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Butler
Dec 5, 2007 20:39:59 GMT -5
Post by Wolf on Dec 5, 2007 20:39:59 GMT -5
vs. Sat., Dec. 8 vs. Butler * Ervin J. Nutter Center 7:00 PM Butler is currently 7-0. They have an RPI of 42 and are Nationally ranked #13 in the AP and USA Today polls. They play @ Detroit on 12/6/07 before they come to the Nutter Center. Ball St. 61-45 W Indiana St. 76-48 W Evansville 60-47 W Michigan79-65 W Virginia Tech 84-78 W Texas Tech 81-71 W Ohio St. 65-46 W
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Butler
Dec 5, 2007 20:42:57 GMT -5
Post by Wolf on Dec 5, 2007 20:42:57 GMT -5
Roster:11 Anglin, Alex 6-4 170 G/F SO 1 Betko, Julian 6-5 200 G/F SR 34 Campbell, Pete 6-7 200 F SR 50 Engelmann, Elliot 6-7 205 F/C SO 4 Graves, A. J. 6-1 155 G SR 10 Green, Mike 6-1 175 G SR 3 Hahn, Zach 6-0 170 G FR 54 Howard, Matt 6-7 220 F FR 24 Jukes, Avery 6-8 215 F SO 22 Leiendecker, Grant 6-3 175 G SO 14 Rodgers, Nick 6-1 160 G SO 5 Slaton, Ben 6-1 160 G JR 32 Streicher, Drew 6-7 200 G/F SR 2 Vanzant, Shawn 6-1 175 G FR 21 Veasley, Willie 6-3 190 G/F SO butlersports.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/butl-m-baskbl-mtt.htmlOfficial Site: butlersports.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/butl-m-baskbl-body.htmlMessage Board: p214.ezboard.com/fbuhoopsfrm1
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Butler
Dec 5, 2007 20:44:08 GMT -5
Post by Wolf on Dec 5, 2007 20:44:08 GMT -5
HL Preview: ButlerNov. 4, 2007 In a span of less than two months last year, Butler basketball was transformed from the forgotten to the formidable. The Bulldogs were picked to finish sixth in the nine-team Horizon League preseason poll (one voter picked Butler last) released on Oct. 10. That sentiment pretty much mirrored the evaluation reported in most of the major college basketball preseason publications. That's why there was considerable "head-scratching" in the college basketball world when the Bulldogs stood at center court at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 24 and collected the NIT Season Tip-Off Championship trophy. The moment capped a run that saw Butler post consecutive victories over Notre Dame, Indiana, Tennessee and Gonzaga - all "Top 25" programs. Butler went on to post a school and Horizon League record 29-7 campaign, a co-championship in the Horizon League regular season race and a trip to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship. Along the way, the Bulldogs were ranked in the "Top 25" of the national basketball polls for a school and league record 16 consecutive weeks. The squad's tremendous success ultimately cost Butler its head coach - Todd Lickliter was named coach at the University of Iowa one day after the Final Four. And two starters - 6-6 forward Brandon Crone and 6-7 forward Brian Ligon - were among three seniors who collected their diploma last May. Butler moved quickly to replace Lickliter, naming assistant coach Brad Stevens to the top job just three days after it opened. Replacing the seniors could take longer. "Those guys brought so much to the table beyond the stat line," said Stevens of Crone, Ligon and Marcus Nellems. "They were often the players who made the play that led to the big play. They were the ones who would block out, so someone else could get a rebound. They would set the screen that would free a teammate for an open shot or pass. They were completely selfless, and that was contagious." On the plus side, Stevens won't have a shortage of talent in 2007-08. The Bulldogs return five of their top six scorers from last season, including All-Horizon League guards A. J. Graves and Mike Green. Graves emerged as one of the premier backcourt players in the nation in 2006-07. The 6-1 guard led the Bulldogs in scoring with a 16.9 average, while posting the fourth-highest single season point total (591) ever by a Butler junior. He earned honorable mention All-America honors and was named a first team Academic All-American. He was selected MVP of the NIT Season Tip-Off, earned first team All-League and All-District 10 honors and became the 31st player in Butler history to reach 1,000 points in career scoring. Green, who transferred to Butler from Towson, was named Horizon League Newcomer of the Year, after leading the Bulldogs in assists (4.0) and rebounds (6.0) and finishing second on the squad in scoring (13.9). He became the first player in Butler history to record over 400 points, 200 rebounds and 100 