The Butler Bulldogs started the season with uncertainty, but their hot start has raised the spirits of the Hinkle Fieldhouse faithful. On Monday in Indianapolis, the #15 Bulldogs handed the Kennesaw State Owls a 93-51 dismantling and served notice that their upset of then number 5 North Carolina in the Bahamas was no fluke.
In short, these Bulldogs can play.
However, looking back a few short weeks ago when head coach Brandon Miller began a medical leave of absence, few people could have predicted such early success.
On October 2, just two days before Butler’s first official practice of the season, Miller was granted a medical leave for undisclosed reasons, and newly-hired second-year assistant Chris Holtmann was handed the reigns to a team on the ropes.
Fast forward two months and it is obvious that Holtmann has done wonders with a team that finished 14-17 and won only four conference games last season, its first in the Big East. And this after watching poster boy Brad Stevens depart Indy to coach the Boston Celtics. Bulldog players credit the “Butler Way” that allowed for a smoother than expected transition from one coach to another - to another.
“One thing we know about guys who coach here is that they all preach the same thing,” senior Kameron Woods said. “We play the game the same way. We know that things are going to be the same no matter who’s at the top calling the shots, so we just try to keep all the guys’ spirits up and try to keep our team focused on the same thing, which is to win at the highest level.”
It helps immensely that Butler is no longer missing Roosevelt Jones, its best player from two season ago, who missed all of last year with a wrist injury. Having Jones in the line-up has been vital to the Bulldogs’ early success.
So far, the Junior guard is stuffing the stat sheet to the tune of 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. His presence has allowed his teammates to step up as well. Currently, there are six Bulldogs averaging seven points or more on a team that is making nearly half of its shots (47%). Ball sharing and unselfishness have become integral parts of this team.
“It was my fault as much as anybody’s, just letting some guys undermine what we were trying to do here,” said junior Kellen Dunham, referring to last season’s struggles. “There was no leadership last year at all, basically. Guys had their own agendas and things like that. But I feel like this year it’s all coming together.”
“The way we play, we depend on each other so much, whether that’s offense or defense,” Woods agreed. “We have to want to see each other do well.”
Dunham, a junior, leads the way with a 16.3 ppg average, followed by Jones, Kelan Martin (10.6), Andrew Chrabascz (8.7), Woods (7.9), and Alex Barlow (7.7). Dunham is making an otherworldly 48% of his three-point attempts (21 of 44 through Monday).
While the Bulldogs, now 8-1, are excited about their early success (wins over North Carolina and Georgetown highlight their first nine games), they also know there is a rough road ahead. Butler still has non-conference dates with Tennessee and Indiana before embarking into its Big East schedule, which includes early matchups with #7 Villanova and #24 St. John’s, both on the road.
However, all of that seems secondary right now to a program that has rebounded nicely from losing two coaches in three seasons. While it is still far too early to pencil the Bulldogs into the Final Four again (recall the back-to-back appearances in 2010 and 2011), no one would be surprised to see them back in the title hunt again.
With the classic movie “Hoosiers” nearing its 30th anniversary, would it not be appropriate to see Hinkle Fieldhouse on the national state once again? The Butler players are doing their best to live the Indiana basketball dream, despite the recent setbacks.
“We wish coach Miller well, we’re going to keep him in our prayers,” Woods said. “Obviously we don’t know if he’s coming back, (or) when he’s coming back, but we know Holtmann is our guy. We all trust him. We came here to play basketball and win games.”
So far, so good. So very, very good.
