The Butler men’s and women’s basketball teams will be wrapping up their seasons in the next couple weeks, which means conference championships are right around the corner.

The major difference for the Atlantic 10 Conference compared to the Horizon League is the tournament is—at least for the men—played entirely on a neutral court.

“(The Atlantic 10 Tournament) will have its set of challenges,” men’s coach Brad Stevens said. “The biggest difference for us is that’s a long way for our fan base to travel, and it’s an expensive trip to make.”

In the Horizon League, game locations are based on seeding, with the higher seeds claiming home-court advantage. The regular season champion receives a bye into the semifinals and home-court advantage for all remaining games should it win out.

“I like the idea of anything that pertains to tournament play being on a neutral floor,” Stevens said. “I understand why, in the Horizon League, we didn’t do it that way, and I voted for that. But I do like the idea of playing a neutral court.”

The entire men’s A-10 Conference Championship will be played at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., March 14-17.

Mike Freeman, associate athletic director, said each A-10 team is given 150 tickets for the conference tournament. Freeman said the tickets cover the women’s championship game and all men’s tournament games.

“We feel like we are going to sell that many,” Freeman said. “We’ve been working and talking about some other ways to get our hands on some more tickets so that we can help our fans get out there.”

Tickets are also available directly through the Atlantic 10 Conference and Ticketmaster.

“There’s a lot more options if we sell through our allotment, which we hope to do,” Freeman said.

For the women, the first three rounds will be played at Hagan Arena on St. Joseph’s campus in Philadelphia, Penn. The women’s championship game will be held at the Barclays Center.

Freeman said he’s worked with the A-10 to make sure fans interested in traveling to Philadelphia for the women’s tournament are accommodated.

Of the 16 teams in the conference, only the top 12 make the tournament. The top four regular- season teams receive a first-round bye. The first round matches up the No. 8 seed versus No. 9 seed, No. 5 and No. 12, No. 7and No. 10, and No. 6 and No. 11.

The No. 1 seed plays the winner of  the No. 8- No. 9 matchup, the second seed plays the No. 5-No. 12 winner, the third seed faces 7-10 winner; and the fourth seed plays the 6-11 winner. The winner of the entire tournament receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The Bulldogs will face a very different tournament environment than ever before. Last year in the Horizon League tournament, the Bulldogs played in the 5,000-seat Athletics-Recreation Center in Valparaiso, Ind.

The Barclays Center seats 17,732 spectators and resides in the largest city in the United States.

Stevens said experience will help the team handle the big stage.

“Some of these guys have played in Final Fours, which is the biggest stage,” Stevens said.

Despite this and demand for tickets, Freeman said fans still interested in purchasing tickets should contact the Butler ticket office.

“We still have some available, and we’re going to do what we can to find additional tickets to help people that are looking to sit in or around other Butler people,” Freeman said.

Lindsay Martin, sports marketing and promotions manager, said Dawg Pound is also willing to assist students who are interested in going to the A-10 tournament.

“It would likely not be tied into the points program because there would be so few students that would be looking to take advantage of that opportunity,” Martin said.

Martin said only one student has asked her about A-10 tournament tickets.

Martin likens the low numbers to traditionally low numbers during events over school breaks.

The deadline for purchasing tickets is today, but Freeman urged fans to still contact the ticket office if they are interested.

“Technically, our deadline is on Wednesday,” Freeman said. “But at the same time, if somebody calls us late next week, we are going to try to find additional tickets for them.

“If we sell more than 150, we are going to try to help those folks. For those people that are interested, it’s best to act now to try and get your hands on something Butler has.”

Of the tickets purchased so far, Freeman said most have been bought by season ticket holders and donors from the Indianapolis area, as well as people from the New York, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia alumni chapters.

For those who cannot make the trip to Brooklyn, the semifinals will be televised on CBS Sports Network, and the championship game will be nationally televised on CBS.

