Post by Wolf on Jan 25, 2006 22:45:03 GMT -5
Butler's Blue Ribbon Preview:
COACH AND PROGRAM
OK, so the 16-14 "off year" Butler had in 2003-04 wasn't a one-year hiccup.
The Bulldogs dropped to 13-15 last winter. That's 29 victories in two years -- after coach Todd Lickliter averaged 26.5 wins a year his first two seasons at Butler. The good news is that Lickliter will open the 2005-06 season with continuity on his side.
For the first time in his Butler tenure, Lickliter returns the entire starting lineup that finished the season for the Bulldogs last winter. Unlike last year, he'll also enjoy the leadership from three seniors. The Bulldogs had no seniors last year, and maybe that had something to do with the fact that Butler lost eight games by six or fewer points and led seven of those eight in the second half. The Bulldogs even led four of them with two minutes to play.
The close losses piled up, though, and the Bulldogs saw a streak of 11 years of winning records come to an end. Ironically, Butler finished 7-9 in the Horizon League despite having the conference's leader in field-goal percentage, three-point field-goal percentage and free-throw percentage. The Bulldogs couldn't seem to find a rhythm as Lickliter experimented with different lineups. He finally found one that clicked and the result was more cohesive play down the stretch.
PLAYERS
The roster that returns for 2005-06 is a case that less may turn out to be more. Four veterans decided to transfer in the off-season: former starting center Jamie Smalligan; forward Nick Brooks; freshman guard Gary Patterson; forward Jeff James, who was red-shirting last year.
Now, on to the Bulldogs who stuck around. Brandon Polk (13.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg) was an impact transfer from junior college last year and should be even more productive as a senior. The 6-6 forward made the HL all-newcomer team and led the league in field-goal shooting at 58.9 percent. And he did it despite wearing a shoulder harness. Off-season surgery has eliminated the shoulder problem and Polk is a threat to garner first-team all-conference honors this year. The slasher finished with a rush last year, averaging 23.5 points and 7.3 rebounds over his last four games. He's extremely quick around the basket and skilled with either hand.
Because Butler doesn't have a true post player, Polk will be the go-to man in the paint. He rarely ventures out to the three-point line (one-of-four last season). He'll be joined in the paint by Brandon Crone (7.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg), a 6-6 junior who has distinguished himself best with a blue-collar mentality. Crone is a hard-nosed defender and keeps the patrons on the front row paying attention lest he dive in their laps after a loose ball. Unlike Polk, Crone will step out and shoot the trey (38.6 percent).
With two 6-6 guys in the post, Butler has obvious issues on the rebounding front. The Bulldogs were out-rebounded last year by an average of 31.2 to 26.1 per game, a deficit that ranked them at the bottom of the league in that category. Getting beat on the boards figured prominently in some of last season's defeats. There's not much help on the bench, either. Brian Ligon (1.9 ppg, 2.1 rpg) is a 6-7 junior who averaged 11 minutes last year. Once a starter early in his career, Ligon has had two knee surgeries in two years. Going into the season, he says he feels better than at any time in his career, but anybody coming off two knee surgeries is a question mark. Any defense and rebounding he could provide--if healthy--would be big for the Bulldogs.
Speaking of knees, Julian Betko, a 6-5 junior wing player, is eager to get his Butler career started. The transfer from Clemson had to sit out last year to strengthen his surgically repaired knee. His maturity and toughness will be welcome assets.
Drew Streicher (0.6 ppg, 0.6 rpg) is a 6-7 sophomore swing man who has worked hard in the weight room to get in position to help. His basketball IQ is high, but he needs to improve on the physical front. Peter Campbell is a 6-7 forward, but he'll have to wait another year to contribute. Campbell averaged 11.1 points at IUPU-Fort Wayne but will have to sit a year, with two to play.
Whatever its shortcomings inside, Butler is ever dangerous on the perimeter. Bruce Horan, Avery Sheets and A.J. Graves formed a solid three-guard offensive attack down the stretch last year. Horan (9.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg) led the league in three-point accuracy at 41.7 percent. That barely nipped Graves' 41.4 and Sheets' 41.3. Horan was 84-of-205 beyond the arc. He had only 88 total field goals, leading to the obvious conclusion that the 6-3 senior is a one-dimensional threat. Still, it's a strong dimension.
Sheets (9.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg) is a 6-footer and the third senior in the starting lineup. Obviously a three-point threat, Sheets also showed a sure-handedness running the offense last year, totaling 112 assists and only 48 turnovers.
