Butler Scouting Report

[Hey Adrien!]

Butler: 8-3
Kenpom Rating: 71 out of 363​

Best wins:

• 76-64 v #54 Kansas State
• 71-61 v #85 Yale
• 75-70 v #92 BYU (neutral)

Losses:

• 62-68 @ #33 Penn State
• 45-71 v #3 Tennessee (Neutral)
• 61-76 v #56 NC State (Neutral)

OFFENSE: 63st in efficiency

• 14th in 2p% (58.2%)
• 74th in 3p% (36.6%)
• Top-90th in both block and non-steal turnover prevention
• ~ the median in
  • 3PA/FGA (36.7%)
  • A/FGM (51.8%)
  • Offensive tempo (17.3 seconds/possession)
• Not efficient at getting to the line (287th in FTA/FGA at 26.3%)
• Poor offensive rebounding rate (23.9%, 302nd in the nation, although Manny Bates was nationally ranked during his time at NC State)

DEFENSE: 78th in efficiency

• 5th in FTA/FGA prevention (17.3%)
• 41st in block % (13.2%)
• 50th in opponent 3p% (29.2%)
• 51st in preventing 3PA (32.2%)
• 92nd in steal % (10.9%)
• ~ Top 2/3rds nationally in
  • A/FGM (47.7%)
  • Opponent 2p% (48.2%)
  • Defensive rebounding rate
• Slightly above median in
  • Average opponent length of possession (17.3 seconds)
  • Opponent ft% (70.2)

After two down seasons at the end of the LaVall Jordan era (24-34, 120ish KenPom rating), the start of Thad Matta’s return to Butler has been promising.

Playing at a faster pace and with way better interior defense, NC State transfer Manny Bates has arguably been the team’s MVP with three of the team’s tallest players currently out.

Bates has replaced Bryce Golden, one of my least favorite Big East bigs during his time at Butler, while Eric Hunter looks much better than the perimetrically challenged Aaron Thompson.

Adding to the transfers, young veterans Jayden Taylor, Simas Lukosius and Chuck Harris have all taken a step in their development, giving Matta a well-balanced starting lineup that is the second most relied upon unit in the nation (only 16.2% of total minutes played by the bench:

This means that whenever Lukosius and/or Bates is sitting, Butler gets even smaller with four 6’5-and-under or five 6’7-and-under lineups.

With Bates healthy, UConn battles, yet again, another high-end defensive big, so the one-two punch of Sanogo/Clingan should be hugely valuable to tire out Bates and keep our bigs fresh.

Overall, I also like our flexibility on defense to match with our non-bigs: I’m mostly curious how Lukosius will be guarded…personally, I prefer Jackson guarding him over Karaban.

 

[husky429]

Butler: 8-3
Kenpom Rating: 71 out of 363​

Best wins:

• 76-64 v #54 Kansas State
• 71-61 v #85 Yale
• 75-70 v #92 BYU (neutral)

Losses:

• 62-68 @ #33 Penn State
• 45-71 v #3 Tennessee (Neutral)
• 61-76 v #56 NC State (Neutral)

OFFENSE: 63st in efficiency

• 14th in 2p% (58.2%)
• 74th in 3p% (36.6%)
• Top-90th in both block and non-steal turnover prevention
• ~ the median in
  • 3PA/FGA (36.7%)
  • A/FGM (51.8%)
  • Offensive tempo (17.3 seconds/possession)
• Not efficient at getting to the line (287th in FTA/FGA at 26.3%)
• Poor offensive rebounding rate (23.9%, 302nd in the nation, although Manny Bates was nationally ranked during his time at NC State)

DEFENSE: 78th in efficiency

• 5th in FTA/FGA prevention (17.3%)
• 41st in block % (13.2%)
• 50th in opponent 3p% (29.2%)
• 51st in preventing 3PA (32.2%)
• 92nd in steal % (10.9%)
• ~ Top 2/3rds nationally in
  • A/FGM (47.7%)
  • Opponent 2p% (48.2%)
  • Defensive rebounding rate
• Slightly above median in
  • Average opponent length of possession (17.3 seconds)
  • Opponent ft% (70.2)

View attachment 81883

After two down seasons at the end of the LaVall Jordan era (24-34, 120ish KenPom rating), the start of Thad Matta’s return to Butler has been promising.

Playing at a faster pace and with way better interior defense, NC State transfer Manny Bates has arguably been the team’s MVP with three of the team’s tallest players currently out.

Bates has replaced Bryce Golden, one of my least favorite Big East bigs during his time at Butler, while Eric Hunter looks much better than the perimetrically challenged Aaron Thompson.