Working behind the scenes, a group of seven men practice hard.

Day in and day out, they manage academics, jobs, social commitments and countless other obligations.

These individuals, who tirelessly assist the Butler women’s basketball program on a strictly volunteer basis, are dubbed the Gray Squad.

They often scrimmage against the Bulldogs to keep them sharp.

The men on the Gray Squad are chosen in a number of ways.

Some are noticed draining shots at the Health and Recreation Complex, a couple by reputation and some from the skills observed in the basketball class that Butler women’s basketball assistant coach Ashley Hayes teaches.

Hayes, who is in charge  of the Gray Squad, said she remains thoroughly impressed by the effort consistently put forth.

“I love these guys,” Hayes said.  “I enjoy seeing them every day at practice. They bring a new dimension, and they’re as big a part of our success as anyone.”

The bonds formed between players on and off the court play a big role in the team’s dynamic.

“‘I’ve grown very close to the other members,” junior Kevin Schwartz said.  “We look at each other as teammates on the court, but the bond has developed into more than that.

“Not only do we work well together on the court, but we’ve got a relationship outside of basketball as well.”

For senior Jordan Crowe, his motivation to join stemmed from a passion for service and the love of the game.

“I love basketball, and I love to help people in all ways that I can,” Crowe said. “I figure that, since I love the game of basketball so much, I might as well play every day to try and help the women’s team be successful and improve from game to game.”

Schwartz said the preparation does not stop at a good scrimmage game.

Before game day, the squad prepares with a scouting report and mimics the playing style and tendencies of the Bulldogs’ upcoming opponent to ensure the women are as ready to play as possible.

With four games left in the women’s basketball team’s regular season, the Gray Squad is determined to help the Bulldogs  finish the year strong.

For the first time in the 2012-13 women’s basketball season, senior Becca Bornhorst stepped on the court, suited up and ready to play last Sunday against St. Bonaventure.

“I had freshman nerves,” Bornhorst said. “It was kind of funny. I talked to coach. I was super nervous. I hadn’t played in so long.”

Bornhorst battled through injuries in the 2011-12 season and started 17 games for the Bulldogs. She ranked second on the team in rebounding this season.

The only senior on the team, Bornhorst had originally opted to sit this season out and, if she was able to get the surgery done on her knee, possibly play a fifth year.

She had planned to have her surgery in October until her doctors explained she needed more work and had to postpone the surgery.

“Not being able to be physically out there was basically heartbreaking to me, you know,” Bornhorst said. “Basketball is my first love, and it’s my passion.”

Bornhorst emailed her doctor’s physician assistant to try to find out when a possible surgery could be set up.

She said she was frustrated because she would not be able to play a fifth year due to the expected recovery time of at least one year.

She asked her doctor if there was any possible way to play just a little bit, the rest of her senior year.

“I’m not going to be a starter like I was last year, but, you know, I would be a role player if they need me for a few minutes here and there and just be able to play and practice a little bit,” Bornhorst said.

Every time she steps on the court, she does risk re-injuring one or both knees again.

“To me, if I don’t do it, I’ll regret it honestly,” Bornhorst said.

Bornhorst tallied one offensive rebound in her senior year debut while playing six minutes total.

“Combining her being vocal all year and (her) high skill level makes her a key asset to our team,” junior Daress McClung said. “I honestly couldn’t be more thrilled to have her back on the floor.”

There are only two home games left for Bornhorst and the women’s team, and one will be senior night.

“Senior night will be really special for me to just go out there for a few minutes with the Butler uniform on,” Bornhorst said.  “I am just embracing every moment I have left.”

The women’s basketball team is six games into its conference season and is currently sitting in sixth place in the Atlantic 10 conference standings.

The Bulldogs have an overall record of 13-8, including 4-2 in conference.

The two losses have come to No. 17 Dayton on Jan. 12 and St. Joseph’s on Jan. 30.

