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Senior forward Pierre Brooks had 14 points in the loss against Xavier. Photo by Jada Gangazha. CALEB DENORME | MANAGING EDITOR | cdenorme@butler.edu The men’s basketball team saw its three-game win streak come to an end on Tuesday night, falling to Xavier 76-63 . After a closely contested game midway through the first half, Butler got blitzed and never recovered. Three Bulldogs finished in double-digits, but the rest of the squad combined for only 15 points. On a night when Butler needed a complete performance, the team did not show up. Let’s go beyond the box score as the Musketeers break the Dawgs’ win streak. First half meltdown Butler’s first half against the Musketeers was nothing short of an absolute drubbing. The Bulldogs jousted back and forth with Xavier for the first eight minutes, but then the home side unleashed an offensive torrent.  After being tied at 19 all with 12:23 left in the half, the Musketeers outscored the Dawgs 29-12 to take a 17-point lead into the locker room. Xavier’s commanding lead was buoyed by Butler’s inability to score for nearly five minutes. The only players who showed up offensively for the Bulldogs were sophomore guard Finley Bizjack and fifth-year forward Jahmyl Telfort . Both had double digits in the scoring column after the first half, but the rest of the team combined for only ten points. Many will point to the offensive no-show, but the Dawgs’ defense was abysmal. Allowing 48 points in the first is a recipe for disaster in college basketball. There was no way Butler could keep up with that scoring output from Xavier. All credit should be given to the Musketeers though. No player for Xavier scored more than eight points in the first half, but seven out of the eight players who got onto the floor contributed to the scoring effort. Bulldogs fans are used to seeing Butler collapse in the second half, but the Dawgs just could not wait this time. Xavier took advantage and left Butler with a mountain to climb at the break. Turnover troubles resurface Butler’s early season plague of turning the ball over reared its ugly head again against Xavier. The Bulldogs threw the ball away 20 times against the Musketeers, their second-highest total this season just below the 21 turnovers they gave away against St. John’s.  The Dawgs were never going to win with the immense amount of turnovers they committed. Xavier is already an offensive force to be reckoned with, so giving them more cracks on offense was not in Butler’s best interest. The Musketeers generated 21 points off the Bulldogs’ 20 turnovers and 19 points on fastbreaks. The Dawgs’ offense could not stop from coughing the ball up and gave Xavier little resistance on defense. After a three-game win streak, Butler was starting to think about a late-season streak. Despite this brutal loss to Xavier, the Dawgs will need to get back in the saddle ahead of a matchup at DePaul this weekend.

Fifth-year forward Jahmyl Telfort had 24 points in the win over Providence. Photo by Jada Gangazha. CALEB DENORME | MANAGING EDITOR | cdenorme@butler.edu The men’s basketball team returns home seeking to add to its winning streak as they take on the Georgetown Hoyas . The Bulldogs faced off against the Hoyas only two weeks ago, falling 73-70 . Back in Hinkle Fieldhouse, the Dawgs hope to ride a wave of home support to a victory. Last time out, Butler squeaked by Providence 82-81 at home. After the Friars took an early lead, the Bulldogs regained control and even opened up a commanding deficit of their own. True to Big East basketball, nothing came easy from there. Providence battled back, forced the Dawgs to play until the very end and came away with the win. Here is what you need to know as Butler prepares to battle Georgetown: Who: Butler vs. Georgetown When: Feb. 15, 2 p.m. Where: Hinkle Fieldhouse How to watch/listen: FS1 Late season streakin’ The Bulldogs have a chance to do something they have only accomplished once all season – win three games in a row. The last win streak came as a part of an early-season stretch of six games, but since then Butler has struggled to string victories together. After a disastrous nine-game losing streak from December to January seemingly dashed any hopes of an NCAA Tournament appearance, the Dawgs can play spoiler in these last few weeks. The only plausible route to March Madness would be running the table through the Big East Tournament, but the Bulldogs will be content to focus on each individual game. Building a possible win streak late in the season can boost morale, intensity and chemistry as the team heads into the conference tournament. Butler is not the favorite to win the Big East Tournament by any stretch, but anything can happen in Big East basketball. For now, the Dawgs have an opportunity to grab another consecutive win and fight back to regain control of their season. An opportunity at home against Georgetown is a great place to start. Maybe it just took Butler 24 games to find its stride, but we will find that out when the Dawgs take the court against the Hoyas. Georgetown scouting report Georgetown currently has a 15-9 record overall and is 6-7 in conference play . The Hoyas are looking to start a winning streak of their own, beating Seton Hall the last time out. In head coach Ed Cooley’s second season, Georgetown has seen a major resurgence. The Hoyas won just nine games last season, losing the other 23. This season, Cooley and Georgetown accomplished the feat of winning nine games out of the first 11 games, turning the program around completely in just one year. Georgetown is led by graduate guard Micah Peavy and first-year forward Thomas Sorber . In the last matchup against Butler, Peavy and Sorber combined for 38 of the Hoyas’ 73 total points on the night. Sophomore guard Malik Mack was the only other Georgetown player to record double digits. Much like last game, if the Bulldogs want to win they will need to limit Peavy and Sorber. Forcing the Hoyas to have another player step up and score is the key to this game. Butler’s guards will need to be quick to contest on the outside, while the defenders in the paint will need to be tough with Sorber. This should be a fun matchup to watch in front of an afternoon Hinkle crowd. Butler’s season could very well be up for grabs depending on how this game goes. Will the winning streak continue? Or will it be late-season blues for the Bulldogs?

