Optimism Surrounds New Look Dawgs

The last time I wrote I argued that it was okay to be excited. A disastrous last 3 seasons led the Dawgs into the sewers where we were met with (warranted) insults, jokes, and pessimism toward our beloved team. I described this offseason as a rebirth and the first 2 exhibitions allowed us to watch our team learn to walk again. When our new team was forming we only had to latch on to highlights with former teams, high schools, and small glimpses from the few returning players. Now we have seen the boys in action and the optimism and excitement around the team has grown. 

2 Takeaways from Exhibition Play

The Dawgs looked phenomenal in their exhibition matchups, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Most Butler fans had a few priorities for this new season which most commonly included playing faster, shooting the ball at a higher clip, and creating a more efficient offense. The exhibitions created high hopes that these questions would be answered this season thanks to a few key points. 

1) Let it fly 

For the past 3 years, Butler has been absolutely abysmal from 3. Confidence wasn't the issue, the team loved to shoot the 3 ball but they seemed to be allergic to making it efficiently. This made the offense extremely stagnant especially when very few of our players had the ability to create their own shot. I truly don't think shooting the ball will be an issue this year thanks to a few key players. Let's start with the obvious 2 answers: DJ Davis and Finley Bizjack. DJ Davis is not just a good shooter, he is truly and statistically one of the best shooters in the country. He was 95th percentile in 3-point shooting off the dribble and spot-up last season. He did this while being the clear-cut #1 option for UC Irvine which also means he was drawing the attention of the defense every night. I expect him to get more open looks than he is used to this season which will be key for Butler's offense. The second is Freshman phenom Finley Bizjack. Butler fans have heard this name hyped up since his commitment and these exhibitions only added fuel to the excitement. He is a confident scorer who moves the ball unselfishly but won't pass up an open look if he gets it. I expect Butler to be in the upper half of the Big East in 3-point shooting which is a breath of fresh air for the fans. 

2) Run

Butler has played one of the most boring, slow, inefficient offenses since Kamar Baldwin graduated. Blue Collar offense just doesn't work anymore which is why the Dawgs needed to adapt and adjust. Alex Barlow has brought in an NBA-style system that prioritizes getting out on the break and shooting the 3. If you attended any games last year you probably grew familiar with the groans from the crowd as an inefficient midrange jumper clanked off the rim. Those shots will no longer be a part of the offense. Pierre Brooks was quoted saying that Coach Barlow wants long 3's over midrange jumpers any day of the week. The Dawgs showed the ability to get into transition, finish at the rim, and find the open man in their first 2 chances to compete against another opponent. 

Rebirth

It's been a while. Been a while since I wrote about the team. Been a while since I was this excited for a season. It's also been a while since this much chatter was happening around the team, positive or negative. 

Thad Matta came into this offseason and knew exactly what every fan that suffered through the season saw, we needed a change. He came in last season and didn't have time to form his own roster which led to an effort to coach players who came in under a different coach and had established roles in a system that, didn't work, but was in place for their entire tenure as Bulldogs. Unsurprisingly that led to a Butler team without any direction and with a culture that just didn't work. 

Coach Matta himself admitted that he didn't know how to motivate players that, at some times, didn't seem to fight to stay competitive. The necessary overhaul was met with disparaging comments online from other Big East fanbases as player after player entered the transfer portal. On March 9th the team  started to form as they added Landon Moore, Camren Hunter, and Pierre Brooks after each took a visit on campus. Vibes were high in the Butler community as we saw new faces coming in and some momentum was building for the team. That was halted days later as Camren de-committed and decided to return to UCA. Looking back that was a good thing, but in the moment it added another joke to be thrown at, admittedly, an easy target. 

From that moment on our Dawgs have added 3 assumed starters and have addressed each glaring issue we have all desired for years. 

Coming into the offseason I was fed up. Fed up with losing, not being competitive, and watching the same predictable offense every game. I needed something new and can accept that it may work and it may not but it's going to be different. Respect to every player on the team the last few years but it just didn't work. People were calling for Butler to be relegated to a different conference and Butler media members were claiming the sky was falling but in reality there is one question that I kept thinking about. The team was abysmal for 3 years so why not just restart and give Thad a chance to coach a team of guys he recruited. It can't get much worse right? 

