Butler Bulldogs (28-10, 13-5)
Projected starting five:
Sr. G Ronald Nored
Jr. G Chase Stigall
Jr. C Andrew Smith
So. F Eric Fromm
So. F Khyle Marshall
Important departures:
Shelvin Mack: 16.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.4 apg
Matt Howard: 16.4 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 1.4 apg
Two of the mainstays on the Butler teams that advanced to two consecutive NCAA championship games are gone. The Bulldogs will also need to replace Shawn Vanzant (8.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.7 apg), a key role player during the past few seasons.
% returning scoring and rebounding:
Scoring: 37 percent
Rebounding: 53 percent
The Bulldogs return three players with significant starting experience: Khyle Marshall, Andrew Smith and Ronald Nored.
Additions:
The Bulldogs will welcome six new recruits to the squad this fall. Roosevelt Jones is a three-star recruit from Illinois who will play small forward. Jackson Aldridge is a three-star recruit from Australia who will provide depth at guard. Kameron Woods is a two-star recruit from Kentucky who will add height. Andy Smethers is a two-star recruit and local product who can play both guard and forward. Alex Barlow and Elliott Kampen are two less heralded recruits.
Schedule highlights:
Butler’s home matchup against Louisville Nov. 19 will be the team’s most important nonconference game. In Horizon League play, the Bulldogs will face two stretches in which they face Detroit and Cleveland State, two of the top teams in the Horizon League, as well as an improved Youngstown State team.