The team is 6-3 at Hinkle Fieldhouse this season and has four more home games before the A-10 tournament starts in March.

Only the top 12 teams will compete for the A-10 title.

BUTLER PLAYERS TO WATCH

Daress McClung‑the junior forward leads her team with 16.9 points per game, which is the third best in the A-10.

She averages 9.8 rebounds per game, fourth in the A-10, and leads the conference with 2.8 blocked shots per game.

McClung ranks in the top 10 in eight categories in the A-10 and has twice been named A-10 player of the week.

Taylor Schippers—The sophomore guard is the team’s second leading scorer, averaging 14.1 points in more than 34 minutes per game.

She ranks seventh in the A-10 for assists with more than four per game and leads the team with 4.2 per game.

Schippers has made 35 3-point field goals this season, the most on the team and 10th most in the A-10.

Liz Stratman—The sophomore center is the third Butler player averaging double figures in scoring with 12.1 points per game.

She has only played in 12 games this season but averages 6.8 rebounds per game.

Amanda Raker—The sophomore forward averages 5.5 points, but is shooting 60 percent from the field.

She also averages 4.7 rebounds per game for the Bulldogs.

The Butler women’s basketball team continued its winning streak last Sunday, defeating Virginia Commonwealth 65-45.

This win marked the fourth in a row for the Bulldogs (13-7, 4-1), who have won 10 of their last 12.

Although the Rams (8-12, 1-4) played close for most of the game, Butler began to pull away at the midpoint of the second half.

After stretching their lead to eight at the 10-minute mark, the Bulldogs never looked back, outscoring VCU 24-12 from that point on.

Junior forward Daress McClung led the Bulldogs with a game-high 25 points, nine rebounds and five steals.

“I felt like we brought a lot of energy,” McClung said. “We really focused in on what we were working on.”

Coach Beth Couture said she was uneasy about how her team would handle playing against the Rams’ zone defense.

“I was a little nervous going into the game, knowing they play so much zone,” Couture said.

However, McClung had no problem scoring against the zone-heavy VCU squad.

She shot 56 percent from the field, including three 3-pointers.

Junior guard Mandy McDivitt contributed 10 points and four assists.

“We just knew that if we had our heads up, somebody was going to be open,” McDivitt said.

Sophomore center Liz Stratman was also effective, totaling 10 points, nine boards and four blocks for the Bulldogs.

Stratman has been a difference-maker for the Bulldogs this season.

Since she became eligible to play in December, Butler has posted a 9-2 record with Stratman on the floor.

Stratman, a transfer from Xavier, was forced to sit out the first 10 games of the season.

The team was 5-5 before her arrival.

The Bulldogs are tied with Fordham for second in the Atlantic 10 Conference.

Butler faces a tough test in their next matchup, a road game versus Saint Joseph’s.

The Hawks are 13-5 overall and 4-0 in conference play.

The game is set to tip off at 7 p.m. tonight.

On the heels of a vital win against Xavier Thursday night, Butler women’s basketball (11-7, 2-1) faced La Salle (5-13, 1-2) Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia. The Bulldogs won their second consecutive game 59-42.

Junior forward Daress McClung led the team in scoring with 19 points and five assists and was stellar on defense as well with seven blocks and three steals. Sophomore center Liz Stratman continued her hot streak, draining 12 points in just 20 minutes of play. Sophomore guards Taylor Schippers and Hannah Douglas sank nine points.

On Thursday, the Bulldogs won a back-and-forth game against Xavier (6-11, 0-3) at Hinkle Fieldhouse 71-67.

The Bulldogs have a long trek to Massachusetts for their next game Wednesday night.

The Butler women’s basketball team is looking to continue its winning ways as it travels to Bowling Green today.

The Falcons (4-3) are coming into the contest on a one-game win streak after beating Colorado State 71-49 last Saturday.

