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Fifth-year forward Jahmyl Telfort scored 29 points in an opening-day victory over Missouri State. Photo by Makenna Frias. CALEB DENORME | SPORTS EDITOR | cdenorme@butler.edu In the Bulldogs’ first game of the 2024-25 season, Butler pulled out a nail-biting 72-65 win over Missouri State . Let’s go beyond the box score. Turnover troubles The turnover bug bit the Dawgs early and did not let up throughout the matchup. Butler committed 19 turnovers during the game and allowed Missouri State to grab a whopping 27 points off of those turnovers . While 27 points seems like a lot, the Bulldogs committed so many turnovers that Missouri State got up 20 more shots than Butler. Had the Bears shot the ball any better, that points-off-of-turnovers number could have been a lot worse.  Butler head coach Thad Matta knew his team did not play up to their ability today and that showed on the court. “I’ve never seen us turn the ball over like this,” Matta said. “Our decision-making was horrendous … we weren’t thinking. I was very disappointed in the way we played tonight.” Those tough words sting, but Matta’s sentiment rings true. The Bulldogs shot better from the field, outrebounded the Bears and even got to the free-throw line 28 times , but it was the self-inflicted wounds that caused the close game.  “I have no idea where this came from tonight,” Matta said. “This can’t be who we are. We can’t beat ourselves … 19 turnovers is just unacceptable.” In the exhibition game last week against Illinois Wesleyan , Butler tied the Titans with 10 turnovers each . This early trend of gifting the basketball to the other team is worrying, especially against seemingly inferior competition. Despite the perceived disparity in team quality, Matta gave Missouri State its flowers.  “I’m going to give Missouri State all the credit,” Matta said. “They defended us … they were physical, but we never adjusted.” The Bulldogs will need to get their turnover issues in check before Friday’s matchup with Austin Peay to avoid another potential upset at home. The Jahmyl Telfort Game One of the bright spots for Butler in this game was the dominance of fifth-year forward Jahmyl Telfort . The Canada native scored 29 points on 58.3% shooting, grabbed four boards, had two steals and two blocks .  At times he became the Bulldogs’ entire offense, getting the ball in an iso-scenario and backing his defender down. He had a portfolio of different buckets like draining a shot from 30 feet but then getting to the rim when the defense stepped out on him. “I just knew we had to win,” Telfort said. “Sometimes we’ve just got to find ways. [We’ll] get back in the lab and just work and we’ll be fine.” Despite his team turning the ball over at a high clip, Telfort only had possession taken from him twice in 37 minutes . Although the rest of his teammates struggled — especially senior forward Pierre Brooks , who had six giveaways — Telfort was not concerned about the turnover meltdown. “We all have to do a better job taking care of the ball,” Telfort said. “I’m not too worried about that. As we get going we’ll be better about it.” One of the challenges he and his teammates faced was the physicality of Missouri State. The Bears battled hard in the paint despite having a significant size disadvantage. Many fans will perceive this as a warning sign regarding Butler’s physicality, but Telfort sees the physical battle as a learning opportunity. “That’s the Big East right there,” Telfort said. “You’ve got to expect the physicality … that’s just like a Big East game. So … we’ve got to be ready and play a little bit tougher.” The Bulldogs will get a chance to play tougher and give the Hinkle Fieldhouse crowd a more convincing win when they host the Governors of Austin Peay on Friday, Nov. 8.

Fifth-year Jahmyl Telfort had eight points against Austin Peay. Photo by Makenna Frias.  CALEB DENORME | SPORTS EDITOR | cdenorme@butler.edu The men’s basketball team seeks to bounce back with a matchup against Western Michigan on Monday, Nov. 11 after a disappointing loss. The Dawgs are 1-1 after a shocking loss to Austin Peay at home where Butler turned the ball over 16 times . Redshirt senior forward Patrick McCaffery led the scoring charge for the Bulldogs with 23 points . Here is what you need to know as the Bulldogs prepare to take on the Broncos. Who: Butler vs. Western Michigan When: Nov. 11, 7 p.m. Where: Hinkle Fieldhouse How to watch: FS1 Bouncing back Butler has not played well to start the season. After barely beating Missouri State by seven, Austin Peay outplayed the Dawgs at home. Now sitting at 1-1 early in the season, the Bulldogs have no more room for error. The first priority for Butler should be cleaning up the turnover issues. The Bulldogs have a staggering 35 turnovers in just two games, allowing their opponents to get up 33 more shots than their offense. Those extra possessions are the main catalyst for these close games. The next area the Dawgs have to figure out is their offensive identity. Butler looks lethargic on the offensive end, getting deep into the shot clock without any real scope of an open shot. The lack of creativity and movement has been a painful watch for Bulldog fans, especially against seemingly inferior teams on paper. Finally, Butler must sort out its defensive issues. Against Austin Peay the Dawgs allowed LJ Thomas to explode for 29 points , often getting beat off picks that let Thomas get open mid-range looks. The Bulldogs need to come out with energy and intensity on the defensive end because they have been pushed around in these first two games. Western Michigan scouting report The Broncos are 1-1 this season, starting off the year with a 60-56 loss against Coastal Carolina before bouncing back with a 86-46 win against Davenport .  Two players to watch for Western Michigan are guards JaVaughn Hannah and Markhi Strickland . Both players average 11.5 points per game , with Strickland shooting an impeccable 72.7% from the field . Butler will need its guards to play strong, tight defense to limit the Broncos scoring ability.  One of the Broncos’ best qualities is their ability to force turnovers. Western Michigan has forced 33 turnovers from its opponents in two games, with 19 of those being steals . Butler needs to protect itself from committing turnovers or else this game could go south very fast. The Bulldogs need to silence the critics after that embarrassing loss to Austin Peay. They will have a Hinkle Fieldhouse crowd behind them, but it will be up to the team to prove their quality.

Butler improves to 4-1 on the season with the win over Merrimack College. Photo by Eleanor Angelly.  CALEB DENORME | SPORTS EDITOR | cdenorme@butler.edu The Bulldogs grabbed another win emphatically on Friday night, drubbing Merrimack College 78-39 thanks to a second-half surge. Let’s go beyond the box score. A first-half defensive battle and Pierre Brooks’ big night The first half of this game was a defensive slugfest. Butler played suffocating man-to-man defense on their end of the floor while Merrimack changed up zone schemes to keep the Bulldogs guessing.  The Dawgs did not turn the ball over as much as usual, but at times they still struggled to create open looks. The plus side is that Butler locked up sophomore guard Budd Clark on the other side of the court. Typically averaging 21 points a game, Clark was held to just 8 points on 4-13 shooting . The Bulldogs would eventually find their offensive legs courtesy of senior forward Pierre Brooks . Brooks had 15 points on 6-8 shooting in the first half — the only Dawg to finish with double digits at halftime. Brooks was pleased with his hot start to the contest. “When you see the ball go in like that it kind of keeps you in the game,” Brooks said. “It keeps you going into the flow of the game.” Brooks’ fiery offensive start helped Butler build a six-point lead heading into halftime. His hot streak continued after the break, finishing with a double-double of 23 points and 12 rebounds . Head coach Thad Matta joked that Brooks’ 12 rebounds were “more than he had all of last year,” but Brooks sees his rebounding effort as a pathway to the next level. “Being a scorer, but also being an all-around player … I think that can help me get to the next level,” Brooks said. “We came in with a game plan to crash that glass hard and that’s what we did.” An explosive second half Butler’s second-half performance can only be described as an absolute blowout. The Dawgs outscored the Warriors 41-8 in the second 20 minutes.  The Dawgs began the half on an 8-0 run and never looked back. After 20 minutes, Butler doubled Merrimack’s total final score with 33 more points in the second half than their opponents. Matta attributed this dominance to his team but also knew fatigue had a part to play. “[Merrimack] missed some open looks,” Matta said. “They were tired. We knew going in [we had to] wear them down. I thought our guys did a heck of a job.” One of the biggest factors in this performance was the Bulldogs’ ability to rebound the basketball. Butler finished with 51 total rebounds while Merrimack only had 23 , a difference of 28 boards. This emphasis on cleaning up the glass limited the Warriors’ ability to get back into the game and pushed the Dawgs further out in front. Another big catalyst for the second-half boom was the play of fifth-year center Andre Screen . Screen had 8 points and 4 rebounds in the second half , taking advantage of Merrimack’s smaller size when Butler ran out of space on offense. The Bulldogs dumped the ball into Screen and let him go to work. This win will carry Butler into the holiday season with confidence in their stride. After a streak of five straight home games, the Dawgs will now hit the road for the Arizona Tip-Off tournament. The Bulldogs will take on Northwestern on Thursday, Nov. 28 down south in Tempe.

The men’s basketball team heads down to Tempe, Arizona to take part in the Arizona Tip-Off challenge on Nov. 28 and 29. Photo by Eleanor Angelly.  CALEB DENORME | SPORTS EDITOR | cdenorme@butler.edu Butler takes the court on Thanksgiving for a massive matchup with Northwestern at the Arizona Tip-Off in Tempe. The Bulldogs are riding high after three straight victories — most recently over Merrimack 78-39 . The Dawgs outscored the Warriors 41-8 in the second half to capture a dominant win. Butler now sets its sights on the Wildcats, seeking to send the Big Ten squad home early on Thanksgiving break.  Here is what you need to know as the Bulldogs prepare to battle the Wildcats. Who: Butler vs. Northwestern When: Nov. 28, 7 p.m. Where: Mullett Arena How to watch: CBS Sports Network Starting faster In the Bulldogs’ last game against Merrimack, Butler got off to a slow start to begin the game. The Warriors’ constant zone defense took different shapes throughout the contest, but was initially hard to figure out for the Dawgs. That defensive puzzle combined with Merrimack shooting 46.4% from the field in the first half gave Butler only a six-point lead heading into halftime. The Bulldogs had a commanding lead, but a late 6-0 run from the Warriors put them back within striking distance at the break. By now, Bulldog fans know how the second half went. The Dawgs’ now-electrified offense along with Merrimack shooting 13.8% from the field gave Butler a huge margin of victory. Now heading into a schedule with harder opponents on the horizon, Butler cannot afford those slow starts again. If the Bulldogs come out of the gate and quickly go behind, it will be an uphill battle to even get back into the game. The Dawgs will need to rely on fifth-year forward Jahmyl Telfort and senior forward Pierre Brooks to show up for them and carry the brunt of the offensive workload if the team struggles out of the gate. On defense, the emphasis will need to be on contesting shots and grabbing rebounds. If the Bulldogs can do all those things, they will be in good shape against the Wildcats. Northwestern scouting report The Wildcats come into this game at 5-1 with their lone loss against Dayton by five points. Northwestern finished at 22-12 last season , bowing out in the first round of the Big Ten tournament and the second round of the NCAA Tournament to eventual champion UConn .  The tandem of junior forward Nick Martinelli and graduate guard Jalen Leach lead Northwestern. Martinelli averages 23.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while also leading the team in three-point percentage with a 66.7% hit rate from deep . Leach averages 15.8 points per game and has taken the second-most shots on the team behind Martinelli. The key for Butler is going to be shutting down these two players defensively. Outside of Martinelli and Leach, senior guard Brooks Barnhizer is the only Wildcat who averages double-digits in points. If the Dawgs can play help-defense and force different players for Northwestern to contribute on offense, the Bulldogs will be in good shape. This is an early chance for Butler to begin building a resume against a team that went to the NCAA Tournament last season. This upcoming stretch of the season will be very important for the Bulldogs before they start Big East play, so they need to start stacking victories now to prepare for the gauntlet down the road.

Photo by Faith Delamarter. CALEB DENORME | ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR | cdenorme@butler.edu Enthusiastic. Joyful. Super competitive. These are the words that Rob Alman , co-head coach of the women’s soccer team, used to describe his superstar sophomore midfielder Talia Sommer . Sommer’s path to Butler University is unlike any other. It involves moving across the globe multiple times, beginning her professional career at the age of 14 and becoming an internationally capped player for Israel while still in college. Through it all there has remained one constant: her sheer love of the game. “I feel the most myself when I [play soccer], like there’s no one in the world who can change me, and I just feel like that’s my safe place to be myself,” Sommer said. Sommer’s story begins in New York City, where she lived for the first six years of her life. Her uncle, an Israel native, introduced her to the game of soccer by showing her Brazilian legend Ronaldinho juggling the ball, and since then she’s been hooked. She began playing organized soccer in the U.S. before her family moved back to Israel when she was six. “We moved back to Israel, and that’s when I started to play soccer with the boys there,” Sommer said. “For the first six years of my career, I played for Maccabi Tel Aviv , which is a football club in Israel, and I was the only girl in the league and only girl on the team.” At that time in Israel, there was no real platform for girls youth soccer. If girls wanted to play, they would have to compete against the boys and play on the same teams. Sommer said even then, it was looked upon as “taboo” for girls to play what many saw as a “masculine sport.” Despite being the only girl in her school to play, Sommer continued because it brought her joy. She even said playing against boys at a young age helped her athletic development. “That was kind of a big deal then, but I think it was one of the things in my career that helped me become the player that I am today,” Sommer said. “I had stayed in only for the love of it, the pure pure love of it, because everyone else was kind of against that.” Talia Sommer scored three goals in a 3-0 win against IUPUI on Aug. 31. Photo by Andrew Buckley. At the age of 12, Sommer was on the move again, back to New York City to follow her father, who is a political science professor, on a two-year sabbatical. During those two years, she played for Manhattan Soccer Club before she traveled back to Tel Aviv in Israel. When she arrived back in Israel at 14, she took the biggest leap of all and went pro for ASA Tel Aviv , a club in the Israeli Women’s Premier League . During her time at the club, she won the Israeli Women’s Premier League Championship along with the National Cup. Her time playing professionally prepared her for her time at Butler, but she says it’s very different from college soccer in the United States. “Playing in Israel means that I play with players who are five, 10, 15 years older than me who have that many years of experience over me as well,” Sommer said. “College soccer in America was a complete step forward for me. Even if the players are not 10 years older than me, they’re more gifted technically, athletically [and] tactically.” So how did a player from Israel find her way to central Indiana to play for the Bulldogs? Fate, and the NCAA rankings system. “It’s actually a funny story,” Sommer said. “I was just looking through the rankings and said ‘Butler! That seems interesting.’ So I sent [coaches] Rob and Tari a message after I watched their games and was impressed with how they play.” Sommer proceeded to send her highlight reel to both of the head coaches in hopes of attaining a scholarship to attend Butler. Alman was the one to review her game tape, and he was amazed at what he saw. “It’s very rare that you just sit and watch a highlight package and [say], ‘We need this player to come,’” Alman said. “It was instant [with Talia].” While reviewing the game footage, Alman was convinced he had seen her play before, but he did not know where. After meeting with Sommer and hearing that she played for Manhattan Soccer Club in New York City, Alman finally pieced it together. “The fact that she had been in the States in her early teen years, she was involved with some [Olympic Development Program] stuff, and I had actually seen her play … such a unique movement pattern with how she moves on the ball, just instantly I’m like, ‘I’ve seen her play,’” Alman said. The praise for the midfielder didn’t stop there when Alman described her as “a really fun player to watch play.” He talked about how she always wants to be involved in the buildup and wants the ball at her feet at all times. Some may think this comes across as selfish. Alman said he sees it as leadership. “She’s got the onfield influence already in terms of the competitive nature [and] the way that she trains, that enthusiasm [and] the way that she competes in games,” Alman said. “[She is] someone that people look to in big moments and has all those influences.” Sommer’s first season on campus proved what Alman saw on tape — she is a difference-maker. She racked up stat after stat on her way to winning Big East Freshman of the Year and making the All-Big East Second Team . While the accolades at the college level have come, they are not her main motivation. “I am so passionate about being successful in [soccer],” Sommer said. “There’s no real like, ‘Oh, I want to do it to be famous. I want to do it to have money.’ It’s just for the sole purpose of doing it because I love this game.” Sommer’s love for the game extends to the international stage, where she has played for Israel on several occasions. Last season, she traveled back and forth to Israel multiple times to represent her country. While it was difficult to balance her schoolwork and commitment to Butler’s team, the pride she feels representing her nation makes it all worth it. “Playing for the national team is one of the most special things that soccer players can do,” Sommer said. “I’m so proud to represent my country, my family, where I’m from and doing the thing that I love too is the best-case scenario for me.” Sommer has played against respected teams like Germany and Portugal, both of which were featured in this year’s Women’s World Cup . She knows it’s a valuable experience for her to be able to play against world-class players at such a young age. Talia Sommer signs posters for fans after Butler’s game against Baylor on Sept. 3. Photo by Jonathan Wang. In spite of all the accolades and success Sommer has garnered, one of the greatest things she has gained is the relationship she has with her teammates. Sophomore midfielder Amelie Darey is one of those teammates who shares the midfield with Sommer and described her as “a genuine person.” “You wouldn’t want anyone else to be your teammate,” Darey said. “Always there to listen … when the moment comes down to it, she’ll still be there.” Darey and Sommer met in England two years before arriving on Butler’s campus while they were both on trial for Chelsea F.C. . Darey, an England native, explained that every year, Chelsea brings over a few international players to train on a trial basis, and Sommer was one of those players. “We actually played on the same team, and [Talia] scored all the goals for our team,” Darey said. “So I knew from day one she was good.” Sommer’s life story weaves through different continents, teams and levels of soccer, but one thing always remains the same: she just wants to play soccer. “I do the sport because I love it,” Sommer said. “When I play soccer, I feel 100% completely Talia.”

Senior guard DJ Davis brings the ball up the court against Ohio Northern on Oct. 28. Photo by Makenna Frias. CALEB DENORME | ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR | cdenorme@butler.edu The men’s basketball team will return to Hinkle Fieldhouse tonight to take on Franklin College in the second and final exhibition game of the 2023-24 season. The Bulldogs are coming off a 78-46 blowout win over the Division III Ohio Northern Polar Bears in their first exhibition game. The Dawgs will use this game to continue working on team chemistry before their first regular season game against Eastern Michigan. Here’s what you need to know before Butler takes on the Franklin College Grizzlies. Who: Butler vs. Franklin College When: Nov. 1, 7 p.m. Where: Hinkle Fieldhouse How to watch/listen: WXNT 1430 AM Flying out of the gate The Bulldogs wasted no time showcasing the talent this team has to offer in the win over Ohio Northern . Granted, ONU is a Division III school, but fans got a sneak peek into how Thad Matta’s new pieces fit into his blueprint. The standout of the night was senior guard DJ Davis , who led the team in points, assists and rebounds. Beyond his statline, Davis’ range and ability to hit threes gave the team a dimension they did not have last season. The other standout was sophomore forward Connor Turnbull . Turnbull brought the crowd in Hinkle Fieldhouse to their feet on multiple occasions as he threw down dunk after dunk. Offensively, Butler jumped out early and never looked back. The Dawgs ended up shooting 58% from the field and 35.3% from beyond the arc . The blemish of the night on the scoresheet was free throw shooting. The Bulldogs only shot 60.9% from the charity stripe , including hitting only half of their free throw attempts in the second half. It is still only the first exhibition game of the season, but free throw shooting down the stretch of a game can come back to haunt teams when March rolls around. Defensively, Butler held ONU to only 46 points on the night on 34.5% shooting. One of the biggest downfalls for the Polar Bears was their lack of size. Big men Jalen Thomas , Andre Screen and Turnbull dominated in the paint on both sides of the floor. Turnbull even registered three blocks. Postgame, Matta said the defense was “pretty good at times,” but they were “sloppy” defending some of the picks ONU set up against them. With time and experience those miscues will need to be fixed, but they were not close to hurting the Dawgs on Saturday night. What is different about this year’s team? Depth is the first word that comes to mind when thinking about how this team has evolved from last year. With the influx of transfers and new first-years, we are beginning to see Matta build his team the way he wants. It just seems like everywhere you look on this squad there are players at every position who have something to add. Depth down low was a huge problem for Butler last season. When Manny Bates got injured, Thomas was essentially the only starting/rotation caliber center who could fill that role. This season they have Thomas returning, Screen, an improved Turnbull and hopefully Augusto Cassia in later games. Time will tell if these players are able to perform against bigger teams in the Big East, but they looked pretty good in the first game. Another difference is the way Matta has added shooters to diversify the offense. Last year Butler seemed one-dimensional at times, which forced them to rely on players who were not very good long range shooters to take long shots. This season, they have added guys like Davis, Landon Moore and first-year Finley Bizjack to help hit shots from outside and make the offense harder to guard. Yet again, we are only one game into what is going to be a long season, so things are prone to change. For Bulldogs fans, though, there is reason to be excited about this group. Who is Franklin College? Franklin College is a liberal arts school located 20 minutes south of Indianapolis. They have Division III athletics and compete in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC). The HCAC features schools from around Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. The men’s basketball team finished last season with a record of 13-13 before losing to Hanover College in the HCAC Championships. In 27 games last year, Franklin scored an average of 68.9 points per game on 43.2% shooting . This will be the first ever meeting between the Bulldogs and Grizzlies . Butler will have to prove they can defend the three point line because a majority of Franklin’s offense revolves around shooting threes. 41.7% of the Grizzlies’ shots last season were three pointers , so the Bulldogs will have to focus on chasing Franklin off the three point line and force them to take different shots. Franklin will likely not be a tough matchup for Butler, but the game is a good learning experience and live atmosphere to work on team chemistry and test out new game plans.

Senior forward Pierre Brooks had 23 points in the loss against Wisconsin. Photo by Ben Holmes. CALEB DENORME | SPORTS EDITOR | cdenorme@butler.edu The men’s basketball team dropped their third straight game, this time against Wisconsin in the Indy Classic. The Bulldogs went down early and never grabbed the lead, cutting the difference to single digits a few times but never taking advantage. Senior forward Pierre Brooks led the scoring charge for the Bulldogs with 23 points , with graduate forward Patrick McCaffery adding 16 points as well.  Let’s go beyond the box score for Butler’s fourth loss of the season. Another slow start This is becoming a common trend for Butler this season. The Bulldogs opened the game and allowed a 9-0 run to put themselves in a hole early on. The Dawgs would come back to tie the game at 14-14, but it was all Wisconsin from there.  Allowing a team to go on a hot scoring streak to start off the game is not only demoralizing, it puts more pressure on the offense to produce. Butler looked panicked and untidy at times, failing to generate solid offensive looks in the first half.  “We’ve just got to start off games better,” Brooks said. “I think if we get off to a good start we’ll be in a lot more games. The last three we’ve been down [early] … and it’s hard for a team to come back like that, especially against a good team like Wisconsin.” After the Bulldogs managed to pull themselves out of the early deficit and get back in the game, the Badgers went on an 11-2 run to stretch the lead back out to nine. That became the theme of the game for the Dawgs as time ticked away. Anytime Butler got within striking distance Wisconsin would go on a tear and put themselves firmly back in front. Two big stats are Wisconsin’s points in the paint and free throws. The Badgers scored 40 of their 83 points in the lane and added 25 more on free throws alone. That means 78.3% of Wisconsin’s scoring output came from in the paint or at the charity stripe. Butler showed its usual resiliency by fighting to get back into the game at different points in the contest, but sloppy interior defending and fouling the Badgers killed off any momentum. It will be another tough loss to swallow, especially with the Big East gauntlet on the horizon.  Jahmyl Telfort goes missing Fifth-year forward – and usual top-scorer for the Bulldogs – Jahmyl Telfort ended this game with eight points on 3/10 shooting, seven rebounds and two assists . For a player that typically averages 16.2 points per game , Telfort went missing in a massive matchup. The Bulldogs tried to get him started early on, but Wisconsin’s defense was keen to double Telfort when he was in the post. Badgers head coach Greg Gard was proud of his players for how they defended Telfort. “When you hold a player of his caliber three for ten that’s a really good night,” Gard said. “There weren’t many easy shots for him. We were able to exchange a lot of things when he did get involved in ball screens and make sure he couldn’t get down lane lines for the most part.” Brooks and McCaffery picked up the scoring slack, but it was still not enough for the Dawgs. Butler needs Brooks, Telfort and preferably McCaffery to all play well together if they want to win games. This recent loss just adds to a string of disappointing early-season defeats where the Bulldogs looked severely outclassed. Now at 7-4 and looking down the barrel of Marquette and UConn , Butler needs changes fast.  “Just because you lose three games in a row doesn’t mean you’re going to have a bad season,” McCaffery said. “You’ve just … got to show up the next day, go to practice, put in the work and keep pushing forward. We have so many games left to play … so many opportunities. There’s a lot of meaningful basketball left.”

Sophomore guard Finley Bizjack had 17 points in Butler’s loss vs. UConn. Photo by Andrew Buckley. CALEB DENORME | MANAGING EDITOR | cdenorme@butler.edu The men’s basketball team returns home after a loss against UConn to face the DePaul Blue Demons . The Dawgs have an 8-11 record, and are 1-7 in Big East play so far this season. Butler has only won two games since early December. The Bulldogs seek to grab their second Big East win of the season and inch closer to .500 with this matchup against DePaul.  Here’s what you need to know as the Dawgs prepare to scrap with the Blue Demons: Who: Butler vs. DePaul When: January 25, 4 p.m. Where: Hinkle Fieldhouse How to watch: CBS Sports Network Building momentum Although Butler lost its previous game against the No. 19 UConn Huskies, the Bulldogs have some positives to take away from that contest. The Huskies led the way for most of the game and even opened up a 15-point lead in the first half, but the Dawgs fought back and even took the lead as time wound down in the second half. