Butler Bulldogs

2023-24 Result: 18-15 (9-11 Big East), NIT Appearance

Key Additions

Kolby King (Tulane)

Patrick McCaffery (Iowa)

Thad Matta’s squad lost its 3rd and 4th leading scorers from last season in Posh Alexander and DJ Davis. Butler had another middle of the road season in 2023-24 making it feel like their days of success with Brad Stevens at the helm was decades ago. Matta brought in two key pieces this offseason in Kolby King, who is expected to start at point guard, and Patrick McCaffery, who he brought over from Iowa.

Defensively, Butler does not bring back much from a rim protection standpoint. They will ask a lot of Andre Screen after the departure of their two leaders in blocks per game in Jalen Thomas to graduation and Connor Turnbull to the transfer portal. Andre Screen did average half a block per game in just 12.8 minutes, so it definitely seems like he could be capable of a ceiling of a block and a half. Losing Alexander and Davis on the perimeter, however, will be massive losses. The two of them were their defensive leaders in the backcourt. On a team that was already not great defensively, they just got worse this offseason. Butler’s defense should be in for another mediocre season.

The Bulldogs are going to lean heavily on Jahmyl Telfort and Pierre Brooks to lead the offense. Pierre Brooks led the team in scoring last year at 14.8 a game and Telfort was second at 13.9. Their next three scorers are now gone, so Kolby King, Finley Bizjack and Andre Screen will need to step up in the starting lineup to try to fill that void. Butler’s offense will likely see regression from the 80th highest scoring offense in the country due to its loss in depth of weapons. The weight will fall more on the two leading scorers coming back, but the hope is that the transfers and Finely Bizjack, who is now a sophomore, can really step in nicely to replace Alexander and Davis’ scoring. Butler’s offense will still be in the top half of the country, but expect some regression this season.

The Butler Bulldogs appear to be in for another mundane season in 2024. They lost two of their most important players on both ends and replaced them with decent players, but not the level that Alexander and Davis were for them. Pierre Brooks and Jahmyl Telfort will have a lot on their plate, so for them to reach the NCAA tournament, they will have to play great and the role players will need to step up and exceed expectations.