Bowling Green is historically one of the top mid-major women’s basketball programs in the country. Under former coach Curt Miller, the team has won 74 percent of its games between 2001 and 2012.

The Bulldogs (3-4) and Falcons have split the all-time series, with each team winning three games. The series dates back to 1998, when the two teams split a pair of meetings. Butler coach Beth Couture is 1-2 in her career against the Falcons.

Last year, Bowling Green earned a 71-61 victory over the Bulldogs.

Butler is coming into today’s game off a 65-59 victory over Eastern Michigan (1-5) at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Nov. 28.

Junior Daress McClung scored a game-high 18 points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds to help Butler get the win. She also added four blocks.

Sophomore Taylor Schippers chipped in with 15 points, six rebounds and six assists for the Bulldogs.

Both McClung and Schippers are transfers playing in their first season in a Bulldog uniform. The two have led the team in scoring in all seven games this season.

McClung said it wasn’t easy sitting out a season but credits her teammates for helping her get back into the action.

“It’s hard to get back in your groove when you’re coming in a situation like that, but everyone has been working hard,” McClung said. “This game tonight showed us that we may not do everything right, but we can still pull out a win.”

Schippers scored 10 of her points in the second half and, along with sophomore Hannah Douglas, helped hold the lead for Butler down the stretch.

With less than six minutes left in the second half, Schippers made a jump shot that tied the game at 50.

She followed with another basket that would end up giving Butler the lead for good.

The Bulldogs finished the game on a 15-9 run, including five clutch free throws from Schippers and Douglas in the waning minutes of the game to close the door on Eastern Michigan.

“It was one of those games that you just have to grind out,” Couture said. “We got that six-point lead and were able to hold on.

“In our women’s basketball program any win is a good win.”

Douglas finished in double-figures for Butler on 4-of-9 shooting and added five rebounds.  Freshman Katie Brewer added nine points off the bench in her 22 minutes of play.

Couture said she was happy with the play from her bench.

“I felt like Brewer had a great game for a freshman,” Couture said. “We’re playing a lot of young kids, and they’re getting a lot of valuable time.”

Butler women’s basketball begins its regular season by traveling to the Al McGuire Center in Milwaukee to take on Marquette Saturday.

The two teams last met in the 2009 Women’s National Invitation Tournament. The Golden Eagles prevailed 58-49 in a second-round game played in Milwaukee.

The Bulldogs will also play at Ball State Tuesday night. Butler defeated the Cardinals 55-43 last season in a December contest at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

“The first two road games will give us a chance to see where we stand as a team, and we all are excited about that opportunity,” junior forward Daress McClung said. “I am feeling confident in how hard we’ve worked as a team and am looking forward to testing what we’ve practiced against great competition.”

Butler wrapped up its first win of the year against Kentucky Wesleyan, defeating the Panthers 68-53 in an exhibition matchup last Friday.

McClung led in scoring with 18 points. Freshman forward Katie Brewer snagged 13 rebounds for the Bulldogs.

“It’s nice to finally play against someone else other than ourselves all the time,” sophomore guard Taylor Schippers said. “Exhibition games are (used) to see what rotations work best and for us to get all our nerves out before going into regular-season play.”

Neither team took control of the game in the first half and they headed into the locker room tied 31-31.

“At halftime in the locker room, coach was calm and just said we need to play with more energy now that the nerves are out, we need to go out there and put them away,” Schippers said. “Our defense and energy in the second half is what let us pull away from the Panthers.”

The Bulldogs’ pressure held the Panthers scoreless for the first seven minutes of the second half and let Butler extend its lead.

Butler’s defense forced 17 Kentucky Wesleyan turnovers.

The Panthers shot 18 percent from the field in the second half after shooting 40 percent in the first half.

The women’s basketball season is about to tip off for Butler, and although the team will still be playing in Hinkle Fieldhouse, the Bulldogs will no longer be playing in the Horizon League.

