Butler Notebook: Examining storylines in Saint Louis game
By CHRIS GOFF
ISL Correspondent
When ninth-ranked Butler faces Saint Louis tonight in a nationally televised game on CBS Sports Network, it’s big for a number of reasons.
Let’s consider some of the storylines in the matchup of two of the top teams in the Atlantic 10.
— Rotnei Clarke is back just in time
Butler won a pair of home games with Clarke sidelined and thumped Temple last weekend at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Clarke’s first game back. But in Chaifetz Arena for what figures to be a close game, Bulldogs coach Brad Stevens is more than glad his team is whole.
If you take the leading scorer off any team in the league, it’s going to change who they are, Stevens said. It doesn’t mean you can’t win a given game without that person. It doesn’t mean you can’t play good periods of basketball. Eventually, you need your best players on the floor. There (are) so many things he does for our team. The point that everybody will make is he obviously can stretch the floor and (that) he makes tough shots. That opens things up for everybody.
— Butler tries to continue its hot start in league play
The Bulldogs are playing on the road for the fourth time in six conference games this season.
No question that the stretch we’ve had to start the A-10 has been extremely difficult, Stevens said, and it’s going to be extremely difficult the rest of the way out. We need to focus on just getting better today and not worry about all of the potential roadblocks ahead.
Stevens said Butler is probably going to wind up with three or four losses in conference play.
Every year we played in the Horizon League there was only one year where that wasn’t the case, Stevens said. Even though we went to the national championship game (in 2011), we had five losses in Horizon League play. That’s really not that new. It’s hard to win in conference play. It’s hard in league play no matter what league you’re in because teams know each other well. Teams are starting to peak. Teams are all improving.
— Billikens coach Jim Crews agrees with Butler’s lofty ranking
Butler’s one of the best teams in the country, Crews said. They’ve proven it. They run the plays Brad has set up. They know their roles. They’re very flexible both offensively and defensively. That puts pressure on you throughout the game.
— Saint Louis star Kwamain Mitchell is starting to find his groove
Mitchell missed the first 11 games with a foot injury. Crews said his point guard has gradually worked his way back and avoided trying to rush the process.
Kwam is not only a good player for us but he has great knowledge of our system, Crews said. That helps immensely in terms of direction on the floor. It’s given us better rotations because of our depth. Guys don’t have to play as many minutes or out of position. He’s helped us every which way. He’s a competitive kid. He’s trying to stay the course.
— Crews must plan for a Butler offense that can do it all
That’s why I’ve got a headache right now, Crews said. We’re trying to figure that out. I don’t have a good answer. They are very flexible. They’ve got guys that can do multiple things. That’s what makes them tough. All their guys put the ball on the floor well, which is unusual for a team to have. (Andrew) Smith puts it on the floor well. He’s very deceptive and a good passer. They’ve got a lot of good passers. They’re very unselfish. They play off each other’s ability as well as anybody. I don’t have an answer right now. We’re trying to go through it and figure out the best way to contain things.
— Crews doesn’t see this game as critical to the Billikens’ chances to finish first
No, Crews said. Not really. The bottom line is the season is 16 games. Each one counts 1/16. When it’s all said and done, whoever wins the most out of 16 is going to be the winner of the regular season. That’s how we go about it. We try to do the best we can in each game. It’s not a win-at-all-costs or if you lose the world is coming to an end just as a win doesn’t make your season.
— Saint Louis is still mourning the death of coach Rick Majerus
These kids are really invested in Rick’s system of play, Crews said. We weren’t going to change that. That’s what they knew best. Life is much bigger than basketball. We loved Rick outside of basketball. We’re not like, ˜Let’s totally dedicate the season toward coach.’ I just don’t feel comfortable with that just because, if we don’t have a good season, does that mean we don’t honor him? The things he taught are still instilled in these kids. Rick wasn’t a big guy talking about wins and losses.
