Finley Bizjack is the only returning double-digit scorer for the Dawgs. Photo by Jonathan Wang. 

DAVID JACOBS | MANAGING EDITOR | drjacobs@butler.edu 

SAWYER GOLDWEIN | SPORTS EDITOR | sgoldwein@butler.edu 

Entering year four of head coach Thad Matta’s second stint with Butler, the Bulldogs have failed to make the tournament in each campaign. After suffering two losing seasons in three years, it is no secret that his teams have fallen short during his second stint. 

In fact, throughout Matta’s 20 seasons as a college basketball head coach, each of his losing campaigns and three of his four under-20 wins have come in the last three years. 

After going 18-15 in 2023-24, the Dawgs went 15-20 with a berth into the inaugural College Basketball Crown field, where they made it to the second round before losing to Boise State. 

Junior guard Finley Bizjack is one of the few returning players from last year’s team, and is the only double-digit scorer coming back from last season. 

“[Whether it] be scoring, defending, rebounding, passing — whatever it is —  I want to do what it takes to win,” Bizjack said. “I want to play in the [NCAA] tournament, and I’m willing to do anything it takes … I’ve worked really hard this summer to make sure that I can bring that [contribution] and more [to the team].” 

Other returning players include sophomore guard Evan Haywood, redshirt sophomore forward Jamie Kaiser Jr. — who was injured all of last season — and junior guard Ethan McComb, who was recently converted from a walk-on to a scholarship player before this season. 

Having to reconstruct the roster essentially from scratch — losing 11 players to graduation and transfer portal — Matta knew he had to go out and recruit a completely different roster for this upcoming season. However, with NIL limitations, it has been a struggle in recent years to field a competitive roster.  

“We knew we wanted to get some athletes, [and] we knew we wanted to try to find the right type of fit [for the team],” Matta said. “I think one of the biggest things —  and nobody f—ing talks about it — is we’ve been dead last in NIL … There’s been a change in that regard to hopefully give us a fighting chance, but we’re still millions and millions of dollars behind teams in this league.” 

Despite the financial challenges in the current landscape of college basketball and athletics as a whole, Matta is confident this team can get Butler back on track. 

“I’m excited about this season,” Matta said. “We wanted to add size, not only at the center position, but [also] at the wings. We wanted to [add] at the guard position, and I think we’ve done that. Now, [we have to] continue to bring these guys along and build the cohesiveness that you talked about, and see what we make happen.” 

In total, Matta adds a total of five transfers consisting of graduate guards Jalen Jackson and Yame Butler, graduate forward Michael Ajayi, as well as two 6-foot-11 centers in senior Yohan Traore and junior Drayton Jones. 

He also brings in a class of four first-years, headlined by four-star recruits Jack McCaffrey and Azavier “Stink” Robinson. 

Butler’s head man plans to lean on his deep roster to keep legs fresh and opponents on their toes.

“I think we’re gonna play a lot of guys, 11 or 12,” Matta said. “That’s what I’m excited for as a coach, that hopefully we can just keep coming at you with fresh bodies and guys coming in and doing what they do.”

The talent-filled team brings a well-rounded skill set that should allow the Dawgs to throw a variety of looks at opponents. While Butler hopes to keep teams guessing by mixing up its personnel, there are a few traits that the whole team shares.

Haywood feels the Bulldogs’ intelligence could be a weapon.

“Everybody’s been [talking about] the athleticism, but I feel like an underrated part [of our team] is our chemistry and our IQ,” Haywood said. “We have a lot of smart players. We have a lot of guys [who] didn’t take long to pick up on the concepts that we did last year. We changed some concepts, but most of [them] stayed the same.”

Armed with confidence and a new crop of high-level athletes, the Dawgs feel they are primed for an improved season. Exhibition games at home against Notre Dame and Indiana State will provide tune-up opportunities, but the Bulldogs’ first true test will be Nov. 5 against Southern Indiana.