Senior center Andre Screen had 10 points in the win over Seton Hall. Photo by Andrew Buckley. CALEB DENORME | MANAGING EDITOR | cdenorme@butler.edu The men’s basketball team returns home on Saturday for a matchup against the Providence Friars . The Bulldogs fell to the Friars earlier this season in Rhode Island 84-65. Butler went 3-4 since that meeting, and now sits at 10-13 overall and 3-9 in conference play . The Dawgs seek to add to their win total in this showdown with Providence. Here is what you need to know as Hinkle Fieldhouse prepares to welcome the 11-12 Friars: Who: Butler vs. Providence When: February 7, 3 p.m. Where: Hinkle Fieldhouse How to watch: Peacock Starting a win streak This game is becoming increasingly significant for the Bulldogs as they attempt to win back-to-back games for the first time since early December. Those two victories came against Mississippi State in the Arizona Tip-Off and Eastern Illinois . Including this game against Providence, Butler only has eight games remaining before the Big East Tournament. If this squad wants to build momentum heading into Madison Square Garden, winning at home against the Friars would be a good start. Last time out against Providence, the Dawgs were demolished on the boards. The Friars grabbed 17 more total rebounds and eight more offensive boards than the Bulldogs. Poor rebounding paired with shooting 40.4% from the field and 25% from beyond the arc spelled doom for the visiting Dawgs. Luckily for Butler, the team has a chance to rectify the dismal loss at home in front of a packed Hinkle Fieldhouse. The late-season push in pursuit of better seeding in the Big East Tournament will be on everyone’s minds as the Dawgs take the court. If the Bulldogs want to make noise in the postseason, they need to begin by grabbing victories in these tightly contested conference matchups. Providence scouting report The Friars currently sit at 11-12 overall and 5-7 in conference play. Providence lost its last two games against No. 12 St. John’s and Creighton , so it will be looking for revenge on the road against Butler.  The Friars are led by a guard tandem of junior Jayden Pierre and senior Bensley Joseph . Both guards average over 12 points per game and have taken the most shots of anyone on Providence this year. Senior guard Bryce Hopkins returned for three games this season after suffering a torn ACL last year, but has since been sidelined with a bone bruise in his knee and has been ruled out for the remainder of the season .   When it comes to stopping the Friars, the game plan must start with limiting their backcourt. The duo of Pierre and Joseph can carve teams up if the defense is too soft. Butler will need its guards to play tight and tough defense if it wants to have a chance of winning in front of a home crowd.  Saturday afternoons in Hinkle Fieldhouse are a staple in college basketball. The Bulldogs will be hoping they can ride the wave of support to a victory and send Providence back home unhappy.

Senior forward Pierre Brooks had 14 points in the win over Seton Hall. Photo by Andrew Buckley. CALEB DENORME | MANAGING EDITOR | cdenorme@butler.edu The men’s basketball team added another victory to the win column on Wednesday, downing Seton Hall 84-54. The Bulldogs blitzed the Pirates, courtesy of a hot first half that included a barrage from beyond the three-point line. Six Dawgs finished in double-digits, with senior forward Pierre Brooks leading the way with 14 points. Butler shot 57.9% from the field and 50% from three to cap off a huge scoring night. Let’s go beyond the box score for Butler’s third conference win of the season. Starting fast The Dawgs had their best first-half showing of the season, scoring a season-high 48 points. Butler shot 59% from the field and 47% from beyond the arc in the first half. Graduate forward Patrick McCaffery and sophomore center Boden Kapke both had double digits in the scoring column, with McCaffery pouring in 13 points and Kapke adding 11. Seven Bulldogs in total contributed to the first-half scoring explosion. Unusually, fifth-year forward Jahmyl Telfort had zero points. The Canadian national team member contributed in other ways though, dishing out four assists and grabbing three rebounds. 15 of Butler’s 32 shots came from three-point land, with seven hitting nylon. The Dawgs’ scoring charge is largely thanks to the efficiency from beyond the arc. If shots from deep did not fall, this may have been a closer game at halftime. Luckily for the Bulldogs, the shots fell at a rapid pace. Butler went into the locker room up by 28 points and never looked back. Carrying over the momentum The next stretch of games for the Bulldogs comes against Providence , Georgetown , Xavier and DePaul . Three out of four of those games come against teams that are in the bottom five of the Big East. If there is ever a time to gain momentum and stack wins, that time is now for the Dawgs. Butler now sits at 10-13 with a conference record of 3-9. A road to the NCAA Tournament seems highly unlikely, but the Bulldogs could make some noise late in the season if they can win some games down the stretch. Whether or not Butler can put a run together will come down to its toughness and resilience. The Dawgs have struggled to close out games and play gritty basketball this season. If the Bulldogs want to put a winning streak together and make a run late in the season, they will need to show their heart along with their apparent talent. Butler will be back in action on Saturday at Hinkle Fieldhouse to take on Providence at 3 p.m.