assists in the same season. The 6-0 guard was named second team All-League and All-District 10. The Butler backcourt duo has been ranked among the best backcourts in the nation by several preseason publications. "I don't know about rankings, but I do know that I wouldn't trade them for anything," stated Stevens. "It's not because of the kind of players they are, and they're both terrific players. It's because of the kind of people they are. The thing that's important to them is to be part of a special team, and they'll do what it takes to achieve that." "They're very complimentary in their skill set, and that's made them even better. I think both would tell you they're a better player today because of the guy beside them." The two stellar guards will be joined by 6-5 returning starter Julian Betko, who was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA. Betko tied a Butler single season record by starting all 36 games a year ago, and he finished as the team's fifth-leading scorer (4.3). He was named to the All-Tournament Team at the NIT Season Tip-Off. Rounding out Butler's strong and deep senior class are 6-7 Pete Campbell and 6-7 Drew Streicher. Campbell, a transfer from IPFW, wound up as Butler's fourth-leading scorer (9.1), and he was named to the Horizon League All-Newcomer Team. He led the league in three-point field goal shooting with a record .519 mark, and he finished second in the league in three-point field goals per game (2.31). The sharp-shooting forward scored in double-figures in 16 of Butler's final 22 games. Streicher, who tied the school single season record for games played (36), emerged as one of Butler's top defenders. He led the Bulldogs in blocked shots (0.4) and field goal shooting (.644). The five Butler seniors boast a combined 20 years of collegiate experience heading into this season. "Those (seniors) have a great idea of what it takes to be successful," noted Stevens. "They all lead in their own way, and they're all guys who represent our program in the right ways on and off the court." One other returnee who picked up considerable experience last year is sophomore Willie Veasley, who played in 35 games in his initial season with the Bulldogs. He finished second on the team with a .632 shooting percentage and emerged as a solid defender. Other letterwinners returning from last season are 6-7 forward Elliot Engelmann, who played in 15 games, and guards Ben Slaton and Nick Rodgers, both former walk-ons. Joining the returnees are six newcomers - 6-8 Avery Jukes, 6-4 Grant Leiendecker, 6-7 Matt Howard, 6-0 Zach Hahn, 6-1 Shawn Vanzant and 6-4 Alex Anglin. Two of the six have already spent time in the Butler system. Jukes, a sophomore, transferred to Butler from Alabama and will be eligible in December, while Leiendecker sat out his first season at Butler last year as a medical redshirt. Howard and Hahn, two Indiana High School All-State performers, both were members of the Indiana All-Star Team for the 2007 Indiana-Kentucky High School All-Star series. Vanzant was the leading scorer for 29-2 Wharton High School in Tampa, Fla., last season. Anglin, a sophomore, earned a spot on Butler's roster as a walk-on. The new talent has given Butler a deeper, more versatile roster. Determining who will play will be one of the challenges facing Stevens. Determining how they'll play won't. "Our style will be very similar to last year. Our pieces are different, but our philosophy isn't. Hopefully, we'll continue to be efficient and effective in what we do." horizonleague.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/110407aaa.html
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Butler
Dec 5, 2007 20:45:01 GMT -5
Post by Wolf on Dec 5, 2007 20:45:01 GMT -5
Blue Ribbon Butler Preview:October 17, 2007 COACH AND PROGRAM Brad Stevens, 30 years old, is one the newest and the youngest head coaches in Division I. He certainly landed a plum job when he was handed the reins of the Butler Bulldogs last April. But, man, what a tough act to follow. Butler, one of the most prestigious basketball programs in mid-majordom, has had more than its share of success. But it never quite had a season like 2006-07. In November, the Bulldogs swept past Indiana, Notre Dame, Tennessee and Gonzaga to win the Preseason NIT in Madison Square Garden. On Feb. 5, the Bulldogs climbed into the top 10 of the polls (Associated Press and coaches) for the first time in history. On Selection Sunday, Butler landed a No. 5 