tough defender and nice transition player. He is also a mismatch threat who uses his athleticism to his advantage on offense, despite lacking a high skill level. Marshall is a crude ball-handler and lacks a strong jumper, but his athleticism and strength will allow him to go from about 6 ppg to around 10 or 11, with 6 rpg added in. Marshall is also garnering minor interest as an NBA prospect, despite modest stats last year, but he clearly has some upside. Fromm has a developing low block game and he can stretch and hit jumpers, but he lacks strength and needs time as a developmental prospect. Still, he will have to play more and be a factor in the rotation next year, ready or not. Fr. Roosevelt Jones also will factor. Jones is a 6’4 SF, and he fits Butler perfectly. He’s physical and strong, although he lacks strong perimeter skills offensively. He’ll factor some for Butler on D, getting scrap plays, and even on the glass. There are minimal NBA talents and that sort of thing for Butler, but they do have bodies who fit Steven’s style. They’ll defend and work hard on both ends.
Backcourt- Shelvin Mack is was a nice player. The 2nd round pick was the MVP of last year’s team, and often times the MVP of the runner-up team 2 seasons back as well. Also gone are Shawn Vanzant, a defender who played both guard spots, and sharpshooter Zach Hahn. They don’t have a standout, but they should still be fine. 6’1 Sr. Ronald Nored is a great defender. He is exceptional on-ball. He’s not a scorer, athlete, and he’s very limited offensively, but he (even more so than the rest of Butler’s guards) defends like a madman. He also takes care of the ball and is smart. Big things are expected from Chrishawn Hopkins, an athletic combo guard who was too raw to play much last year. He’s the best athlete on the team though, and he also has the most potential. He needs to polish his overall game, but he will have to do so more quickly after learning last year mostly. Hopkins has to grow up though. Chase Stigall is a very limited athlete and player overall, but he should replace Hahn as the squads designated shooter. He will need to justify that though, as he shot 32% on 3’s which is a poor rate, especially for a guy who took about 80% of his shots from downtown. Nored is the teams Sr. leader and the most experienced guard, but he is pretty limited. All of the Butler guard’s have big shortcomings, but all of them also contribute something different too, which should overlap their deficiencies somewhat. Especially by the start of the Horizon League slate.
Overview- Coach Stevens did his thing once again last year, and is probably the Tom Brady of coaching in the college game (lol). Butler overachieved in the tourny, and a lot of that can be contributed to Brad Stevens. With Mack and Howard gone, they lose a lot of scoring. They’ll need some younger guys to step up in both the frontcourt and backcourt, but they all know their strengths and weaknesses and should play as a team. I look for Butler to be a 2-and-out team, but maybe a Sweet 16 team if things go that well. They’ll have the nonconference and Horizon League slate to become the team that we’ve become accustom to in the tournament.
0 - Posted on: Tue, 07/19/2011 - 12:34pm #574468
mikeyvthedonParticipantPeople that hate on it are just being huge losers, and they obviously had nothing to say otherwise as far as ranking. When you give minuses to a well prepared report and write NOTHING in response, than you are truly just a bitter person.
0 - Posted on: Tue, 07/19/2011 - 12:34pm #574290
mikeyvthedonParticipantPeople that hate on it are just being huge losers, and they obviously had nothing to say otherwise as far as ranking. When you give minuses to a well prepared report and write NOTHING in response, than you are truly just a bitter person.
0 - Posted on: Tue, 07/19/2011 - 12:39pm #574472
PrecociousNeophyteParticipantgood review… i think Detroit will end up being a better team though.
0 - Posted on: Tue, 07/19/2011 - 12:39pm #574294
PrecociousNeophyteParticipantgood review… i think Detroit will end up being a better team though.
0 - Posted on: Tue, 07/19/2011 - 1:00pm #574484
JNixonParticipantThey could be, they have more talent than any team in the Horizon League, but I trust Brad Stevens way too much to put Detroit over them just because they have more offensive talent.
0 - Posted on: Tue, 07/19/2011 - 1:00pm #574306
JNixonParticipantThey could be, they have more talent than any team in the Horizon League, but I trust Brad Stevens way too much to put Detroit over them just because they have more offensive talent.
0 - Posted on: Tue, 07/19/2011 - 1:44pm #574510
RUDEBOY_ParticipantStevens has done a great coaching job the last few years…But they will miss Matt much more than people think..He was their Rock for 4 years….
0 - Posted on: Tue, 07/19/2011 - 1:44pm #574332
RUDEBOY_ParticipantStevens has done a great coaching job the last few years…But they will miss Matt much more than people think..He was their Rock for 4 years….
0 - Posted on: Tue, 07/19/2011 - 1:44pm #574513
YSUFan10ParticipantWill you be including Cincinnati in the top 25 because I certainly think they have a shot?
0 - Posted on: Tue, 07/19/2011 - 1:44pm #574334
YSUFan10ParticipantWill you be including Cincinnati in the top 25 because I certainly think they have a shot?
0 - Posted on: Tue, 07/19/2011 - 1:55pm #574518
JNixonParticipantYeah I have Cincy in the countdown coming up.