As I look at the team I'm not going to be the fan that complains or whines that they don't all fit. Posh Alexander is an elite Point Guard who tortured us for years. DJ Davis is the type of confident volume shooter that we have been missing since Pauly J left. Pierre Brooks was an elite high school prospect and I trust that Thad will max out that potential. Telfort is a proven scorer and will add physicality that we have been asking for. Landon and Finley are the future of an exciting backcourt that I can't wait to watch develop. 

I'm allowed to be excited and I'm not letting anyone tell me otherwise. 

Strong Guard Play Drives Dawgs to Dominant Wins

After the early week defeat at Penn State fans worried if the Dawgs would show the improvement from the 3-point line that we were expecting going into the year. The more pessimistic fans feared that this would be a weakness of the Dawgs despite reports that the stars had made strides throughout the offseason. In the past 2 games, the young Butler guards have shown what they're capable of, knocking down 25 threes in 2 dominant wins. 

St. Francis Recap 

The dominant guard played and hot shooting for the Dawgs starter early and stayed late in a 95-67 win over St. Francis. This was the performance Butler fans needed to see but it is a dominance we haven't seen in these early-season tune-ups in recent years. Our starting guards responded extremely well after the disappointment in Happy Valley by combining for 70 points while shooting 7-13 from 3. We know what these guys are capable of and it was great, and important to see their confidence grow after elite performances back in Hinkle The Dawgs were led by Chuck Harris who delivered a 22-point performance on 70% shooting while dishing out 7 assists. 

The Citadel Recap

Pierce Thomas does not abide by the laws of gravity. The rumors of practice dunks had circulated but when the red-shirt Freshman decided to throw down a reverse poster on Saturday night Hinkle was in disarray. That was a feat of athleticism that we haven't seen in Hinkle and, quite honestly, fans didn't know what they had just watched. This Dunk was the highlight but the Dawgs rode 17 made threes and another dominant performance by the backcourt to cruise to a comfortable 47-point win. Jaden Taylor continued his recent surge with 18 points, 13 of which came early in the first half. This output was matched by Sophomore fan-favorite Simas Lukosius who looked the part of a breakout candidate with a highly efficient 18-point and 8-rebound performance. This was a performance the Dawgs were desperate for to create momentum going into the Battle for Atlantis.

Disrespected Dawgs head to Happy Valley

 

Our Dawgs are facing their first real season test as they head to Happy Valley to face Penn State. The theme of this game will be putting the Dawgs back on the map. The Nittany Lions are 25-31 over their past 2 seasons yet started the week as a 9-point favorite over the Dawgs. Butler needs to set the tone that they are back to form in this game to shut down the critics and get back to national relevance. 

What to Expect from Penn State 

The Dawgs need to focus on dominating the paint and defending the three-point line. Penn State lacks a true presence inside which will allow Manny Bates to continue his dominant form and establish himself as the best player on the court. The one area that Penn State excels is behind the three-point line as they have hit 34 threes in their first 2 games this season. Limiting their efficiency from 3 is essential in stifling the offense and controlling the pace of the game.

3 Goals for the Game 

1. Dominate the pace of play: Butler has more talent in the open court than Penn State and they need to exploit this advantage at every chance they get. Speeding up Penn State and forcing contested shots outside their established offense will allow the Dawgs to limit his percentage looks and take away the Nittany Lion's main strength.
2. Run the offense through Bates: Most fans saw Manny Bates dominant game and thought his presence inside was the most important asset he brought to the offense. What I saw was how many more efficient looks it created for Harris and the company in the backcourt. In his first 2 seasons, Harris has had to create his own offense but BAtes allows him to find catch-and-shoot opportunities that will force defenses to stay honest and allow for a well-rounded offense to flourish. 
3. Knock down shots: The one critique from the first game would be the horrendous percentage from the 3-point line. Look for Harris, Lukosius, Hunter, Taylor, and company to knock down open threes today as they got rid of the first game jitters in a new system in front of an energetic Hinkle crowd. 