seeding in the NCAA Tournament, another program high-water mark. The Bulldogs justified the honor with wins over Old Dominion and Maryland to reach the Sweet 16. It took eventual champion Florida to knock Butler out of the bracket, but 29 wins were a record for the school and the Horizon League. Todd Lickliter's last act in Indianapolis was to win national coach-of-the-year honors before leaving for Iowa. Butler has long been a coveted job, but all those wanna-be candidates were wast-ing their time. After a three-day search, Stevens, a 1999 graduate of Indiana's DePauw University and seven-year veteran of the Butler staff, was promoted to the top job. It's a sound move, judging from recent history. When Barry Collier left for Nebraska, Thad Matta was promoted. When Matta left for Xavier (en route to Ohio State), Lickliter was promoted. That turned out pretty well, so now it's Stevens' turn to carry the torch. (He was hired by Collier, who has returned as Butler's athletic director). ''It's been a pretty seamless transition,'' Stevens said. ''I'm in the same city I grew up in. I'm around the same kids I recruited and have been around for years. I'm in the same building, work-ing with the same administration. I'm just moving down an office. ''It's a program that's got great tradition, and to have a person like Barry Collier back in the program and say that's the direction he wants to head is just so humbling.'' Despite Stevens' youth, the Butler family has great confidence in him. ''Brad is incredibly capable,'' Lickliter said, ''and this hire brings great continuity to the program.'' Matta brought Stevens into the program in the summer of 2000 as a volunteer coach. ''Seven years ago he was an eager young coach who would do anything and everything to progress in his profession,'' Matta said. ''His hard work has paid off.'' PLAYERS Lickliter leaves the program in good shape. Make that excellent shape. The Bulldogs are the clear-cut favorite to win the league, a distinction they were forced to share last winter with upstart Wright State. A.J. Graves and Mike Green return to give Butler a first-team all-conference-caliber backcourt, one that would be envied by any number of big-time schools. Graves (16.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg), a 6-1 senior, is the preseason Horizon League Player of the Year based on last winter's bravo performance. Graves has been described by one Horizon coach as a mid-major version of Steve Nash. In addition to his scoring punch, he makes everyone on the court better with his basketball IQ, despite his modest physique (155 pounds). Graves hit 35.4 per-cent from three-point range, ranked fourth in the HL in steals and whatever you do, don't foul him. He hit 63 free throws in a row at one point and finished at 94.8 percent, second in the nation. In the 6-1 senior Green (13.9 ppg, 6.0 rpg), a transfer who moved into the rotation last year, Graves discovered a formidable running mate. Green's 144 assists were fifth best in Butler history. He became the first Bulldog to record 400 points, 200 rebounds and 100 assists in a season. That he attempted 264 free throws indicates his ability to penetrate and draw fouls. On top of it all, he finished eighth in the league in rebounding. After watching Green practice during a red-shirt year in 2005-06, the Bulldog coaches figured the Towson transfer would be a help but they didn't realize how much of a help. ''If you could hang on one player the biggest difference in the team last year, it was Mike Green,'' said Jim McGrath, longtime Butler sports information director. Another newcomer transfer also had an impact. Pete Campbell (9.1 ppg, 1.6 rpg) was the sparkplug off the bench, setting a school record by hitting 51.9 percent of his three-point shots. After a ''slow" start, Campbell hit 56.7 percent of his treys after Jan. 1. The 6-7 Campbell, who started his career at IUPU-Fort Wayne, was so effective in his sixth-man role the staff is reluctant to move him into the starting lineup. There are two vacancies, left by senior posts Brandon Crone (11.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg) and Brian Ligon (3.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg). Drew Streicher (4.