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Nov 21, 2005

Butler Faces Former Coach At Ohio State


Nov. 21, 2005

BIG WEEK: Butler (2-1) will end a one week layoff with two of the biggest challenges on its 2005-06 schedule. The Bulldogs face back-to-back road contests against Big Ten foes, beginning with a date at Ohio State on Tuesday, Nov. 22. The game against the Buckeyes, slated for 8 p.m. (EDT) at Value City Arena, will renew a series that has been dormant for 23 years. Butler's last game against Ohio State was played at St. John Arena in Columbus, Ohio, on Jan. 2, 1982. Four days after the Ohio State contest, the Bulldogs will travel to Ann Arbor, Mich., to face the Michigan Wolverines.

*Butler will play three opponents from the Big Ten before Christmas.

BLUE CONNECTION: For the first time in Butler basketball history, the Bulldogs will face a former head coach on the hardcourt. Ohio State coach Thad Matta was a player, assistant coach and head coach at Butler. He guided the Bulldogs for one season, 2000-01, leading Butler to a 24-8 record and the second round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship. Ohio State Director of Basketball Operations Brandon Miller was a three-year starter for the Bulldogs, and he stands 23rd on Butler's all-time scoring list with 1,121 points in three seasons, while Buckeyes' assistant coach John Groce also served as an assistant coach at Butler.

WESTERN ROUNDUP: Butler bounced back from an opening-game loss to UNC Wilmington at the BCA Invitational in Laramie, Wyoming, to post back-to-back victories and claim fifth place in the eight-team tournament. After falling in the season-opener, 75-59, the Bulldogs rolled past Alabama State, 70-61, and Lehigh, 66-41, on consecutive days. UNC Wilmington went on to capture the championship at the tournament hosted by Wyoming.

ALL-TOURNAMENT: Senior forward Brandon Polk opened the 2005-06 campaign right where he left off last season, when he led Butler in scoring and rebounding. Polk averaged 17.7 points in three tournament games in Wyoming, and he was awarded a spot on the five-player BCA Invitational All-Tournament team. Polk scored a team-high 16 points against UNC Wilmington and then tallied 26 points in Butler's victory over Alabama State. He finished with 11 points against Lehigh. Also named to the All-Tournament team were John Goldsberry of UNC Wilmington (MVP), Curtis Withers of Charlotte, Justin Williams of Wyoming and Vedran Vukusic of Northwestern.

*Brandon Polk has scored in double-figures in 21 consecutive games dating back to last season.

LONG BALL: The Bulldogs, who hit 21 three-point field goals in their exhibition game against Oakland City, struggled with the longer three-point arc at the BCA Invitational against UNC Wilmington (7-18) and in the first half against Alabama State (0-9). But that changed over Butler's final 60 minutes in the tournament. The Bulldogs nailed seven of 15 three-point attempts in the second half against Alabama State and ten of 20 against Lehigh. Five of the nine players who saw action for the Bulldogs at the BCA Invitational hit at least one three-pointer.

*Butler averaged a league-best 8.43 three-point field goals last year.

RECORD CHASE: Senior Bruce Horan hit at least three three-point field goals in each of Butler's three BCA Invitational tournament games. He finished the three-day event with ten three-pointers, boosting his career total for three-point field goals to 211. He currently stands second on Butler's all-time list for three-point field goals, just six three-pointers behind all-time leader and former teammate Darnell Archey. Horan led the Horizon League in three-point field goal shooting (.410) and ranked second in the league three-pointers (3.00 pg) last season.

*The top three players on Butler's all-time list for three-point field goals - Darnell Archey, Bruce Horan and Brandon Miller - each attended New Castle Chrysler High School in Indiana.

HANDLE WITH CARE: The Bulldogs committed 15 turnovers in their opening round loss to UNC Wilmington, before bouncing back with just 14 total miscues in their two tournament wins. Butler was charged with 10 turnovers against the full-court pressing defense of Alabama State and just four turnovers in the victory over Lehigh.

*Butler led the Horizon League in fewest turnovers per game (10.1 pg) in 2004-05.

BULLDOG BITS: Senior Bruce Horan made his 10th career two-point field goal in Butler's opening round loss to UNC Wilmington. He had a pair of two-point field goal attempts in the tournament. Horan has hit at least one three-point field goal in 50 consecutive games...Junior Julian Betko, who sat out last season following knee surgery, saw his first collegiate action in two years in Butler's opening game at the BCA Invitational...Junior Brandon Crone posted a career-high four steals in each of Butler's wins against Alabama State and Lehigh...Junior Brian Ligon matched his career-highs with eight points and six rebounds against Alabama State. He played 16 minutes against the Hornets, his most extensive action since last February when he suffered a season-ending knee injury...Sophomore A. J. Graves has been in Butler's starting lineup for 27 consecutive games. That's the longest streak of consecutive starts for any current Butler player.