Adding to the transfers, young veterans Jayden Taylor, Simas Lukosius and Chuck Harris have all taken a step in their development, giving Matta a well-balanced starting lineup that is the second most relied upon unit in the nation (only 16.2% of total minutes played by the bench:

This means that whenever Lukosius and/or Bates is sitting, Butler gets even smaller with four 6’5-and-under or five 6’7-and-under lineups.

With Bates healthy, UConn battles, yet again, another high-end defensive big, so the one-two punch of Sanogo/Clingan should be hugely valuable to tire out Bates and keep our bigs fresh.

Overall, I also like our flexibility on defense to match with our non-bigs: I’m mostly curious how Lukosius will be guarded…personally, I prefer Jackson guarding him over Karaban.

I know you've heard it before, but TY for doing these. This is a better scout than most D1 teams get for their opponents (seriously).

 

[nomar]

These are terrific

 

[August_West]

Butler: 8-3
Kenpom Rating: 71 out of 363​

Best wins:

• 76-64 v #54 Kansas State
• 71-61 v #85 Yale
• 75-70 v #92 BYU (neutral)

Losses:

• 62-68 @ #33 Penn State
• 45-71 v #3 Tennessee (Neutral)
• 61-76 v #56 NC State (Neutral)

OFFENSE: 63st in efficiency

• 14th in 2p% (58.2%)
• 74th in 3p% (36.6%)
• Top-90th in both block and non-steal turnover prevention
• ~ the median in
  • 3PA/FGA (36.7%)
  • A/FGM (51.8%)
  • Offensive tempo (17.3 seconds/possession)
• Not efficient at getting to the line (287th in FTA/FGA at 26.3%)
• Poor offensive rebounding rate (23.9%, 302nd in the nation, although Manny Bates was nationally ranked during his time at NC State)

DEFENSE: 78th in efficiency

• 5th in FTA/FGA prevention (17.3%)
• 41st in block % (13.2%)
• 50th in opponent 3p% (29.2%)
• 51st in preventing 3PA (32.2%)
• 92nd in steal % (10.9%)
• ~ Top 2/3rds nationally in
  • A/FGM (47.7%)
  • Opponent 2p% (48.2%)
  • Defensive rebounding rate
• Slightly above median in
  • Average opponent length of possession (17.3 seconds)
  • Opponent ft% (70.2)

View attachment 81883

After two down seasons at the end of the LaVall Jordan era (24-34, 120ish KenPom rating), the start of Thad Matta’s return to Butler has been promising.

Playing at a faster pace and with way better interior defense, NC State transfer Manny Bates has arguably been the team’s MVP with three of the team’s tallest players currently out.

Bates has replaced Bryce Golden, one of my least favorite Big East bigs during his time at Butler, while Eric Hunter looks much better than the perimetrically challenged Aaron Thompson.

Adding to the transfers, young veterans Jayden Taylor, Simas Lukosius and Chuck Harris have all taken a step in their development, giving Matta a well-balanced starting lineup that is the second most relied upon unit in the nation (only 16.2% of total minutes played by the bench:

This means that whenever Lukosius and/or Bates is sitting, Butler gets even smaller with four 6’5-and-under or five 6’7-and-under lineups.

With Bates healthy, UConn battles, yet again, another high-end defensive big, so the one-two punch of Sanogo/Clingan should be hugely valuable to tire out Bates and keep our bigs fresh.

Overall, I also like our flexibility on defense to match with our non-bigs: I’m mostly curious how Lukosius will be guarded…personally, I prefer Jackson guarding him over Karaban.

Should we play the twin towers for 40 minutes together against them? thats what the BY wants.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

Should we play the twin towers for 40 minutes together against them? thats what the BY wants.

I love the tag team of the two leaving Bates exhausted by the end of the game.

 

[August_West]

I love the tag team of the two leaving Bates exhausted by the end of the game.

Meh. but you dONt kNOw hOW MucH wE CAn scORe WitH Sanogo and Clingan together.

 

[tykurez]

Lukosius really impressed me last year and I think their only hope is if he goes off for 30+

 

[Marat]

Lukosius really impressed me last year and I think their only hope is if he goes off for 30+

Didn't he enter the portal ? He was pretty good against us.

 

[MTBingNinja]

I know you've heard it before, but TY for doing these. This is a better scout than most D1 teams get for their opponents (seriously).

These scouting reports are a Boneyard treasure

 

[tykurez]

Didn't he enter the portal ? He was pretty good against us.