In addition to stroking the trey unusually well for a freshman, Graves (11.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg) upheld the family tradition by leading the league in free-throw accuracy at 91.9 percent. There must be some fantastic free-throw shooting contests when the Graves brothers get together back in Switz City, Ind. Andrew led the league once when playing for Butler and Matthew, now an assistant coach, did it twice.
A.J. got his career off to such an impressive start, Patterson, another touted signee last year, decided to transfer. Graves also logged 77 assists and a team-high 35 steals.
As a team Butler led the league by making 8.4 three-pointers per game. With Horan, Sheets, Graves and Crone all a threat, the Bulldogs can stretch a defense to the breaking point. Unlike Horan, however, Sheets and Graves can also take defenders off the dribble.
Marcus Nellems, a 6-4 wing player from Marshalltown (Iowa) Community College, will be in the mix. He wasn't a big scorer in junior college but could earn his minutes by bringing defense to the table. The Bulldogs could use a strong perimeter defender to match up with some of the bigger wing guards in the league.
Mike Green, a transfer from Towson State, is a 6-footer who will have to wait in the wings for a year. Green started 56 games in two years for Towson. The Philadelphia area product will have two years to play when he gets eligible.
As usual, Butler doesn't back down from the big boys when it comes to scheduling. In November, the Bulldogs make a road trip nobody would envy, visiting Michigan and Ohio State in the same week. Butler also takes on a third Big Ten foe in Indiana at Conseco Fieldhouse.
BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS
BACKCOURT: B+
BENCH/DEPTH: C-
FRONTCOURT: C
INTANGIBLES: B
The Bulldogs and their fans are used to not only winning, but winning big.
A two-year slide isn't easy to swallow at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The question is whether it will extend to three?
In Graves, Sheets and Horan, Butler has a potent perimeter shooting triumvirate. Few schools anywhere have three starting guards that hit 41 percent of their treys. On the other hand, the Bulldogs are on the small side, both inside and out, which can create problems on the defensive end and on the glass.
The addition of wings Betko and Nellems should help defensively. Inside, Polk should have a big year at forward, but he needs help in the paint and it's not apparent where it's coming from.
The Bulldogs might be wielding a short stick again this year when it comes to rebounding. And the bench isn't deep considering several players transferred and only one of three newcomers is immediately eligible. Look for Butler to start a new winning streak, but not a new 20-win streak.
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COACH AND PROGRAM
OK, so the 16-14 "off year" Butler had in 2003-04 wasn't a one-year hiccup.
The Bulldogs dropped to 13-15 last winter. That's 29 victories in two years -- after coach Todd Lickliter averaged 26.5 wins a year his first two seasons at Butler. The good news is that Lickliter will open the 2005-06 season with continuity on his side.
For the first time in his Butler tenure, Lickliter returns the entire starting lineup that finished the season for the Bulldogs last winter. Unlike last year, he'll also enjoy the leadership from three seniors. The Bulldogs had no seniors last year, and maybe that had something to do with the fact that Butler lost eight games by six or fewer points and led seven of those eight in the second half. The Bulldogs even led four of them with two minutes to play.
The close losses piled up, though, and the Bulldogs saw a streak of 11 years of winning records come to an end. Ironically, Butler finished 7-9 in the Horizon League despite having the conference's leader in field-goal percentage, three-point field-goal percentage and free-throw percentage. The Bulldogs couldn't seem to find a rhythm as Lickliter experimented with different lineups. He finally found one that clicked and the result was more cohesive play down the stretch.
PLAYERS
The roster that returns for 2005-06 is a case that less may turn out to be more. Four veterans decided to transfer in the off-season: former starting center Jamie Smalligan; forward Nick Brooks; freshman guard Gary Patterson; forward Jeff James, who was red-shirting last year.
Now, on to the Bulldogs who stuck around. Brandon Polk (13.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg) was an impact transfer from junior college last year and should be even more productive as a senior. The 6-6 forward made the HL all-newcomer team and led the league in field-goal shooting at 58.9 percent. And he did it despite wearing a shoulder harness. Off-season surgery has eliminated the shoulder problem and Polk is a threat to garner first-team all-conference honors this year. The slasher finished with a rush last year, averaging 23.5 points and 7.3 rebounds over his last four games. He's extremely quick around the basket and skilled with either hand.
Because Butler doesn't have a true post player, Polk will be the go-to man in the paint. He rarely ventures out to the three-point line (one-of-four last season). He'll be joined in the paint by Brandon Crone (7.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg), a 6-6 junior who has distinguished himself best with a blue-collar mentality. Crone is a hard-nosed defender and keeps the patrons on the front row paying attention lest he dive in their laps after a loose ball. Unlike Polk, Crone will step out and shoot the trey (38.6 percent).