Sophomore guard Finley Bizjack had 8 points in the loss against Marquette. Photo by Jonathan Wang. CALEB DENORME | MANAGING EDITOR | cdenorme@butler.edu The men’s basketball team heads east for a Friday night matchup against Georgetown . The Dawgs saw their record drop to 9-12 after being beaten by Marquette at home earlier in the week. The Bulldogs now have a 2-8 record in Big East conference play. Butler seeks to add a third conference win to its total with a showdown with the Hoyas on the horizon. Here’s what you need to know as the Dawgs battle Georgetown: Who: Butler vs. Georgetown When: January 31, 6:30 p.m. Where: Washington D.C How to watch: FS1 Playing a 40-minute game One of the downfalls for the Bulldogs this year has been their inability to play good basketball for an entire game. This tendency reared its ugly head again on Tuesday, when Butler imploded after halftime to give Marquette the victory. The Dawgs shot 57.1% in the first half but went ice cold in the second half, shooting only 25.8% from the field. Butler head coach Thad Matta talked about the importance of playing solid basketball for an entire game after the loss against Marquette. “There’s 40 minutes to a game,” Matta said. “That’s the one thing I’d say in this league … you have to play 40 minutes.” If the Dawgs can come into the Hoyas’ home court and play tough basketball for the entire game, Butler could end up coming out with the win. For that to happen though, the Bulldogs will need to buck their trend of collapsing in crunch time. Georgetown scouting report The Hoyas currently have a 13-8 record overall and a 4-6 conference record. Georgetown is currently in the midst of losing six of its last seven games, with the lone win coming against Villanova on January 20.  The Hoyas are led by first-year forward Thomas Sorber and graduate guard Micah Peavy . Both Sorber and Peavy average over 14 points per game and are first and second in total points scored this season. Georgetown has four players who average double digits in the scoring column, so the points can pour in from anywhere. The guard tandem of sophomore Malik Mack and junior Jayden Epps both contribute 13 and 12.3 points per game respectively.  The key for Butler in this game will be to limit Georgetown’s starters offensively. The Dawgs will not stay competitive if all four stars get into double digits, so Butler will need to pick its poison and decide who to stop. It should be a classic, tight Big East matchup between the Hoyas and the Dawgs. Georgetown will be intent on getting out of its rut, while Butler will seek to grab a third conference win of the season.

Jury trial for the case will be held in June. Photo by Jada Gangazha.  AIDAN GREGG | MANAGING EDITOR | agregg1@butler.edu   CALEB DENORME | MANAGING EDITOR | cdenorme@butler.edu   Content warning: explicit references to sexual abuse, sexual harassment, sexual assault and grooming.  The lawsuit filed by current and former women’s soccer players against former assistant athletic trainer Michael Howell, his former supervisor and current associate athletic director Ralph Reiff and Butler University continues into its third calendar year.  As the jury trial looms, issues of university policy, student-athlete safety, anonymity and discrimination continue to plague this case . #1 Women’s soccer players allege sex abuse by former trainer, neglect by Butler University In September 2021, six women’s soccer players reported sexual misconduct by former assistant athletic trainer Michael Howell to their coach Tari St. John. A Title IX report followed shortly after these allegations were filed and found that Howell “exploited his authority and power over Ms. Doe to isolate, manipulate, control, and sexually assault her, which he did on multiple occasions without her consent, and for his own sexual gratification.” In July 2023, Jane Does 1, 2 and 3 filed an initial lawsuit against Howell, Reiff and Butler University. A fourth player — Jane Doe 4 — joined the lawsuit in August 2023 alleging grooming, manipulation and sexual abuse by Howell. All four women are also suing Butler and Reiff for negligence and gross negligence and for battery, assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress by Howell and Butler. As Howell’s direct supervisor, they argue that he failed to adequately educate student-athletes and coaches, failed to ensure that standards for student safety were met and failed to supervise Howell’s submission of written reports.   