The team finished with 13 victories against 17 losses in its final season in the Horizon League.

This year, Butler will look to improve on this mark as a new member of the Atlantic 10 Conference.

“Everything is going to be new for us,” Butler coach Beth Couture said. “From top to bottom, the league is going to be much more competitive.

“I’m so excited to be in a league like the A-10 where women’s basketball has such rich tradition.”

The Bulldogs will have only four active returning players when they kick off their inaugural A-10 season.

“Everything is new: the players we have, the conference, the locations,” sophomore forward Haley Howard said. “We just don’t really know what to expect, and I think that will be the toughest challenge for sure.”

Junior center Sarah Hamm earned All-Conference honors last season but will miss the entire 2012-13 campaign with a torn ACL.

The squad’s only senior, forward Becca Bornhorst, recently had knee surgery as well and will not play this season.

The loss of Hamm will leave a gap in the Bulldogs’ lineup that will eventually need to be filled.

“We’re going to have to (fill Hamm’s role) by committee,” Couture said. “(Sophomore center Liz) Stratman will be eligible after exams, which will help us when we get in A-10 play.

“But we’re looking at (junior forward Daress) McClung and (sophomore forward Amanda) Raker to really be the leaders early with their experience.”

Stratman, McClung and sophomore guard Taylor Schippers all transferred to Butler within the last year and are expected to contribute this season.

“The transfers play a major role in this year’s team,” junior guard Mandy McDivitt said. “Each of them brings unique experiences from other programs, and each is so talented.”

McClung and Schippers will be able to play from the outset while Stratman will have to wait until mid-December to join in on the action.

With so many new faces on the roster, returning team members will need to figure out new members’ playing styles and how they will fit on the team.

“We have 10 girls that can go out and play very well and be extremely successful,” Howard said. “I see no problems with team chemistry this year at all, especially for having so many new girls at one time.”

Despite going into this season with many variables, Couture said she does have one aspiration for the team.

“When we leave the floor after a game, we want the people that we’ve competed against to say, ‘Wow, they were a tough team, and they played hard and they played together,’” Couture said, “and if we can accomplish that, we’ll have a chance to have some success.”

As the spring sports season begins to wind down, many teams are already beginning to prepare for their next season.

The football team had its annual blue and white scrimmage, the men’s soccer team had its spring exhibition matches, and five teams have announced additions to their rosters for next year.

Let’s take a look forward and see how some of Butler’s teams will be changing for the 2012-13 school year.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

The men’s basketball team finished the 2011-12 season with a 22-15 record, averaging 40.8 percent shooting from the field and 28.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc. The Bulldogs were ranked eighth and 10th in the Horizon League in those categories, respectively.

The team has a chance to improve with the additions of senior guard and transfer Rotnei Clarke and incoming freshman guard Kellen Dunham.

In three seasons at Arkansas, Clarke averaged more than 15 points per game and shot nearly 44 percent from 3-point range.

Dunham averaged more than 29 points during his senior season at Pendleton Heights High School.

The Bulldogs will also be adding guard Devontae Morgan from Tampa, Fla., and guard Chris Harrison-Docks from Okemos, Mich.

Morgan led his high school team to a state championship last season, averaging more than 15 points and six rebounds per game.

Harrison-Docks averaged 21 points and five steals per game in his senior season.

The team will lose only two players—guard Ronald Nored and forward Garrett Butcher.

Butler will have to make up for the loss of Nored’s defensive prowess, as well as the experience and leadership provided by the pair.

Clarke and seniors Emerson Kampen, Chase Stigall and Andrew Smith will likely be asked to step up and fill those roles.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The women’s basketball team concluded its 2011-12 season with a 13-17 record and said goodbye to two senior guards—Devin Brierly and Kaley May.

Brierly was the only Bulldog to start in all 30 of the team’s games. She recorded more than 32 minutes of playing time per game, averaging 11 points per game.