With two 6-6 guys in the post, Butler has obvious issues on the rebounding front. The Bulldogs were out-rebounded last year by an average of 31.2 to 26.1 per game, a deficit that ranked them at the bottom of the league in that category. Getting beat on the boards figured prominently in some of last season's defeats. There's not much help on the bench, either. Brian Ligon (1.9 ppg, 2.1 rpg) is a 6-7 junior who averaged 11 minutes last year. Once a starter early in his career, Ligon has had two knee surgeries in two years. Going into the season, he says he feels better than at any time in his career, but anybody coming off two knee surgeries is a question mark. Any defense and rebounding he could provide--if healthy--would be big for the Bulldogs.
Speaking of knees, Julian Betko, a 6-5 junior wing player, is eager to get his Butler career started. The transfer from Clemson had to sit out last year to strengthen his surgically repaired knee. His maturity and toughness will be welcome assets.
Drew Streicher (0.6 ppg, 0.6 rpg) is a 6-7 sophomore swing man who has worked hard in the weight room to get in position to help. His basketball IQ is high, but he needs to improve on the physical front. Peter Campbell is a 6-7 forward, but he'll have to wait another year to contribute. Campbell averaged 11.1 points at IUPU-Fort Wayne but will have to sit a year, with two to play.
Whatever its shortcomings inside, Butler is ever dangerous on the perimeter. Bruce Horan, Avery Sheets and A.J. Graves formed a solid three-guard offensive attack down the stretch last year. Horan (9.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg) led the league in three-point accuracy at 41.7 percent. That barely nipped Graves' 41.4 and Sheets' 41.3. Horan was 84-of-205 beyond the arc. He had only 88 total field goals, leading to the obvious conclusion that the 6-3 senior is a one-dimensional threat. Still, it's a strong dimension.
Sheets (9.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg) is a 6-footer and the third senior in the starting lineup. Obviously a three-point threat, Sheets also showed a sure-handedness running the offense last year, totaling 112 assists and only 48 turnovers.
In addition to stroking the trey unusually well for a freshman, Graves (11.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg) upheld the family tradition by leading the league in free-throw accuracy at 91.9 percent. There must be some fantastic free-throw shooting contests when the Graves brothers get together back in Switz City, Ind. Andrew led the league once when playing for Butler and Matthew, now an assistant coach, did it twice.
A.J. got his career off to such an impressive start, Patterson, another touted signee last year, decided to transfer. Graves also logged 77 assists and a team-high 35 steals.
As a team Butler led the league by making 8.4 three-pointers per game. With Horan, Sheets, Graves and Crone all a threat, the Bulldogs can stretch a defense to the breaking point. Unlike Horan, however, Sheets and Graves can also take defenders off the dribble.
Marcus Nellems, a 6-4 wing player from Marshalltown (Iowa) Community College, will be in the mix. He wasn't a big scorer in junior college but could earn his minutes by bringing defense to the table. The Bulldogs could use a strong perimeter defender to match up with some of the bigger wing guards in the league.
Mike Green, a transfer from Towson State, is a 6-footer who will have to wait in the wings for a year. Green started 56 games in two years for Towson. The Philadelphia area product will have two years to play when he gets eligible.
As usual, Butler doesn't back down from the big boys when it comes to scheduling. In November, the Bulldogs make a road trip nobody would envy, visiting Michigan and Ohio State in the same week. Butler also takes on a third Big Ten foe in Indiana at Conseco Fieldhouse.
BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS
BACKCOURT: B+
BENCH/DEPTH: C-
FRONTCOURT: C
INTANGIBLES: B
The Bulldogs and their fans are used to not only winning, but winning big.
A two-year slide isn't easy to swallow at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The question is whether it will extend to three?
In Graves, Sheets and Horan, Butler has a potent perimeter shooting triumvirate. Few schools anywhere have three starting guards that hit 41 percent of their treys. On the other hand, the Bulldogs are on the small side, both inside and out, which can create problems on the defensive end and on the glass.
The addition of wings Betko and Nellems should help defensively. Inside, Polk should have a big year at forward, but he needs help in the paint and it's not apparent where it's coming from.
The Bulldogs might be wielding a short stick again this year when it comes to rebounding. And the bench isn't deep considering several players transferred and only one of three newcomers is immediately eligible. Look for Butler to start a new winning streak, but not a new 20-win streak.
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