The women’s soccer players allege that Butler does not have any policies or protocols for athletic trainers that may have protected them from sexual abuse. Howell similarly claims that the university did not have any such policies, but also argues that this lack of policies left him vulnerable to the accusations of sexual assault, which he denies. Butler University has denied these claims. In an email to The Butler Collegian, University General Counsel Claire Konopa Aigotti noted Butler’s sexual misconduct policy, effective June 9, 2017, which prohibits unwanted “touching of the buttocks, breasts, groin or genitals of another, whether clothed or unclothed for the purpose of sexual gratification.”  #2 Reiff admits to ties to former USA Gymnastics doctor and convicted rapist Larry Nassar In the Title IX proceedings against Howell that took place in 2022, Reiff revealed that he worked “elbow to elbow” with convicted serial rapist Larry Nassar. The former team doctor assaulted hundreds of women during his time working for USA Gymnastics and was arrested in 2016. Reiff and Nassar worked together at St. Vincent’s Sports Performance as members of USA Gymnastic’s Medical Task Force.  The plaintiffs have sought to emphasize that Reiff’s past association with Nassar should have made him aware of the kinds of abuse that can happen in collegiate athletics. Former USA gymnast Rachael Denhollander, who came forward after being sexually abused by Nassar, has joined the women’s soccer players’ legal team as counsel. #3 University seeks to reveal athletes’ identities  The four players have proceeded under the names Jane Doe 1, Jane Doe 2, Jane Doe 3 and Jane Doe 4 since the outset of the lawsuit. They argue that they need to remain anonymous to protect their mental and physical health as well as to avoid the stigma often associated with victims of sexual assault. Butler and Reiff have contested the use of pseudonyms in this case, leading to a hearing on Oct. 28, 2024, to determine whether the athletes would be able to proceed with anonymity. No decision has been reached at the time of publication.  Butler and Reiff have argued that the women’s soccer players have used their anonymity to make defamatory statements about Reiff. In particular, the defense alleges reputational harm to Reiff because of his prior working relationship with Larry Nassar. They further allege that the players have protected themselves with their pseudonyms, while Reiff has no similar safeguard from public scrutiny. The defense for Butler and Reiff has also asserted that the women’s circumstances do not meet the criteria for pseudonymity. For pseudonyms to be granted, the anonymous individuals must be minors, be at risk of physical harm or face retaliation from a third party.  Shana Markle, the former associate director of Butler’s Counseling and Consultation Services, treated Jane Does 1-3 and has continued to do so after her departure from the university in 2023. Markle testified at the October hearing that each of the three women expressed suicidal ideation at the possibility of having their identities revealed. All four athletes also expressed symptoms exacerbated by the possibility of their identities being made public including severely disordered eating, sleep difficulties, hair loss, depression and anxiety.  #4 Howell alleges sex discrimination by Butler University The former athletic trainer seeks compensation from Butler for alleged discrimination on the basis of his sex as a man. He claims that the university capitulated to social pressures in response to widely publicized sexual abuse scandals in collegiate athletics, like the indictment of Larry Nassar. Howell’s legal counsel has argued that the university violated Title IX in the alleged discrimination against him in an educational setting.  Butler University argued that Title VII, a statute that concerns employment discrimination would be the proper legal theory and not Title IX; therefore, the crossclaim should be dismissed. However, the court ruled on July 29, 2024, that Howell could proceed with the crossclaim under Title IX, Title VII or both.  The university contends that since Howell has not amended his crossclaim to include a Title VII violation, he has conceded that he will continue to proceed under the Title IX argument. Butler continues to argue that the court should reconsider its decision not to dismiss Howell’s claim. #5 Trial will begin in June 2025 The trial is set for June 16, 2025. The athletes seek financial compensation for their injuries and damages and to compel Butler to institute safety protocols to protect student-athletes. They further seek to prevent Howell from maintaining licensure and for Butler to contact former student-athletes who may have been abused by Howell and provide them with resources.  Howell’s crossclaim is set to be tried alongside the women’s soccer players’ claims. He seeks trial by jury and compensation for legal fees, lost wages and emotional distress. The Collegian will continue to investigate and report on this story.

