Exhibition season came and went, meaning it is now time for Bulldog basketball that really counts. Head coach Ronald Nored and his team will make their debut against Lafayette as part of a jam-packed doubleheader day at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Here is what you need to know before the Dawgs take on the Leopards:
Who: Lafayette vs. Butler
When: Nov. 2, 7 p.m.
Where: Hinkle Fieldhouse
How to watch: ESPN+
Setting the tone
For Butler, a season-opening buy-game will be about laying a foundation. Nored got an idea of what his team could do during a 1-2 preseason finish that saw the Bulldogs perform as expected.
Now, he will get a chance to fine-tune the details against real competition. The Bulldogs will lean on their guards to embrace their fast-paced style of play while limiting turnovers.
Junior guard Eduardo Klafke is a player to watch. The Ole Miss transfer primarily plays off the ball, but embodies the Dawgs’ tempo. Klafke likes to crash the defensive glass, get down the floor and get his three-point shots up. After a cold snap from the field throughout the exhibition slate, expect Klafke to shoot early and often against Lafayette.
Scouting the Leopards
Lafayette, led by fifth-year head coach Mike McGarvey, was picked to finish seventh out of 11 teams in the Patriot League Preseason Poll after an 11-21 campaign last season.
Without any documented exhibition games, the Leopards come to Hinkle cold, but bringing back nine returning players should help them hit a rhythm quickly.
Despite that overall continuity, Lafayette’s starting lineup was decimated by the transfer portal. Four of the Leopards’ top five scorers — who combined to start 126 of a possible 128 games last season — dispersed to other mid-major or low-major schools.
Sophomore Shareef Jackson is the only holdover. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 10 points and five rebounds last season, finishing fourth or better on the team in every major statistical category.
McGarvey brought in some lengthy wings to compliment Jackson, but how well the roster fits together remains in doubt, particularly in the backcourt. The Leopards have a few options who played at a variety of levels last season, but potential problems at guard could create transition opportunities for the Bulldogs.
A little defense pressure and a lot of energy on the glass should allow Butler to cruise to a season-opening victory.