0 - Posted on: Tue, 07/19/2011 - 1:55pm #574340
JNixonParticipantYeah I have Cincy in the countdown coming up.
0 - Posted on: Tue, 07/19/2011 - 4:21pm #574601
gatorheelsParticipantI don’t think Butler is going to be good at all. Coaching can only get you so far. They just do not have much talent this season. I didn’t rank Butler in my top 50, that tells you how I feel about them. I don’t see how people think they are going to be good.
Butler will not make the NCAA tournament! You heard me.
0 - Posted on: Tue, 07/19/2011 - 4:21pm #574422
gatorheelsParticipantI don’t think Butler is going to be good at all. Coaching can only get you so far. They just do not have much talent this season. I didn’t rank Butler in my top 50, that tells you how I feel about them. I don’t see how people think they are going to be good.
Butler will not make the NCAA tournament! You heard me.
0 - Posted on: Tue, 07/19/2011 - 4:24pm #574614
JNixonParticipantThey have somebody for everything, that’s why I think they’ll be good. Coaching can get you as far as a Nat’l title game, and Butler over the past 2 seasons has proven that. They’ve had 2 NBA draft picks too, of course, but Brad Stevens’ coaching has gotten them far. They don’t have great individual talent, but every player on their team specializes in something different and they’ll be well-coached and tough on D. They’ll make the tournament, especially in the Horizon.
0 - Posted on: Tue, 07/19/2011 - 4:24pm #574435
JNixonParticipantThey have somebody for everything, that’s why I think they’ll be good. Coaching can get you as far as a Nat’l title game, and Butler over the past 2 seasons has proven that. They’ve had 2 NBA draft picks too, of course, but Brad Stevens’ coaching has gotten them far. They don’t have great individual talent, but every player on their team specializes in something different and they’ll be well-coached and tough on D. They’ll make the tournament, especially in the Horizon.
0 - Posted on: Tue, 07/19/2011 - 11:00pm #574727
llperezi dont know much about butlers players so im not qualified to really analyze them as a team. But i think they overachieved making it to the final last year before laying down one of the biggest eggs in national championship history. Plus they were a 10 loss team to begin with. ANd they lose their hands down two best players as well and their 3rd leading guy in minutes in shawn vanzant. And the comments you make on the returning players dont seem very impressive other then they are team guys who know their roles. I think you are maybe giving brad stephens too much credit if you say "coaching can get you as far as the national title game". maybe ill see im wrong, but from the outside looking in, this is a team i wouldnt predict to be top 30 or make a run at a top 25 ranking.
0 - Posted on: Tue, 07/19/2011 - 11:00pm #574546
llperezi dont know much about butlers players so im not qualified to really analyze them as a team. But i think they overachieved making it to the final last year before laying down one of the biggest eggs in national championship history. Plus they were a 10 loss team to begin with. ANd they lose their hands down two best players as well and their 3rd leading guy in minutes in shawn vanzant. And the comments you make on the returning players dont seem very impressive other then they are team guys who know their roles. I think you are maybe giving brad stephens too much credit if you say "coaching can get you as far as the national title game". maybe ill see im wrong, but from the outside looking in, this is a team i wouldnt predict to be top 30 or make a run at a top 25 ranking.
0 - Posted on: Wed, 07/20/2011 - 12:26am #574735
McDunkinChrishawn Hopkins can turn out to be anything from a future first rounder…to the James White of pgs
0 - Posted on: Wed, 07/20/2011 - 12:26am #574554
McDunkinChrishawn Hopkins can turn out to be anything from a future first rounder…to the James White of pgs
0 - Posted on: Wed, 07/20/2011 - 6:47am #574806
RUDEBOY_ParticipantI wouldnt be surprised if they made the Tournament again..Becuz they look out for each other and play well 2gether…
But if they make the Final 4 Again,Somebody needs to start an Investigation…I cant see them making the Sweet 16..
Matt Howard wasnt a nba caliber prospect….But he was smart and had the respect of the other players..He did the little things that sometimes go unnoticed..He had a nice inside/outside game,was good on the pick & pop..set picks and even though he wasnt a physical player he wasnt afraid of contact….They’ll have a harder time replacing him then replacing Mack….
0 - Posted on: Wed, 07/20/2011 - 6:47am #574625
RUDEBOY_ParticipantI wouldnt be surprised if they made the Tournament again..Becuz they look out for each other and play well 2gether…
But if they make the Final 4 Again,Somebody needs to start an Investigation…I cant see them making the Sweet 16..
Matt Howard wasnt a nba caliber prospect….But he was smart and had the respect of the other players..He did the little things that sometimes go unnoticed..He had a nice inside/outside game,was good on the pick & pop..set picks and even though he wasnt a physical player he wasnt afraid of contact….They’ll have a harder time replacing him then replacing Mack….
0 - Posted on: Wed, 07/20/2011 - 9:29am #574892
gatorheelsParticipantI think Detroit is going to win the conference…. fairly easily. Valparaiso finishes 2nd. I think Valpo is better than Butler.
0 - Posted on: Wed, 07/20/2011 - 9:29am #574710
gatorheelsParticipantI think Detroit is going to win the conference…. fairly easily. Valparaiso finishes 2nd. I think Valpo is better than Butler.
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