Fifth-year forward Jahmyl Telfort had 24 points in the loss to Marquette. Photo by Jonathan Wang.  CALEB DENORME | MANAGING EDITOR | cdenorme@butler.edu The men’s basketball team dropped to 9-12 on the season and 2-8 in Big East play with a 78-69 home loss to No. 9 Marquette . The Bulldogs led by seven at halftime, but ultimately fell behind with a dismal second-half performance. Fifth-year forward Jahmyl Telfort led the Dawg’s scoring charge with 24 points, followed by Patrick McCaffery who had 12. It was second-half shooting that sunk Butler, with the Bulldogs only hitting 25.8% of their shots from the field.  Let’s go beyond the box score as the Dawgs suffer their 12th loss of the season. First half explosion Butler came out of the locker room firing in the first half and built a seven-point lead at the break. The Dawgs shot a blistering 57.1% from the field and 40.7% from deep to put Marquette on its heels heading into the intermission.  A mix of interior scoring and a barrage of threes caught the No. 9 team in the nation by surprise, but the Golden Eagles fought to stay in the matchup. Marquette matched Butler’s pace by shooting 46.9% from the field and 50.8% from beyond the arc .  The bigger positive for the Bulldogs in the first half was their defense. Butler forced stops and even out-rebounded the Golden Eagles to limit Marquette’s second-chance points. The Dawgs held all of Marquette’s players to single digits in the scoring column in the first period as well. Marquette head coach Shaka Smart found his team’s physicality “unacceptable” in the first half and urged them to step up in the second half.  “We just had to ramp up our level of violence,” Smart said. “I tell the guys all the time [that] if we don’t play with violence we are a very average team.” Second half collapse Although the Bulldogs started the game as strong as they could have, the second half could not have gone worse. Butler only scored 27 points after halftime and hit on eight out of its 31 shots. After one of the best offensive halves on the season, the Dawgs completely lost it after they came out of the locker room. No Butler player scored more than 9 points and every Bulldog finished with a negative differential in the second half. Thad Matta accepted responsibility for the team’s poor performance, but he also recognized the reality of the terrible shooting half. “We could not make a shot,” Matta said. “[Marquette] did a heck of a job defensively but we had some looks that were just in and out.” Those missed looks turned a seven-point lead into a four-point deficit to make up just eight minutes into the second half. The Dawgs’ offense was floundering and the defense had become soft. Butler had no answers, and it did not find any until the final buzzer finally sounded. “We had moments where we needed to get a stop [or] we needed a bucket and we just couldn’t,” Matta said. “I thought we competed, but when we needed things to happen we just weren’t able to make them happen tonight.” Butler will hit the road to face Georgetown in Washington, D.C. on Friday, January 31.

Fifth-year forward Jahmyl Telfort had 8 points in the loss against Wisconsin. Photo by Ben Holmes. CALEB DENORME | SPORTS EDITOR | cdenorme@butler.edu The men’s basketball team returns to action with a midweek matchup against No. 9 Marquette away. The Bulldogs are in the midst of a three-game losing streak, falling to Houston , North Dakota State and Wisconsin over the past week and a half.  Butler heads to Milwaukee attempting to steady the ship and improve on their 7-4 record . A matchup with the ninth-ranked team in the nation does not look promising though. Here is what you need to know as the Dawgs take on the Golden Eagles: Who: Butler vs. Marquette When: Dec. 18, 9 p.m. Where: Fiserv Forum How to watch: FS1 Saving the season Many Butler fans could argue that despite being early in the season, the Bulldogs have tanked any real chance of making the NCAA Tournament. The Dawgs have looked outclassed in each one of their four losses, whether they were playing against superior or inferior opposition. A win away at No. 9 Marquette could be the spark that puts Butler on a tear. Grabbing a victory away from home against a top-ten team in the nation would uplift the team’s spirits, as well as their record and resume. For this improbable upset to happen, Butler will need a perfect storm. On offense, the Bulldogs will need two-way scoring punch from forward duo fifth-year Jahmyl Telfort and senior Pierre Brooks . On the defensive side, the Bulldogs need to put on their best performance of the season. Telfort had his worst game of the season on Saturday against Wisconsin, so getting him back into the offensive game plan has to be head coach Thad Matta’s first priority. Brooks lit up the scoresheet with 23 points followed by graduate forward Patrick McCaffery’s 16 , but outside of those two the Bulldogs did not offer much offensive help. One storyline to watch is the play of junior guard Kolby King . Although the Dawgs have been in a free fall, King has provided support and a spark off the bench. Look for him to get more playing time, especially if sophomore guard Finley Bizjack continues to struggle.  Starting off Big East play with an away game at Marquette and then a home bout on Saturday against UConn is a daunting task, but the Bulldogs need to get a win soon. After an uninspiring start to the season, the fans will not accept many more shortcomings. Marquette scouting report The Golden Eagles currently sit at 9-2 , with their only two losses coming against No. 3 Iowa State and Dayton . Marquette finished last season with a 27-10 record, falling to UConn in the Big East Tournament final and to NC State in the Sweet 16. Two seniors lead the way for the Golden Eagles – guard Cam Jones and forward David Joplin . Jones averages 20.1 points per game and shoots a blistering 57.1% from the field . He typically prefers to get downhill and score in the lane, but he also hits on 41.2% of his shots beyond the arc to keep the defense guessing. Joplin averages 14.2 points per game on 41.4% shooting . He is also the team’s leading rebounder and will likely match up with Telfort. Marquette is dangerous due to their depth and energy. Ten players on the Golden Eagles average double-digits in minutes played this season, and their scoring output can come from anyone on the court. Butler needs to step up and match the energy that Marquette is going to play with, or else the Bulldogs could get run out of the building. In what could be the biggest game of Butler’s season, the Dawgs need to step up. They can not worry about results down the road at this point, for now they need to focus on the task directly in front of them. If they can pull off the upset up in Milwaukee, there may still be hope for the rest of the season.