Sophomore center Sarah Hamm is the only returning player to average more than 10 points per game last season.

Hamm will be joined by sophomore guard Jenna Cobb, freshman forward Hayley Howard and freshman guard Hannah Douglas, who all played key roles on the team last season.

Butler will also be adding four incoming freshman—forward Katie Brewer from Indianapolis, guard Blaire Langlois from Carmel, guard Lexus Murry from Indianapolis and forward-center Olivia Wrencher from West Chester, Ohio.

Brewer is a versatile player who has the ability to knock down three-pointers and battle down low.

Langlois has deep range on her jump shot but also has the ability to make plays with her passing.

Murry averaged more than 22 points per game during her senior season and can also be effective on the defensive end, where she averaged 3.5 steals per game.

Wrencher will bring size to the Bulldogs that will complement the play of Hamm and Howard under the basket.

SOFTBALL

The softball team will lose seven seniors at the conclusion of its current season, including four-year starting outfielder and third baseman Lauren McNulty, Butler’s home run record-holding first baseman Erin Falkenberry and catcher Mallory Winters.

Despite this, coach Scott Hall has five incoming players who could make an immediate impact on the program.

Alex Kotter, a shortstop from Vincennes Lincoln High School, had a .615 career batting average and was an Indiana first team All-State pick.

Chelsea Conover, an outfielder from Brownsburg, led her high school team in stolen bases, runs scored and on-base percentage for three years.

Audrey East is a utility player from New Palestine High School. East is one of the best power hitters in Indiana and boasted a .902 slugging percentage, eight home runs and 47 RBIs last season.

Taylor Lockwood, a pitcher from Southport High School, has good control and will be a solid addition to the pitching staff.

The same could be said for Kristin Gutierrez, a left-handed power pitcher from Highlands Ranch High School in Colorado.

Gutierrez, a 2011 Triple Crown All-American honoree, is a dual threat with her pitching and hitting. She led her conference with 127 strikeouts and recorded a .542 batting average.

The success of the pitching recruits could be key with the loss of senior pitcher Breanna Fisher and injuries to junior pitcher Jenny Esparza this season.

BASEBALL

The baseball team will add four players who could have an immediate impact next season.

Nick Bartolone is a left-handed outfielder from Harrison High School. Coach Steve Farley said he expects Bartolone to compete for position in the outfield next year.

Chris Marras, a catcher from Vernon Hills, Ill., will get the chance to work with two fifth-year senior catchers, Radley Haddad and Nick Hladek.

Nick Saldutti is a power-hitting first baseman from Westfield High School. He hit .477 with a .571 on-base percentage in his junior season.

Drew Small is a utility player from Zionsville. He was an All-State honorable mention.

His versatility and speed will help him compete for a spot in the outfield, especially with the loss of senior outfielder Mike Hoscheit.

The Bulldogs will also lose pitchers Dom Silvestri, Mike Hernandez, Brad Schnitzer, Brian Padove and Ryan Salvino, as well as senior infielder Griffin Richeson.

VOLLEYBALL

The volleyball team is returning eight players who played in at least 50 sets last year and lost only one senior in Maureen Bamiro.

Bamiro, a former middle blocker, finished with the second-best attack percentage in Butler history and sixth all-time in kills and kills per set.

Last season, she was voted All-Horizon League.

The Bulldogs will return sophomore middle blocker Maggie Harbison, who will likely be a key contributor after being voted All-Horizon League last season.

Butler will also add two transfer students.

Freshman Erica Stahl, a transfer from Cincinnati, will be an addition to the middle blocker position.

Stahl only has four sets of collegiate experience under her belt but was named among the top high school volleyball players by the Under Armour Watch list in 2010.

Sophomore Morgan Peterson, a setter from Middle Tennessee State, will have two years of eligibility with the Bulldogs.

She averaged 8.58 assists and 1.41 digs per set last season.