I think he did when Jordan got canned - but Matta got him to stay.

I seem to remember we played Butler back to back last year for whatever reason and he went off in game 1 and we quieted him down in game 2. But for a freshman he looked really good.

 

[Husky25]

Am I crazy or is the biggest takeaway from the OP that Butler has very little depth?

 

[aburks41]

I agree with putting Jackson on Lukosious. Although if Karaban needs to defend him, I think he would do okay. Lukosious isn't the most athletic guy, he's just a very good shooter.

 

[aburks41]

Am I crazy or is the biggest takeaway from the OP that Butler has very little depth?

They have 3 injured players so right now, yes they have very little depth

 

[Husky25]

They have 3 injured players so right now, yes they have very little depth

5 players averaging over 30 minutes jumped out to me.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Butler: 8-3
Kenpom Rating: 71 out of 363​

Best wins:

• 76-64 v #54 Kansas State
• 71-61 v #85 Yale
• 75-70 v #92 BYU (neutral)

Losses:

• 62-68 @ #33 Penn State
• 45-71 v #3 Tennessee (Neutral)
• 61-76 v #56 NC State (Neutral)

OFFENSE: 63st in efficiency

• 14th in 2p% (58.2%)
• 74th in 3p% (36.6%)
• Top-90th in both block and non-steal turnover prevention
• ~ the median in
  • 3PA/FGA (36.7%)
  • A/FGM (51.8%)
  • Offensive tempo (17.3 seconds/possession)
• Not efficient at getting to the line (287th in FTA/FGA at 26.3%)
• Poor offensive rebounding rate (23.9%, 302nd in the nation, although Manny Bates was nationally ranked during his time at NC State)

DEFENSE: 78th in efficiency

• 5th in FTA/FGA prevention (17.3%)
• 41st in block % (13.2%)
• 50th in opponent 3p% (29.2%)
• 51st in preventing 3PA (32.2%)
• 92nd in steal % (10.9%)
• ~ Top 2/3rds nationally in
  • A/FGM (47.7%)
  • Opponent 2p% (48.2%)
  • Defensive rebounding rate
• Slightly above median in
  • Average opponent length of possession (17.3 seconds)
  • Opponent ft% (70.2)

View attachment 81883

After two down seasons at the end of the LaVall Jordan era (24-34, 120ish KenPom rating), the start of Thad Matta’s return to Butler has been promising.

Playing at a faster pace and with way better interior defense, NC State transfer Manny Bates has arguably been the team’s MVP with three of the team’s tallest players currently out.

Bates has replaced Bryce Golden, one of my least favorite Big East bigs during his time at Butler, while Eric Hunter looks much better than the perimetrically challenged Aaron Thompson.

Adding to the transfers, young veterans Jayden Taylor, Simas Lukosius and Chuck Harris have all taken a step in their development, giving Matta a well-balanced starting lineup that is the second most relied upon unit in the nation (only 16.2% of total minutes played by the bench:

This means that whenever Lukosius and/or Bates is sitting, Butler gets even smaller with four 6’5-and-under or five 6’7-and-under lineups.

With Bates healthy, UConn battles, yet again, another high-end defensive big, so the one-two punch of Sanogo/Clingan should be hugely valuable to tire out Bates and keep our bigs fresh.

Overall, I also like our flexibility on defense to match with our non-bigs: I’m mostly curious how Lukosius will be guarded…personally, I prefer Jackson guarding him over Karaban.

This is a good test for Karaban. he may have to guard Lukosius who is shorter but stronger. In a vacuum Jackson would probably be better but then Karaban would have to guard someone even smaller and quicker.

Many of us fans have been critical of Hurley in the past of letting opposing coaches dictate Hurley's rotation and forced UConn to match them rather than make them match UConn. This game could be the game where Hurley matches the opposing coach but has the horses in the right positions to do it. Go small with Newton, Hawkins, Alleyne, Jackson at 1-4. Joey and Diarra round out that group. Rotate Sanogo and Clingan in the post. Find some minutes for Karaban as needed.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Am I crazy or is the biggest takeaway from the OP that Butler has very little depth?

They have 3 injured players so right now, yes they have very little depth

5 players averaging over 30 minutes jumped out to me.

Another reason for UConn to go small and rotate amongst the six guards and wings. Wear them down with fresh bodies. Even using Diarra for a couple of minutes at a time to dog someone all over the court. Just don't let Diarra touch the ball on offense.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I know you've heard it before, but TY for doing these. This is a better scout than most D1 teams get for their opponents (seriously).