The goal for the Butler women’s soccer team is simple, they want to go after every possible title in the 2022 season. Co-head coach Rob Alman was very clear in his expectations for his team this year, stating that winning the Big East is just the beginning of what he hopes is a highly successful season for the Bulldogs. “Our goals honestly are pretty simple…winning Big East championships, both regular season and conference tournament,” Alman said. He went on to elaborate that the team has an expectation to be in the mix for an NCAA tournament bid by the end of the season. The Bulldogs ended last season with a 15-5-1 record before going to the Big East tournament semifinals where they fell to eventual tournament champion Georgetown. Butler would receive a bid for the NCAA tournament but were ousted in the first round by Big Ten side Wisconsin. This season, the Bulldogs currently sit at 3-4 through seven games, but had impressive victories over Michigan, Wright State and Western Michigan. Although the Bulldogs have dropped four games to start the season, there have been flashes of promise for a team that could be incredibly dangerous down the stretch. Alman was optimistic about this year’s squad, saying he thinks the team “is probably the most exciting thing we’ve had in terms of going forward in the attacking options.” One of the Bulldogs prominent attacking players is super senior forward Katie Soderstrom, who has been on fire for the Bulldogs, scoring a team-high five goals in only seven games. Soderstrom also is tied for the team lead in assists, and over her career has climbed the ranks to become tied for second all-time in assists for Butler. Soderstrom said her goal for this year is just to enjoy it, as it will be her last season for the program. With that in mind, she still sees great opportunity for this team. “I think we have a lot of potential as a team,” Soderstrom said. “We’ve seen glimpses of it in the first games so far, but kind of just putting all the pieces together and I think we have the potential to do great things.” On the defensive side of the pitch is experienced senior defender Alana Wood. Playing 49 games over her career at Butler, she cites the team’s unity as something that can act as a catalyst for the Bulldogs down the stretch. The Michigan native likes how the team has come together in the early season. “We’re all really, really close as a team… it’s not a hierarchy,” Wood said. “It was great watching our freshmen come in this year and they jumped right into everything we were doing and took it on full swing… it’s been fun.” Senior forward Gretchen Skoglund is another player for Butler that is seeing promise in her teammates. Skoglund is looking forward to seeing how the pieces come together for the team. “We got a lot of new talented players that we’re really excited to incorporate into our previous team dynamic,” Skoglund said. Skoglund went on to say that the team being close contributes to on-field success, which is something all Bulldogs fans can get behind. In terms of scheduling, the Bulldogs have an early slate filled with top opponents from other conferences around the country. Junior defender and Australia native Claire Farrington said she is not overlooking any games this season, but is looking forward to playing in a few certain matchups. “There’s not a single game I don’t want to play in,” Farrington said. “But we do have some rivals [like] Georgetown [and] Xavier that are always big games and fun to play.” The game against Georgetown will be a revenge match for Butler on Oct. 23. The Hoyas have played the role of spoiler for the Bulldogs in the previous two seasons, defeating Butler in the Big East tournament in the championship game in 2020 and again in the semi-finals in 2021. Alman acknowledged the importance of these matchups and said while the Bulldogs will not underestimate anyone, everyone will be ready to play in these rivalry games. “Those games are always going to be…a little bit circled on everyone’s calendar just because there have been the games that have ultimately decided who’s won the league over the last few years,” Alman said. “So yeah, we don’t overlook anyone but I think [in] those rivalries everyone will be very much ready to play.” One way the players agreed that students could help them achieve their goals is by providing support and making the Sellick Bowl a tough place to play for opposing teams. Soderstrom was appreciative of the support the team has received so far from fans and especially the Dawg Pound. “It does make a difference,” Soderstrom said. “It makes us smile and laugh when you see them out there barking at the other team… the Dawg Pound was really fun in a couple of our games.” Farrington agreed that fans do add to the fun and thinks that spectators won’t be disappointed in what transpires on the field. “It’s always so much fun when we have fans and people we know cheering us on and we’d like to think that we play some nice [soccer] that people would want to watch,” Farrington said. “So if you have time…come out and watch, bring your friends and have a good time.” The Bulldogs take on Ball State at home in the Sellick Bowl on Sept. 15 for their last game before Big East conference play begins.

