1. Ronald Nored will bring the Butler culture back to Hinkle Fieldhouse
Having head coach Ronald Nored back at Butler is a big deal for the program, as the team has struggled to find consistency in recent years, finishing 14-18 in 2022-23, improving to 18-15 in 2023-24 and dropping to 15-20 in 2024-25. Last season, the Bulldogs finished 16-16 and went just 7-13 in Big East Conference play. Nored was a part of the teams that made back-to-back national championship games in 2010 and 2011 as their starting point guard, so Nored knows firsthand what it takes to win at Butler. He also spent more than a decade coaching in the NBA, including the last three seasons with the Atlanta Hawks. With 10 new players on the roster, getting everyone comfortable with the style he wants to play will take time. Butler will probably not turn things around overnight, but Nored has the chance to bring back the toughness, defense and team-first mentality that made the Bulldogs so successful in the past. Hinkle Fieldhouse will be a hard place for opponents to compete.
2. Butler will finish higher than its expected last place finish in the Big East
Per the Big East Preseason Coaches Poll, Butler has been picked to finish 11th out of the 11 teams in the Big East Conference for the 2026-2027 season, but that does not mean the Bulldogs will finish last. One reason to be optimistic is the addition of Nored, along with a number of transfers who have proven their skills. Sophomore guard Jordan Ellerbee averaged 13.1 points per game at Florida Gulf Coast, while junior forward Treyson Anderson averaged 10.4 at North Dakota State. With ten new players on the roster this year, the Dawgs may take time to jell together. However, with a lack of expectations from the media comes extra motivation for the Bulldogs to prove themselves. Finishing in the top of the conference may be a stretch this season, but moving up to eighth or even ninth place is possible if the new players fall into place quickly. Butler has a lot to prove this season, and moving up in the conference is an achievable goal.
3. Samis Calderon will be one of Butler’s most important players
Sophomore forward Samis Calderon could end up being an important piece for Butler this season, especially on the defensive end. Calderon is a 6-foot-8 transfer from Kansas who played 16 games in his first year, averaging 4.1 minutes per game. While having limited opportunities for the Jayhawks, Calderon has flashed his talent elsewhere. Before going to Kansas, Calderon played for Overtime Elite, averaging 8.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game in the 2024-2025 season. Calderon also has a 7-foot-4-inch wingspan, which can be extremely useful for defense and guarding the basket. Butler needs someone who does not only rely on their scoring ability. If Calderon can earn consistent playing time, he has the potential to be a key defender.
4. Butler will beat a ranked team at Hinkle
Even with Butler predicted to finish last in the Big East, the Bulldogs still have a chance to surprise people this season at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Butler will host home games against UConn, St. John’s and Villanova, which gives them multiple chances to pull off a big win. Hinkle has always been a tough place for opposing teams to play, and having Nored back could make the atmosphere even more exciting. One player who could make a difference is graduate guard Jalen Jackson, who helped Butler get off to a 5-1 start in the 2025-26 season before a season-ending ankle injury. During this time with Jackson playing, the Bulldogs were able to beat South Carolina and Virginia to win the Greenbrier Tip-Off, showing they can compete against tough opponents. Another reason to have optimism is with the height the Bulldogs bring. 6-foot-11 senior center Drayton Jones is returning and 7-foot-1 redshirt junior center Kevin Ndzie is also an asset. Jones also started all 32 games last season and shot 59%. With Coach Nored emphasizing defense and physical play, Butler could make it difficult for other teams to reach the basket. UConn will visit Hinkle Fieldhouse on New Year’s Eve, which gives the Bulldogs a chance to make a statement in front of their home crowd early in conference play. Pulling off a big win will not be easy, but with a healthy team and rowdy environment, the Dawgs can shock everyone.
5. Samu Adler will be one of Butler’s biggest scorers by the end of the season
First-year guard Samu Adler could be one of the Bulldogs’ biggest offensive weapons this season. At just 18 years old, he is coming from an impressive year in Finland where he averaged 16.3 points and 3.2 rebounds per game, helping his Salon Vilpas team win the Finnish Championship. He also scored 32 points in the final game of the Finnish championship and won Finals MVP Honors, showing that he can step into a big role when it matters most. Bringing his kind of scoring ability to Hinkle could be huge, especially for a team in need of consistent scoring. Adler is 6-foot-6 which will allow him to get shots off on all areas of the court. Adjusting to the physicality of the Big East could take time for Adler, but his experience playing basketball professionally overseas should help. By the end of the season, Adler could become one of the team’s best scorers.