Score Prediction 

Butler: 84

Penn State: 75 

Bet of the Day (1-0)

Butler ML +205

New Orleans Preview

The Thad Matt Era (Part 2) begins this evening as the Bulldogs welcome the New Orleans Privateers to Hinkle. The Dawgs are 2-0 vs New Orleans all-time with their most recent win coming in the 2019-2020 season that saw the Dawgs reach #4 in the AP Poll. 

What to expect from New Orleans

The Privateers are coming off of an 18-14 record with a departure in the second round of the Southland Conference Tournament. They run a fast-paced, high-scoring offense that scored over 60 points in all 32 games last season. they are expected to be led by the front-court tandem of Tyson Jackson and Simeon Kirkland who were both selected to the preseason all-Southland teams. 

Hopes for the Dawgs 

To be honest this should be a game that the Dawgs are able to dominate so my hope is that it gives the new offense and new players to get their footing before bigger early season tests present themselves. I am looking for 3 main goals for the Dawgs to achieve during this game.

1. I want to see Manny Bates dominate the interior and make his presence felt on both ends of the court. New Orleans runs their offense through their big man but Bates has a clear skill and size advantage over their frontcourt pair. Look for Bates to get started early on the offensive end as we have seen in the exhibition games. 

2. The second goal is for our new fast-paced backcourt to completely control the pace of play. Hunter, Tate, and Harris will be the fastest players on the court so look for them to get out on the break and create good looks for threes and easy buckets at the rim. 

3. The third goal is for Pierce Thomas to put the entire city of New Orleans on a poster. We have seen his uncontrollable above-the-rim play through practice clips and exhibition highlights but it is time for the redshirt freshman to put the conference on notice that no one should jump with him this season. 

Score Prediction

Butler 85

New Orleans 60 

Best Bet of the Day 

Butler -11 First Half 

 

Player Profile: Myles Tate

Background

The first player profile for the upcoming season is on Myles Tate, a six-foot junior who will be returning for his first full season since tearing his ACL late in his Freshman year. Myles has shown great flashes in the open court during his time in Indianapolis and I expect him to grow as a scorer and provide the spark off the bench that the Dawgs have missed out on since his injury. As a freshman, he averaged nearly seven points to go along with a steal and two rebounds per contest. Tates' speed and playmaking ability in the open court are two things I am very excited to see in a much more open offense under Coach Matta. The stagnant and slow offense didn't play into his elite open-court skills so I am excited to see him surprise some Butler fans with high-energy plays this season. 

European Tour 

Myles was extremely impressive on the European tour as he scored double digits in two of the four games while dishing out multiple assists in each game as well. The thing that stood out the most was his ability to attack bigs and finish at the rim which we grew accustomed to seeing during his Freshman campaign. With so much depth at the guard position, I think he has a chance to distinguish himself as a leader in a downhill offense especially if he can improve on his shooting. Facilitating the offense will be a top priority if he is leading the second unit like we saw in Europe but if he develops a consistent three-point shot the opposing defense will be forced to expand and will open up opportunities to attack the lane. 

Expected Role

My expectation is for Myles to lead the bench unit throughout the year because of his ability to distribute and defend at an elite level. Coming off the bench is simply because it fills an important hole that the Dawgs have been missing in recent years. A true alpha leader off the bench will take pressure off of Eric Hunter Jr who is expected to run point for the starting unit. Personally, I want to see our second unit run a fast-paced offense to keep pressure high on the opposition. Ideally, this "Speed" unit would consist of Pierce Thomas and Myles Tate at the guard positions which would be guaranteed to provide highlight real plays every game. 