Redshirt senior defender Tommy Visser started all 19 games for the Bulldogs in 2022. Photo by Claire Runkel. CALEB DENORME | ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR | cdenorme@butler.edu The Butler men’s soccer team begins the season looking to build on last year’s 10-6-3 record. The Dawgs are returning key pieces to go along with new faces as they get ready to be tested against some of the top programs in the country. They will strive to improve on last year’s Big East Semifinal appearance and challenge for the conference crown. After playing three exhibition games in which the final scores were not reported, Butler began their regular season push on Aug. 24 against the no. 24 ranked St. Louis Billikens . Sophomore Palmer Ault , a Noblesville native and member of the Indy 11 USL Academy, opened his scoring tab in the 13th minute. A long cross from junior Jan Quispel found the head of Ault, who powered it home to put Butler ahead. St. Louis stormed back in the second half, netting two goals and ultimately coming away with the victory in both squads’ first regular season game. The Bulldogs hit the road again on Aug. 26 to take on the Cougars of Southern Illinois University Evansville hoping to pick up their first win of the young season. It would not go Butler’s way though, falling 3-1 to the Cougars. Ault picked up his second goal of the season, but it was not enough to secure the win for Butler. Playing on the road twice to start out the season, once against a top 25 ranked team, is challenging for any team. Despite this, the Dawgs have some serious potential to be dangerous this year. Ault will be leading the line after coming off an impressive season, registering 10 goals and six assists last year. His stellar start to his college career landed him on the All-Big East First Team , and he was named the Big East Freshman of the Year unanimously . This season he was named Big East Preseason Offensive Player of the Year as well. Look for the Bulldogs offense to lean on him this season. Another player to watch for in attack is redshirt senior DJ Hooks . The Michigan native had a career high seven goals last season, along with three assists. Hooks will bring a maturity and veteran’s presence to the front line that will prove invaluable down the stretch. The combination of Hooks and Ault could prove to be lethal for opponents who travel to the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl this year. In midfield the Bulldogs will showcase a mix of veterans and new arrivals this year, highlighted by Quispel and fifth-year Hemi Nasser . Nasser brings a level of comfort and experience to the middle of the pitch, starting 38 games in the past five years for the Bulldogs while scoring six goals and assisting five. Quispel, a native of Emmen in the Netherlands, has played for Dutch clubs such as Emmen U21, PEC Zwolle U21 and VV Emmen . Those two will be pulling the strings regularly for Butler in midfield. In the back, the Bulldogs will have returning redshirt seniors Tommy Visser and Graham Rieg . Those two will look to limit chances for the opposition in front of redshirt senior Caleb Norris . Despite being a senior, Norris has only registered 45 minutes of match play prior to 2023. In spite of this, the Dawgs defense is in safe hands of players who have been with the program for many years. The Bulldogs’ schedule this year features a variety of matchups ranging from Big East battles to clashes with some of the top programs in the country. The Sept. 9 matchup at home against Ohio State for Youth Night and Project 44 will be a game that no fan of Butler soccer will want to miss. The Dawgs then go on the road 10 days later to take on Big 10 squad and in-state rival Indiana University in what will be a huge game against one of the top men’s soccer programs in the country. The last regular season game will also be one to watch when Butler takes on Big East newcomer Akron Zips , another nationally well-respected men’s soccer program. Despite the early season losses, the Dawgs look poised for a strong season and a deep postseason run into the Big East Tournament and beyond. They certainly have the talent and experience, now they just have to put it all together.

The Bulldogs travel down to Orlando, Florida to take part in the ESPN Events Invitational. Photo by Grace Hensley.  CALEB DENORME | ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR | cdenorme@butler.edu Coming off a loss to Michigan State (MSU) on Nov. 17 , the men’s basketball team heads down to Orlando to take part in the ESPN Events Invitational . The first matchup of the tournament sets the Bulldogs on a crash course with Florida Atlantic (FAU).  The Dawgs sit at 3-1 on the year following three home wins and their road loss to the Spartans. The game up in East Lansing showcased a tough shooting night for Butler, with the squad only shooting 28.8% from the field . Senior forward Jahmyl Telfort shouldered most of the offensive burden, scoring 15 points on a night to forget for the Bulldogs. Butler now shifts their focus to the Owls of FAU, a strong squad that made a run to the Final Four in last season’s NCAA Tournament. This will be yet another test for the Dawgs to see if they can compete with some of the elite programs in the country. Here is what you need to know as Butler matches up against FAU.  Who: Butler vs. Florida Atlantic When: Nov. 23, 2:30 p.m. Where: 2023 ESPN Events Invitational, Orlando, Florida How to watch/listen: ESPN 2, WXNT 1430 AM Getting the offense back on the right track The Bulldogs had their worst shooting night of the 2023-24 season on Nov. 17 against Michigan State. Butler had multiple miscues on the offensive end. They were missing layups, turning the ball over and not generating good shots for each other. This led to a 20 point loss in the first game of what will be a tough stretch for this squad.  Before the MSU game, Butler was averaging 86.67 points per game on 50.1% shooting from the field. Against the Spartans they scored 54 points and shot 28.8% . These bad offensive games will happen, especially against a team with the quality of Michigan State, but the Bulldogs have to turn around quickly. FAU is returning most of the squad that went to the Final Four last year, so this game will test if the Dawgs are on the same level as tournament teams. The bright spot for Butler is their defense. The Bulldogs rank 13th in the nation in scoring defense , only allowing 58 points per game. They will have to lean on their defensive resilience while they work out the offensive kinks if they want to have a good showing in this early season tournament. FAU scouting report Florida Atlantic is a part of the American Athletic Conference (AAC) and currently are 2-1 on the year . They opened up their campaign with wins over Loyola Chicago and Eastern Michigan before falling to Bryant 61-52. This dropped the Owls to No. 19 in the national rankings going into the game against Butler. FAU went 35-4 last season , winning the Conference USA Championship before they moved to the AAC in the summer of 2023. The Owls then went on a run to the NCAA Final Four where they got knocked out by eventual runner-up San Diego State . The key player for Florida Atlantic is senior center Vladislav Goldin . Goldin, a 7’1” big man from Russia, is averaging 15 points per game and was a huge part of the Owls run to the Final Four last season. He is shooting 63% from the field , so look for that matchup down low with Butler’s rotation of centers. FAU is a team that relies heavily on three point shooting, with 42.2% of the Owl’s shots coming from beyond the arc . The Bulldogs will have to defend the perimeter quickly and box out Goldin to eliminate second chance points and keep the game close. The Dawgs and Owls are both coming off of losses that they want to put in the rearview mirror, so both teams will be looking to pick up a quality win. For Butler, this is a great opportunity to get the season back on track and pick up a strong victory over a very good team.