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg) figures to increase his role and possibly fill one of the starting slots. ''We've got to have someone step up and fill the void left by Brandon and Brian,'' Stevens said. ''They started every game. They were absolute anchors. They were co-captains for two-and-a-half years.'' A mid-term addition, 6-8 sophomore Avery Jukes, is a transfer from Alabama who will almost certainly get in the mix to help fill that void. The staff likes what it saw of the athletic Jukes in practice last winter. Matt Howard, a 6-7 forward from Connersville, Ind., should be one of the top freshmen in the league. Howard brings an element of toughness and has been described as relentless. He's big-ger than Crone and more skilled offensively than Ligon. It's only a matter of time before Howard is in the starting lineup. ''You never know how people are going to adjust to college basketball, but our expectations are certainly high,'' Stevens said. Willie Veasley (2.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg), a 6-3 sophomore, averaged 14.9 minutes as a freshman and makes up for lack of height with strength and toughness. He can play either the small forward or step into the paint. Elliot Engelmann (0.5 ppg, 0.5 rpg) is a 6-7 sophomore who could make a case for minutes if he continues to develop. Julian Betko (4.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg), a 6-5 senior, returns as the starter at small forward, thanks to a hardship waiver that gave him a sixth season. Last winter he finally overcame his history of knee problems, stayed healthy and was the only Bulldog to start every game. He has other priorities than scoring but can surprise on occasion. Grant Leiendecker is a 6-3 red-shirt freshman who can earn a niche with his long-range shooting. There's always room for a shooter in Butler's system. The Bulldogs established school and league records last year for three-point attempts (871) and makes (321). Freshman Zach Hahn, a 6-footer from Newcastle, Ind., is a welcome addition. He gives Butler the backup point guard it lacked last year when Graves and Green each averaged 35 minutes. Shawn Vanzant, a 6-1 freshman guard, is intriguing. With the guards ahead of him, Vanzant would seem to be an ideal red-shirt candidate, but he was especially impressive in summer pickup games and may have too much promise to ignore. ''You never know how people are going to mesh,'' Stevens said. ''We do have seven freshmen and sophomores right now, so the majority of the team has not had any or have limited experi-ence playing college basketball. We also do have the five seniors, so it should be a good mix.'' BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS BACKCOURT: A+ BENCH/DEPTH: B FRONTCOURT: B- INTANGIBLES: B A.J. Graves and Mike Green combine to give Butler as good a backcourt as you'll ever find in the Horizon League. Two questions loom. One, replacing Brandon Crone and Brian Ligon in the post looks like it can be solved by committee. Freshman Matt Howard could be a future star at forward. The bigger question is how young Brad Stevens handles the promotion to head coach. He has history on his side and a background steeped in the Butler system. If anybody knows what it takes to win (and win big) at Butler, Stevens does. This is clearly the team the other nine Horizon teams will be shooting for this winter. insider.espn.go.com/ncb/insider/news/story?id=3038811&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.co m%2fncb%2finsider%2fnews%2fstory%3fid%3d3038811
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Butler
Dec 5, 2007 22:54:22 GMT -5
Post by Admin on Dec 5, 2007 22:54:22 GMT -5
sports.espn.go.com/ncb/notebook?page=notebook/weeklywatch04ESPN Weekly Upset Watch Saturday: Wright State over Butler, 7 p.m. ET The hot-shooting Butler Bulldogs travel to Dayton for a little revenge from last season when Wright State not only captured a share of the regular-season title but went on to win the Horizon League tournament as well. Butler has a wealth of experience and four players -- A.J. Graves, Mike Green, Pete Campbell and Drew Streicher -- currently shooting better than 46 percent from 3-point range. The Raiders will do battle without last season's conference Player of the Year DaShaun Wood, but three starters return. Coach Brad Brownell will rely on sophomores Todd Brown and Vaughn Duggins and seniors Scottie Wilson and Jordan Pleiman. Depth is on the way with the addition of 6-8 junior college transfer Gavin Horne and four-year transfers 6-9 Ronnie Thomas (from Duquesne) and 6-4 guard John David Gardner (from UNC Wilmington). Wright State is tough in the Nutter Center, and Butler has first-hand experience.
