A Review of Butler

[OmahaGuy]

On a real note though, I'll be cheering HARD for Butler in this one. I cannot freaking stand the Huskers. Go Dawgs!

[jfan]

+1000. Butler V Creighton in the quarterfinals. In Omaha.

[gtmoBlue]

C'moon Bulldogs...make some noise in the NIT!

[OmahaGuy]

Season now over with the L to the Skers

[stever20]

Brunk gone as a graduate transfer.

[scoscox]

Joey Brunk grad transferring. seems like a big loss losing him and fowler in the same offseason. golden is the only returning big guy i think. what are the bu fans reactions?

[Jet915]

Brunk is a tough blow.

[ConnersvilleBulldog]

It was rumored for awhile that he was transferring after the season. Some people heard he wanted out as far back as 2016. But since he redshirted his freshman season, he didn't want to lose a year of eligibility. So he set himself up to graduate in 3 years. If he wasn't all-in, then it's probably best that he moves on.

Word around the state is that he's transferring to IU to go to Law School. Playing major D1 basketball and attempting Law School sounds.... ambitious.

I think Brunk showed a lot of promise, and was obviously a fan favorite. But he never really lived up to being the "next Matt Howard" like many thought he'd be. I don't know that his back-to-the-basket game quite fit LaVall's offense either. Next year, it looks like Bryce Nze and Bryce Golden will split time at the 5. Both of them aren't quite as tall as Fowler and Brunk, but much more mobile.

Also, don't be surprised if there aren't a couple more transfers before all is said and done.

[Irishdawg]

Joey Brunk grad transferring. seems like a big loss losing him and fowler in the same offseason. golden is the only returning big guy i think. what are the bu fans reactions?

Meh. Great kid, just didn't seem to fit, especially on the defensive end of the floor (which could speak to his one foot out the door mentality, which I heard around the start of last season). His ball screen defense and pick and roll defense both need a lot of work if he's going to contribute anywhere on both ends. I also think his post game could use some work as well, seemed (like most of the Butler players this year) to get bullied around by opponents.

We'll see how the development of Golden goes over the offseason. He would tend to get lost of the defensive end, which isn't better necessarily, but Brunk just didn't seem to have the footspeed to effectively hedge out on a guard. Their freshman big (John Michael Mulloy), IMO, will be good at being in the right spot on defense, but needs more strength and certainly isn't near the offensive threat that Golden seems to have the ability to be, or that Fowler or Brunk were.

Wish Brunk the best of luck wherever he winds up, like I said, great kid and deserves great things after all he's been through on a personal level.

[Xuperman]

Joey Brunk grad transferring. seems like a big loss losing him and fowler in the same offseason. golden is the only returning big guy i think. what are the bu fans reactions?

Smits should be a noticeable upgrade compared to the Fowler/Brunk combo IF he can log more minutes than he did at Valpo. He doesn't seem to have excessive foul issues but he only averaged 22 MPG last year.

The line up looks like Baldwin, Thompson, Tucker, McD and Smits.......formidable group. Should be better than last year.