That the Bulldogs are playing for the title again is maybe even more impressive than the first trip, having lost Hayward, their leading scorer and rebounder, to the NBA lottery. Butler also lost two other players who made significant contributions, Willie Veasley and Avery Jukes.
Date: Apr 03, 2011
Category: Sports
Source: Google
Butler's Brad Stevens: Matt Howard's 'mind and his motor are different'
Now he and classmates Shawn Vanzant and Zach Hahn have a chance to tie two seniors from last year -- Willie Veasley and Nick Rodgers -- as the winningest players in Butler history. The Class of 2010 had 118, one more than the Class of 2011.
Date: Apr 03, 2011
Category: Sports
Source: Google
'First losers' back for another shot at Final Four
Michigan State, just to name a few. (Michigan did it, too, but the Fab Five's appearances were later vacated by the NCAA.) Butler has managed it despite losing Hayward, who led the Bulldogs in scoring (15.5 points) and rebounds (8.2), and two other veterans who got significant playing time, Willie Veasley and Avery Jukes.
Date: Mar 31, 2011
Category: Sports
Source: Google
Kravitz: It's not magic, just the best team winning
Last year's team featured Gordon Hayward, an NBA lottery selection, and Willie Veasley, a glue guy whose loss cannot be overestimated. During the broadcast, Charles Barkley kept saying Wisconsin would eventually wear down Butler, and "Gordon Hayward isn't walking through that door.''
Date: Mar 25, 2011
Category: Sports
Source: Google
Butler lets big lead get away but still stops Wisconsin
Butler began the season after losing both forwards -- all-time wins leader Willie Veasley and NBA draft pick Gordon Hayward -- from the national runners-up. The Bulldogs had to rebuild their defensive scheme with new pieces, inserted Smith, a 6-11 sophomore, at center, moved Howard to forward and br
This isnt the same Butler team as the one that came within a bucket of knocking off Duke in last years national title game. Theres no Gordon Hayward, no Willie Veasley. But as long as Howards around, these guys have a shot.
Frankly, anything can happen in conference tournaments, and you'd probably still take the Bulldogs' experienced starting five over any team in the Horizon League in a single-game elimination tournament. But Butler has been hounded (sorry) all year long by its very mediocre defense. It's no secret the Bulldogs have seen a drastic downtick in defensive efficiency since losing Gordon Hayward and Willie Veasley from last season's team. At this point in the season, projecting an equally drastic "hey, we figured it out" development in Indianapolis seems like wishcasting. (