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Butler
Dec 6, 2007 11:38:31 GMT -5
Post by rock70 on Dec 6, 2007 11:38:31 GMT -5
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Butler
Dec 7, 2007 20:12:43 GMT -5
Post by Raider Fanatic on Dec 7, 2007 20:12:43 GMT -5
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Butler
Dec 7, 2007 20:14:40 GMT -5
Post by Raider Fanatic on Dec 7, 2007 20:14:40 GMT -5
Butler Ends League-Opening Road Trip At Wright State Dec. 7, 2007 ROAD CHALLENGE: Butler, having survived its first Horizon League test on the road, faces another major challenge when it visits defending League champ Wright State on Saturday, Dec. 8. The two teams, who tied for the Horizon League regular season title a year ago, will square off in the Ervin J. Nutter Center in Fairborn, Ohio, at 7 p.m. (ET). Butler has just two wins in its last 10 meetings with the Raiders, and the Bulldogs have dropped six straight games to Wright State in the Nutter Center, including last year's Horizon League Tournament championship contest. The Raiders, picked second behind Butler in this year's Horizon League preseason poll, have three starters back from last year's NCAA Tournament squad. The Bulldogs opened Horizon League play with a 53-46 victory at Detroit on Thursday, Dec. 6. Butler is 8-0 for the fourth time in seven seasons. POLL WATCH: The Bulldogs climbed to No. 13 in both major college basketball polls (A.P. & ESPN/USA Today), following last weekend's victory over Ohio State. Butler moved up three spots from No. 16 in both polls. It's the fourth straight week that the Bulldogs have been ranked in the "Top 25" in at least one of the two polls and the third straight week that Butler has been ranked in both polls. Butler was ranked for a school- and league-record 16 consecutive weeks a year ago. The Bulldogs have their highest national ranking since Feb. 12, 2007 (No. 13). ADDITIONAL POLLING: The Bulldogs sit atop The CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 for the second consecutive week. Butler also was No. 1 on the ESPN.com Mid-Major Top 10 last week, and the Bulldogs are No. 9 in the ESPN Power 16. CLOSING RUN: The Bulldogs out-scored Detroit 15-6 over the final four minutes of the game to secure the seven-point victory on Thursday, Butler trailed, 40-38, with just over four minutes remaining, when Mike Green was fouled. He made the first free throw and missed the second, but forward Matt Howard slipped through the defense to tip in the miss and give Butler the lead. The game was tied at 42-42 just over a minute later, before Julian Betko gave the Bulldogs the lead for good with a three-point field goal. Howard and Green each added four points down the stretch for Butler's final total. Butler improved to 6-0 away from Hinkle Fieldhouse this year. FIRST IMPRESSION: Freshman Matt Howard was given his first collegiate start at Detroit, and he responded with a career-best performance. The 6-8 forward, who was playing in place of injured Pete Campbell, finished with a team-high 20 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. The 12 rebounds matched his career-high and helped Butler to a 30-21 advantage on the boards. Howard hit eight of 13 shots from the floor and four of five from the free throw line. Matt Howard has two double-doubles in his last five games. LOOKING LONG: Butler was out-scored from beyond the three-point arc for the first time this season in the win at Detroit. The Titans hit four three-point field goals in the game, while Butler managed just three. The last time Butler had fewer three-point field goals was in a 55-50 win at Milwaukee a year ago. The Bulldogs made just one three-pointer in that victory. Butler hit just three of 19 long-range shots at Detroit for a season-low 15.8%. Butler is ranked second in the NCAA Division I in three-point field goals made (12.3 as of 12/3/07). BEST DEFENSE: One game after limiting Ohio State to a season-low 46 points, the Bulldogs held Detroit to a season-low 46 points. It was the fifth time in eight outings that the Bulldogs held their opponent below 50 points. Butler gave up just 17 points in the first 20 minutes at Detroit and 29 points in the final period. The 17 points marked the fifth time this season that the Bulldogs held an opponent below 20 points for a half. Butler leads the Horizon League in team scoring defense (55.8). Butler has held five opponents to their lowest point total of the season. NATIONAL LEADER: The Bulldogs again are leading the NCAA Division I in fewest turnovers per game (9.4 as of 12/3/07). A year ago, Butler ended the season as the Division I national leader in fewest turnovers per game (9.5). QUALITY START: Brad Stevens became the second consecutive Butler coach to begin his coaching career with eight straight victories. Current Iowa head coach Todd Lickliter won his first seven games at Butler, including three in Alaska at the Top of the World Classic, in 2001-02. Lickliter went on to win his first 13 games as a head coach. LEAGUE