The men’s basketball team’s first true test awaits on Nov. 8. The Bulldogs will hit the road to square off with Boise State as they look to remain undefeated this season.
Here is what you need to know before the Dawgs take on the Broncos:
Who: Butler vs. Boise State
When: Nov. 8, 2 p.m.
Where: ExtraMile Arena
How to watch: USA Network
Death of the midrange
Midrange shots have been getting phased out of basketball for years now, but during the Thad Matta era, Butler was a little bit behind the curve. From Jalen Thomas’ short baseline jumpers to Jahmyl Telfort’s straight-on push shots, those low-percentage looks always felt present.
Rookie head coach Ronald Nored’s maiden team looks different. In the first two games of the season, the Bulldogs’ shot chart has been analytically excellent. Everything has been right at the basket or beyond the three-point arc.
“We’re trying to get to the rim as much as possible,” Nored said. “That’s where it starts. If the rim is not open, let’s pass it out and take a three. Those are great shots, inside-out threes. I think any coach would take those.”
Nored’s unit has executed that plan at a high level thus far, attacking the basket and moving the ball until it eventually finds an open man.
“We talk about making good decisions,” Nored said. “It comes down to math. If you’ve got guys that can make shots and you take enough of the right ones, that also allows you to crash and take some extra ones.”
Teams like Lafayette and FDU offer less resistance defensively than the Dawgs can expect to face against non-buy-game opponents, but it is an indicator that the system is falling into place. If Butler can continue to replicate that success against Boise State, the needle would move exponentially more.
Scouting the Broncos
Under head coach Leon Rice, Boise State has a reputation for hard-nosed teams who defend well and rebound consistently. This year should be no different.
While the Broncos lost their four top scorers from a year ago, Rice retooled with an experienced group of transfers. The incoming group of newbies features the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Defensive Player of the Year, an All-Summit League guard, a season-long starter in the Coastal Athletic Association and a 17 point-per-game junior college forward.
Junior forward Jerquarius Stanback may be the most important of the bunch against Butler. The Alabama State transfer with SWAC honors is expected to be a primary on-ball defender, and at 6-foot-8, has the requisite length to match up with Butler’s junior forward, Asim Djulovic, who leads the Bulldogs in scoring this season.
Boise State’s roster did take a couple hits in the backcourt, with Illinois transfer Ty Rodgers injured and Georgia Tech import Lamar Washington currently ineligible. The Broncos should have the experience to sustain those blows, however, with three more fifth-years and a quintet of juniors available.
One battle to watch will be Boise State’s offensive glass. Given Rice’s coaching methodology and the Broncos’ size, opponents always have to be concerned about giving up extra possessions. On the other hand, Butler likes to crash the defensive glass in order to then push the ball quickly down the floor.
If the Bulldogs find success there, they could catch Boise State with its pants down in transition, but if the Broncos hold the advantage it would throw a significant wrench into Butler’s offensive preferences. That matchup may decide the game.