It would be awesome to do a post-game comparison to see how they did against UConn compared to their stats coming in to the game.

 

[husky429]

Should be a good opportunity to get Karaban some shots up on offense.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Should be a good opportunity to get Karaban some shots up on offense.

May even have some chances to post his guy up and see what Alex can do in the post with some room to operate.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

I love the tag team of the two leaving Bates exhausted by the end of the game.

Live look in at the suffocating twin towers defense.

 

[BrassBonanza]

These are excellent - I would actually be interested in seeing the same breakout for this UCONN team, that 30-35 min box would be empty! I think Newton averages the most minutes so far this season at around 27.

 

[TheChamps990411]

Butler: 8-3
Kenpom Rating: 71 out of 363​

Best wins:

• 76-64 v #54 Kansas State
• 71-61 v #85 Yale
• 75-70 v #92 BYU (neutral)

Losses:

• 62-68 @ #33 Penn State
• 45-71 v #3 Tennessee (Neutral)
• 61-76 v #56 NC State (Neutral)

OFFENSE: 63st in efficiency

• 14th in 2p% (58.2%)
• 74th in 3p% (36.6%)
• Top-90th in both block and non-steal turnover prevention
• ~ the median in
  • 3PA/FGA (36.7%)
  • A/FGM (51.8%)
  • Offensive tempo (17.3 seconds/possession)
• Not efficient at getting to the line (287th in FTA/FGA at 26.3%)
• Poor offensive rebounding rate (23.9%, 302nd in the nation, although Manny Bates was nationally ranked during his time at NC State)

DEFENSE: 78th in efficiency

• 5th in FTA/FGA prevention (17.3%)
• 41st in block % (13.2%)
• 50th in opponent 3p% (29.2%)
• 51st in preventing 3PA (32.2%)
• 92nd in steal % (10.9%)
• ~ Top 2/3rds nationally in
  • A/FGM (47.7%)
  • Opponent 2p% (48.2%)
  • Defensive rebounding rate
• Slightly above median in
  • Average opponent length of possession (17.3 seconds)
  • Opponent ft% (70.2)

View attachment 81883

After two down seasons at the end of the LaVall Jordan era (24-34, 120ish KenPom rating), the start of Thad Matta’s return to Butler has been promising.

Playing at a faster pace and with way better interior defense, NC State transfer Manny Bates has arguably been the team’s MVP with three of the team’s tallest players currently out.

Bates has replaced Bryce Golden, one of my least favorite Big East bigs during his time at Butler, while Eric Hunter looks much better than the perimetrically challenged Aaron Thompson.

Adding to the transfers, young veterans Jayden Taylor, Simas Lukosius and Chuck Harris have all taken a step in their development, giving Matta a well-balanced starting lineup that is the second most relied upon unit in the nation (only 16.2% of total minutes played by the bench:

This means that whenever Lukosius and/or Bates is sitting, Butler gets even smaller with four 6’5-and-under or five 6’7-and-under lineups.

With Bates healthy, UConn battles, yet again, another high-end defensive big, so the one-two punch of Sanogo/Clingan should be hugely valuable to tire out Bates and keep our bigs fresh.

Overall, I also like our flexibility on defense to match with our non-bigs: I’m mostly curious how Lukosius will be guarded…personally, I prefer Jackson guarding him over Karaban.

They have one legit big. Sanogo and Clingan on rotation is just brutal. Thats even without foul trouble for an opposing big.

 

[Chin Diesel]

They have one legit big. Sanogo and Clingan on rotation is just brutal. Thats even without foul trouble for an opposing big.

Handicap tag team match.

 

[MJKI]

Can’t wait to see the Karaban Lukosius matchup on O; kid can ball but is a sieve defensively. Think Karaban will be open for the backdoor cuts and corner 3s all day. Bates will be drowning playing 30+ against sanogo and Clingan (provided he doesn’t foul out)

 

[auror]

Snooping around the Butler forums, seems like there's a decent chance Ali Ali plays this weekend. He started practicing on the 8th coming back from severe concussion + broken nose and they said a week out from then. He's a senior stretch 4 40% 3-point shooter last season at Akron. Hasn't played this season yet, but was a projected starter. No idea if he'll get full minutes. He gives them a bit more size and can push Lukosius to the 3. Lineups with Hunter, Lukosius, and Ali would have 3 potentially 40%+ shooters out there around Bates and give lots of room for Harris or Taylor to create off the bounce.

Jalen Thomas also likely back for his first game action of the season, but may be on a min count. Transfer from Georgia St. Decent shot blocker, backup C.