RECOGNITION: Freshman Matt Howard came off the bench and sparked the Bulldogs against Ohio State, and his performance earned him Horizon League Player of the Week honors. Howard scored 11 of Butler's first 13 points in the game and had 13 of Butler's 20 points in the first half. He finished with a career-high 23 points on nine of 13 shooting from the field and five of five shooting from the free throw line. The 6-8 forward led the Bulldogs and tied for game-high honors with seven rebounds, and he added two assists and a steal. BULLDOG BITS: •Butler is leading the Horizon League in scoring margin (+14.1), turnover margin (+4.50), fewest turnovers (9.9), assist/turnover ratio (1.43) and three-point field goals (11.13). •The Bulldogs were ranked sixth in this week's NCAA Division I statistics in assist/turnover ratio, 11th in three-point field goal percentage and 13th in free throw percentage. •A. J. Graves is ranked fourth in the NCAA Division I statistics in three-point field goals per game (4.7). He stands second on Butler's all-time list for three-point field goals with 241, 73 behind all-time leader and former teammate Bruce Horan (2002-06). •A. J. Graves stands 10th on Butler's all-time scoring list with 1,477 career points. He's eight points shy of Jon Neuhouser, 1994-98, in ninth place. •A. J. Graves had a streak of 15 consecutive double-figures scoring performances snapped at Detroit. He has scored in double-figures in 82 of 104 career games. •Mike Green has scored 1,257 points during his collegiate career (641 at Towson and 617 at Butler). •Guard Mike Green leads the Horizon League in assists (5.13). He had three assists at Detroit. •Forward Pete Campbell sat out the final 13 minutes of the Ohio State game after suffering a knee sprain, and he did not play at Detroit. No time line has been set on his return. •Pete Campbell is tied for eighth in the NCAA Division I in three-point field goals per game (4.0), and he ranks 16th in Division I in three-point field goal percentage (.500). •Freshman Matt Howard ranks third in the Horizon League in field goal percentage (.614). He's connected on 21 of his last 31 field goal attempts. Howard also ranks 15th in the league in free throw shooting (.765). •Matt Howard had a career-high eight offensive rebounds at Detroit. Howard ranks third in the Horizon League in offensive rebounds (2.63). •Senior Drew Streicher is ranked eighth in the NCAA Division I in assist/turnover ratio (6.00). Streicher had 12 assists and just two turnovers through Butler's first seven games. •Sophomore Willie Veasley, who sat out Butler's first four games because of a knee injury, has played in Butler's last four contests. He had two points in eight minutes at Detroit. •Julian Betko and Mike Green were in Butler's starting lineup for the 44th consecutive game against Texas Tech. A. J. Graves made his 98th career start for the Bulldogs. •Butler head coach Brad Stevens added walk-on Alex Anglin to this year's roster. A 6-4 sophomore, Anglin was an all-area performer at Kokomo High School. He's one of three walk-ons on Butler's roster, joining junior Ben Slaton, who earned a spot in 2005-06, and sophomore Nick Rodgers, who earned a spot last year. butlersports.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/120707aaa.html
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Butler
Dec 7, 2007 20:19:08 GMT -5
Post by Class of '83 on Dec 7, 2007 20:19:08 GMT -5
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Butler
Dec 7, 2007 20:20:31 GMT -5
Post by Class of '83 on Dec 7, 2007 20:20:31 GMT -5
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Butler
Dec 7, 2007 22:41:23 GMT -5
Post by Glory Days on Dec 7, 2007 22:41:23 GMT -5
Screw Vegas odds makers. WSU will win this one by 3.
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Butler
Dec 8, 2007 5:25:41 GMT -5
Post by bballraider on Dec 8, 2007 5:25:41 GMT -5
Wright State vs. Butler, HL Game #2
The Battle of the Tigers
First, the useless information I know you are asking yourself, "Tigers? I thought it was the Raiders and the Bulldogs." Did the Raiders change their mascot again? No. The Tigers refers to the DePauw University Tigers of Greencastle Indiana. The little college southwest of Indianapolis has produced the two head coaches in this battle of Horizon League Rivals. Brad Stevens, the head coach of Butler and the 5th youngest coach in D1 basketball graduated from Depauw in 1999, while Wright State head coach Brad Brownell received his degree 8 years earlier in 1991. As a caller on the Brad Brownell coaches show asked, is Depauw the new cradle of coaches. It certainly looks like it, as Brownell is 106-56 with 3 NCAA appearances in his initial 5 years as a head coach and is currently 2-2, and 0-1 in the HL after a 71-66 loss to 7-1 Valparaiso in his sixth year in charge. Not to be outdone, Stevens is a perfect 8-0 as a head coach, and 1-0 in the Horizon League with a win over Detroit (53-46), in his first year as D1's fifth youngest coach at 31 years of age this year.