Junior forward Pierre Brooks averages 16.7 points per game for the Bulldogs. Photo by Grace Hensley. CALEB DENORME | ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR | cdenorme@butler.edu The men’s basketball team returns home to Hinkle Fieldhouse tomorrow to take on Texas Tech in the Big East-Big 12 Battle. This is the first matchup of a five game home stand for the Bulldogs. The Dawgs come back to Butler after playing in the ESPN Events Invitational where they posted a 2-1 record. Butler lost to No. 13 Florida Atlantic before taking down Penn State and Boise State to improve their record to 5-2 on the season . The Bulldogs now shift their focus to the Red Raiders, who sit at 5-1 on the year . After a strong showing in the Bahamas, they head to Hinkle to clash with the Dawgs. Here is what you need to know as Butler takes on Texas Tech. Who: Butler vs. Texas Tech When: Nov. 30, 6:30 p.m. Where: Hinkle Fieldhouse How to watch/listen: FS1, WXNT 1430 AM Stacking wins together in Orlando After a tightly contested loss to FAU, the Bulldogs bounced back by taking down Penn State and Boise State at the ESPN Events Invitational. The tournament gave a peak behind the curtain into the potential this Butler team has as conference games loom on the horizon. In the 88-78 win against the Penn State Nittany Lions, the Dawgs got their offense back on track after a dismal day against Florida Atlantic. Butler shot 50% from the field, including 32.1% from beyond the arc . Another key so far this season has been how well the Bulldogs have shot free throws. Against Penn State, Butler hit on 89.5% of their shots from the charity stripe . Junior forward Pierre Brooks was the star of the game, scoring 26 points on 69.2% shooting. Brooks also led the team in time on the court, only missing two minutes throughout the whole game. The transfer from Michigan State continues to produce on the offensive end of the floor and spark the Butler offense game after game. Moving ahead to Boise State, the Dawgs were looking to return home with a 5-2 record. They took care of business handedly, taking a 70-56 win over the Broncos. The Bulldogs had yet another solid offensive day, shooting 51.8% from the field . On defense, Butler limited Boise State to hitting on only 32.3% of their shots , and held the Broncos to only five three pointers in the entire game. Although both teams the Bulldogs beat were unranked, it still shows how far this team has come since last year. If this squad wants to keep playing for a spot in the NCAA Tournament, those are the games they have to win. Texas Tech scouting report Texas Tech is a part of the Big 12 conference and are currently 5-1 on the year. Last season they posted a 16-16 record , missing out on the NCAA Tournament. Despite last season’s shortcomings, they have started the 2023-24 campaign off strong, beating No. 14 Texas A&M and Michigan , with their only loss coming to Villanova . The key player for the Red Raiders is super-senior guard Joe Toussaint , a transfer from West Virginia . Toussaint started his career off at Iowa before moving to WVU, and now to Lubbock to join Texas Tech. The 6 foot guard is averaging 14.5 points per game on 46.6% shooting . His matchup with senior guard Posh Alexander will be one to watch. Another strong member for Texas Tech is super-senior forward Warren Washington . The 7 footer was on the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team last season at Arizona State , and will pose a threat down low to the Butler big men. To win this game, the Bulldogs will have to rebound the ball, which means dealing with Washington. The key for the Butler defense will be limiting chances inside the arc for the Red Raiders. Texas Tech shoots only 27.4% from three , so most of their points have come from close range. The Bulldogs will have to be tough inside and box out if they want to come out of this game with a win. This is another test for Butler to see where their team stands as conference play draws near. In front of a Hinkle crowd and coming off of two solid victories, the Bulldogs can make a statement that they can be a force in the Big East this season.