Projected Statistics

Pts- 9.5 

Ast- 3.6 

Stl- 1.5 

Fg%- 41% 

3pt%- 34% 

European Tour Fuels High Expectations

To kick off the Thad Matta Era, part 2, the Bulldogs are across the pond to play professional teams from Greece. This could not have come at a better time for the Bulldogs as a team and for us as loyal fans as it marks a new chapter beginning with a plethora of new faces and a return of excitement brewing in Hinkle. While Coach Matta was able to retain the vast majority of the roster there was still a significant turnover as the senior class graduated and gave way to high-profile transfers and the re-commitment of Connor Turnbull. The latter has impressed in practice and in limited minutes so far on tour. The prized transfers have also impressed me so far as I will dive into below. From the highlight reels and reports coming out of Europe, a few things have really stuck out to me and are fueling high expectations and a light at the end of the tunnel out of the rough few years we have had in Hinkle Fieldhouse. 

• Proficient Scoring: It is no secret that defense was the main focus for our Dogs under Coach Jordan. At its peak, #5 in the country, it was a stifling unit that took away top options and kept games within striking distance regardless of the competition. Unfortunately, the offense was reliant on knocking down threes along with the presence of a true alpha leading the pack. The presence of Sean McDermott and Kamar Baldwin filled these roles perfectly as McDermott averaged nearly 40% from 3 and Baldwin was a first-team big east selection. This slow-paced offense was tailor-made for these players but unfortunately, after their departure, sputtered. The offense last season averaged less than 64 points per game which will not fly in a strong Big East. So far on the European tour, the Dogs are averaging over 87 points per game. I understand the competition is lower than the likes of Villanova and Creighton but this proficiency is something we haven't seen in a few years.

• Size Down Low: Butler has always been an undersized team that relies on grit and toughness over the shear force that we see from teams such as Providence. This disadvantage was obvious from an onlooking fan and was at the top of my wishlist every year as we entered the transfer portal. Last year our starting center was Bryce Nze who did an adequate job and had a very solid career for the Bulldogs. With that being said, playing him at the center was unfair and did not allow him to show off his elite skill set at his true position of power forward. This year Coach Matta addressed that issue with 3 separate players over 6'10". Manny Bates is a transcendent player, the likes of which have never dawned a Butler Uniform. The last player to average over one block a game for the Bulldogs was Tyler Wideman in 2015-2016. Bates has averaged nearly three blocks a game in both of his healthy seasons at NC State. This presence inside is a necessity in the Big East and will be a gamechanger as we get into the grind of conference play. Coming along with Bates was Jalen Thomas, a skilled big from Georgia State who scored 12 points and grabbed 9 rebounds against the #2 pick in the NBA Draft Chet Holmgren during the first round of March Madness last year. He too averaged over a block a game and will add more of a presence down low than we have had in the last few years. The final piece is Connor Turnbull, a high-flying big from St. Louis who will most likely sit and learn for most of this year but has been impressive so far since arriving on campus. 

• Run and Gun: Frustrations about the speed at which the team was allowed to play have been at the forefront of many fans' minds the past few years. With skilled, fast guards it seemed as though the team thrived in the open court but was slowed down by the monotonous offense that we came accustomed to seeing. With the addition of Eric Hunter Jr, I think that this offense has a chance to run fast, shoot threes, and create a style of offense that will get Hinkle fans back on their feet much more than we have seen in recent years. Harris and Taylor have picked up right where their momentum left off last year as they have impressed in all three games averaging 18 and 14 respectively. With another offseason of work, I expect these two to be one of the most dynamic scoring backcourts in the Big East. Hunter, Harris, Taylor, and Lukosius are expected to thrive but there are 2 other names who could be x-Factors as we go into the season. The first is Myles Tate who is the ideal leader off the bench for a fast-paced offense. The speedy point guard was hampered last year while recovering from his ACL tear but seems to be back in full strength and looks to impress this season. The other is Pierce Thomas who could become not just the most exciting player on the team but potentially in the big east. If you don't believe me just watch this casual dunk he threw down in practice this past month. He has seemed to have a poster-worthy dunk in every game so far overseas and I expect him to continue to wow us in his redshirt freshman year. 

The Bulldogs will finish their tour tomorrow before heading home to Indianapolis to start pre-season camp and start preparing for the season in early November.