The reason I am talking about the coaches is because these two teams are a reflection of their coach, as are most teams. Butler plays what they call the "Butler Way" where no player is greater than the whole, and every possession is valued by low turnovers, high shooting percentage and great team defense. It is a system of continuity, which includes Stevens, who was promoted after being on the Butler staff since 2000-1 season. He has a starting lineup that seems to have been there almost as long with 5, 5th year seniors, (although one, 3 point specialist Pete Campbell most likely will not be available because of injury) and they are lead by one of the top backcourts in the county of Green and Graves.
Wright State on the other hand, is a fairly new university as far as D1 basketball programs go, starting D1 play in 1987-88. Coach Brownell in his first year led the Raiders to their 1st NCAA tourney since 1993, and his implementing his own what I call the "Wright Way" of playing basketball, which was new to the Raiders last year, which coincidently has 7 new faces on the team this year, although the Raiders do return 3 starters with experience in Brownell's system, but only 2 starters are seniors. Brownell's system starts with tough stingy switching defense and a motion offense predicated on good shooters.
So although the two team get to this game in different ways, Butler with experience and Wright State with mostly younger players, they are very similar in the way they play the game. Neither team turns the ball over much, Butler is #1 in the nation at 9.4/game while WSU is a little higher but still very respectable 12.5/game which is around 41st in the nation. Both have good shooters as both teams shoot around 42% from 3 as a team with Butler 29th and WSU 30th nationally, In addition, Butler shoots 77% (19th nationally) from the free throw line while WSU is just a hair better at 79% (4th nationally). So you can see offensively the two teams are very similar.
This game is going to be won on defense and execution. With Butler having more experience on their side, they are an 8-12 point favorite even though the game is at Wright State. There are several winning streaks on the line in this game, Wright State at home holds a 6 game winning streak against the Bulldogs, and has won 8 of the last 10 games between the two no matter the location. Butler leads the overall series 16-14, and is undefeated with an 8 game winning streak. Also on the line is WSU home record in the Nutter Center against ranked teams. Wright State has never lost to a ranked team since the Nutter Center was built in December 1990, including 2 games against a ranked Butler team last year.
Sorry for the longer than normal post, but I thought this game deserved it. Here are my keys to the game:
1.) Staying in the game in the paint. This is one area where Wright State actually has more experience, starting 2 seniors. If WSU's guards can get the ball into the post consistently I think the Raiders could outscore Butler in the paint, assuming the 2 Raider starters can stay out of early foul trouble, which was a problem in WSU last loss against Valpo. With Pete Campbell out injured, Butler starts a very talented freshman, Matt Howard in the post, along with a great defender in Streicher. Howard was last week's HL player of the week, and is a good scorer and rebounder, but can get into foul trouble on occasion himself having fouled out of 3 games so far this season. Both teams have some depth in the paint, but none are as good as the guys they are replacing.
2.) Win the scoring battle outside. Butler senior guard tandem of Graves and Green against Wright States Super Sophomores Brown and Duggins. All 4 players received Horizon League post season honors last year. Whichever set of guard that outscores the other will go along way to helping their team win this game. Graves leads Butler at 16.6/game, Green follows at 14.6/game, while Brown leads WSU at 16.8/game followed by Duggins at 15.5/game.
3.) Finally, which bench steps up big. In a game like this, fatigue and foul trouble can play a huge role in the game, and whichever bench steps up to fill those holes the best could win this game. Both teams have a lot of talent on the bench, but Butler has the advantage in experience again as WSU has 5-6 new faces still trying to learn Brownell's system. If WSU's bench can step up they have a good chance to win this game, but that is a huge but.
Final prediction: My head says Butler by 6, 66-60. My heart says WSU by 3, 69-66. Since I am a Wright State fan, I am going with my heart. Go Raiders!
