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We’re mere days away from the season kicking off, and a select few hours away from Butler wrapping up the preseason portion of their schedule, with a win over Ohio-Wesleyan.
Firstly, as we get closer to the season tipping, here is a chunk of my preview of the team I wrote for the Everything College Basketball Magazine, so here’s which gives a fairly basic overview of the team.
“The Butler Bulldogs lost their starting backcourt to the transfer portal but were able to retain their two forwards, Pierre Brooks and Jahmyl Telfort. That wing duo makes up one of the best in the Big East, but the Bulldogs will need to find producers outside of those two if they’re going to take a jump in Matta’s third season.
The Bulldogs bring in three transfers. Patrick McCaffery transfers from Iowa as a versatile forward, after averaging 8.9 PPG for the Hawkeyes last season. McCaffery might even see some small-ball five minutes this season, which gives Butler a unique lineup. Jamie Kaiser, now injured and out indefinitely, transfers from Maryland after averaging 4.4 PPG and showcasing his ability to guard 2-4 at a high level.
The transfer the Bulldogs might be counting on most is Tulane transfer guard Kolby King. In his lone year with the Green Wave, he averaged 10.4 PPG, shooting 47.6% from the field and 37.9% from three. His efficiency remained solid in conference play (42% from the field, 39.6% from three), but his numbers dipped to 7.4 PPG, only logging two performances in double figures.
Sophomore Guard Finley Bizjack entered the transfer portal after averaging 4.2 PPG last season and making the Big East All-Freshman team. Bizjack decided to return to Butler, and will likely take on a larger role for the Bulldogs this season. Bizjack showed flashes last season, including a 19-point performance against Marquette.
Butler will need to find a way to anchor down defensively and replace what they lost to get out of that middle tier of the conference.”
And if you want any more information on the rest of the country, the magazine will be linked here:
I had a couple of notes that I had to cut, where I asked some questions that we might have gotten some answers to as we approach the season.
I disagree with EvanMiya in that Posh Alexander was the team's most impactful player a season ago (I would give that to Jahmyl Telfort), Alexander also provided a steady leadership factor that this team will desperately need to be replaced.
This team reminds me a little of the 2016-17 Georgetown Hoyas. Both teams had that do-it-all wing, who gets to the basket really effectively, can create for others and bring it on both ends (Jahmyl Telfort, LJ Peak) and a scoring threat on the wing who may get burnt some defensively, but is also very live to go for 30 on any given night (Pierre Brooks, Rodney Pryor). Butler's offense should be much better, but broadly I think they could be similar, if Butler finishes closer to their floor (call it 7-13ish in conference play as a relative floor).
That team finished 69 in KenPom (Butler was 61 last year). They struggled all season to find a third offensive threat, something Butler will need if they want to get back to the NCAA Tournament.
Veteran Leadership
Patrick McCaffery is one of the most experienced players in college basketball and provides some steadiness to this team. He’s an effective scorer at multiple levels and boosts this team that could use it. A lineup that includes Brooks, Telfort and McCaffery on the wings has a ton of size and could be a really tough cover for some opponents. McCaffery is another steady hand, joining Brooks and Telfort who are experienced players who understand the culture at Butler and should fill that leadership role.
Secondary Options
Butler loses their third, fourth and fifth leading scorers, including two double-figure scorers, who combined for 32.5PPG last season. Brooks and Telfort boosting their numbers a bit can cover for some of that, but there is still some ground to make up.
McCaffery also fills the role of that next scoring punch next to Brooks and Telfort. He fills multiple holes for this roster, and if he’s taking the step up from last season to averaging over 10PPG, McCaffery fills a large role for this team, that perhaps has been overlooked by some (me).
Andre Screen has received some buzz internally from Butler. Screen performed well in Butler’s scrimmage against Illinois, against some of their younger, but very talented big men. Screen steps into the starting lineup and the Bulldogs hope he can provide some more scoring, and take a step up as his role increases. Screen showed what he can be, effectively finishing in catch-and-finish situations, especially in the non-conference. Screen shot 58% from the floor last season, but in Big East play his numbers dipped to just 48%. As the Big East loses a handful of dominant big men, if Screen can be more effective from the field and take the step up, that could provide something Butler was missing.
Point Guard Play
This will be the looming question for Butler all season. In their exhibition game, Finley Bizjack took the reigns at PG, a position which Bizjack played a lot in high school. In conference play last season, Bizjack had 13 assists to eight turnovers, playing almost entirely off the ball. Seeing how Bizjack fills the Point Guard role will define a lot of Butler’s success.
Kolby King comes from a similar situation, playing often off the ball at Tulane. Tulane ran multiple Point Forwards running the offense and is more natural off the ball. In games against Tier A+B competition, King’s numbers really dipped last season, from an offensive rating of 109.5 and 55.7% EFG (30 games) to 80.6 ORTG and 36.6% EFG (10 games).
Landon Moore also provided a steady hand last season off the bench, and should be expected to fill that role off the bench. He’s a solid point guard who effectively runs the offense and shot 37.3% from three last season.
The Point Guard role is my main question for the Bulldogs entering this season. Jahmyl Telfort can certainly play the point forward role, probably more than he did last season. But the Bulldogs will need to find an answer at PG who can play solid basketball without turning the ball over, and getting the ball in the hands of their key scorers.
Very excited about Game One, which I should hopefully have a preview out over the weekend. Stay Classy and Go Dawgs.
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