Tues 2/11 BE, 2 Games (Marq-SH, XU-Butler).

[HoosierPal]

Butler will be fine. They were 9-2 ooc, with only 2 losses being 2 pts each vs Oklahoma State and LSU. I think in each if they had hit their free throws in the last 10 seconds (or if Roosevelt Jones was healthy), BU wouldve been 11-0. If you look back at old threads here, Butler along with VU and CU were considered locks. They lost heartbreakers in 3 of their first 4 games, and it hurt them.

Looking forward:
Chrabascz (sp) is only a freshman and is excellent. He's the wide-body.
Dunham is just a sophomore. He's the sharpshooter.
They get one more year from Barlow (runs the offense) and Woods (one of the top rebounders in the Big East).
All roles are covered and returning.

Also next year:
Roosevelt Jones returns.
Kelan Martin and Wideman arrive. Both have the size and build of Chrabascz, so they won't get hammered down low.
I would think Castro and Brown will get more minutes too (I think they shouldve gotten more minutes this year).
So in 2015 Butler will retain experience, and gain size and strength, and add depth.
Sounds like a great plan.

I appreciate the Glass Half Full approach, and it's one I try to maintain myself.

Getting Jones back will be HUGE. He is the leader of this team. You can pencil in the staters already, with Jones replacing Marshall from this year's team.

Martin is listed at 6'6" and Wideman at 6'7", so at best we are only replacing the 'bulk and size' of Marshall and Fromm. Plus they will be freshmen. Our depth will be equal to what we have this year, but less experienced. They will both need a year or two to develop. But at least neither will be expected to start next year.

All Bulldog fans are expecting a transfer or two going out. No need to mention names, as any Bulldog fan knows whom I refer to. So there will be one or two or three more additions. It is tough for a JUCO to get admitted to Butler, so will it be a frosh or transfer? Stay tuned.

[BillikensWin]

I wasn't buying Stevens leaving as a viable excuse. (Yes, I realize he isn't there). Look when Jim Crews started at SLU.

Stevens left while his value was at its highest. The more we got away from those two runs to the Final Four, the less value they were to him as a professional. He also knew that this year was going to be a struggle.

You have to remember that this team was recruited by Coach Stevens. He has to take his part of the blame for this disaster. Without Jones, the record with Stevens as Coach rather than Miller would be similar, maybe not identical but similar.

I totally agree with that. Seems like most online Butler fans are not blaming everything on his departure. Miller will get things going. As much as I'm not a Butler fan, there is a degree of respect. Our team was recruited by Coach Majerus, so the situation is pretty similar.

[stever20]

Butler was 9-2 OOC, but just looking the best OOC win was only vs Vanderbilt.. Away from Hinkle they were only 4-2, with wins over Ball St(4-18), Wash St(9-15), Purdue(14-10), and Evansville(11-15). Hardly anything fierce there. Played 5 winning teams OOC, and went 3-2. Depending on what happens with Oklahoma St, they could wind up not having played a single tourney team. They are 2-12 vs RPI top 100 teams overall. 5 of their 9 wins are vs RPI teams 235 or Worse. So I think they were kind of a paper tiger entering the conference season. Everyone thought based on that Oklahoma St game that Butler was good. now, just looks like OSU wasn't that good.

So looking back, I don't think it's a surprise what happened to them. They didn't play much OOC and the roof has caved in. They've been competitive, but just not good enough to get those w's. Maybe Stevens steals a game or two early, and the entire season is different. Think that DePaul game was a real back breaker, after that all sorts of doubt set in. Especially then combined with the Georgetown loss.