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Butler
Dec 8, 2007 8:31:40 GMT -5
Post by Raider Country on Dec 8, 2007 8:31:40 GMT -5
Preview: Wright State vs. ButlerBy Marc Katz Staff Writer Saturday, December 08, 2007 When: 7 p.m. Radio: WONE-AM (980), WIZE-AM (1340) Series record: Butler leads, 16-14 Starting lineups Butler A.J. Graves Sr. 6-1 F 16.6 Mike Green Sr. 6-0 F 14.6 Julian Betko Sr. 6-5 G 5.1 Matt Howard Fr. 6-7 F 12.0 Drew Streicher Sr. 6-7 F 5.3 Wright St. Yr Ht Pos Ppg V. Duggins So. 6-3 G 15.5 Will Graham Jr. 6-2 G 7.5 Todd Brown So. 6-5 G 16.8 J. Pleiman Sr. 6-8 F 7.5 Scottie Wilson Sr. 6-6 F 11.5 About Butler Freshman Matt Howard stepped in for Pete Campbell, who suffered a sprained knee and did not play Thursday at Detroit. Campbell is not expected to play tonight, either. He's the 3-point specialist who came off the bench last season but started Butler's first seven games in the all-senior lineup. The Bulldogs jumped into the nation's consciousness last season by beating, among others, Notre Dame, Indiana, Tennessee, Gonzaga, Purdue and in the NCAA, Old Dominion and Maryland before falling, in a close game, 65-57 to eventual national champion Florida. This year's schedule has been toned down a bit, but not much. Already, Butler has beaten Michigan, Virginia Tech, Texas Tech and Ohio State. That's four victories against Big Ten teams in two years. About Wright State Raiders had two two-game losing streaks last season, and nothing longer. They are sitting on a two-game losing streak now. "No question we played better than we did against Marist," WSU coach Brad Brownell said. "We made strides. Part of all of this is young guys learning how to win and learning how to make big plays when you need them and finding a way to get things done. That's something we're going to have to deal with. What Butler has is experience — winning experience. Their guys have been in millions of big games. They aren't starry-eyed. They go into games expecting to win." FYI Butler has moved seamlessly from coach Todd Lickliter (who went to Iowa) to coach Brad Stevens, an assistant last season. As good as Butler is, the Bulldogs have lost eight of the last 10 games between the schools, and WSU holds a six-game winning streak in the Nutter Center. "We don't even talk about those streaks," Brownell said. "Those were from other years. I wasn't even here for most of those games, and neither were the players." Quote unquote "We have guys physically who can match with Butler, but I'm not sure we have the experience or basketball IQ of Butler," Brownell said. "They do everything within a framework of the team. " www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/college/wsu/2007/12/07/ddn120807wsuprev.html
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Butler
Dec 8, 2007 8:32:54 GMT -5
Post by Raider Country on Dec 8, 2007 8:32:54 GMT -5
Butler guard ready for WSUBy Marc Katz Staff Writer Saturday, December 08, 2007 FAIRBORN — Mike Green would not bite. He would not put tonight's game ahead of any other. He would not play the revenge card because Wright State beat Butler twice in three games last season. His guarantee was simple. "I can almost guarantee you'll see a good game," said Green, one of Butler's four starting seniors and a key player for the No. 13 Bulldogs. Butler enters tonight's game at the Nutter Center 8-0 and 1-0 in Horizon League play. WSU (2-2, 0-1) is on a two-game losing streak. It has become Wright State's biggest rivalry, although last year's 73-42 trouncing at Butler on Jan. 6 made it seem WSU's time had not yet arrived. Later, in front of two sellout crowds at the Nutter Center, WSU beat the Bulldogs 77-65 and then 60-55 for the Horizon League tournament championship. "We know it's a tough place to play," said Green, a 6-foot-1 guard. "That's a disciplined team." Wright State coach Brad Brownell would rather play the game without Green on Butler's side, but he is partly to blame. Two years ago, Brownell, then coaching at North Carolina-Wilmington, alerted friends on the Butler staff that Green was going to transfer from Towson and said Green was worth recruiting. "They told me he did that," Green said. "As far as helping me out, it was a good choice for me. That's high praise coming from a guy like that. I appreciate it." Green was the league's Newcomer of the Year last season and is averaging 14.6 points this season. He is paired with A.J. Graves (16.6 ppg) as the best backcourt in the league. "We're going to have to make shots," Brownell said. "And it's hard to score against Butler. They don't give you much room to make plays." www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/college/wsu/2007/12/07/ddn120807wsubb.html
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Butler
Dec 8, 2007 8:34:27 GMT -5
Post by raiderscout on Dec 8, 2007 8:34:27 GMT -5
Wright State vs. Butler, HL Game #2 I call the "Wright Way" of playing basketball, Doing it the Wright Way. That is a shirt I would buy. I like that bballraider. Nice Preview.
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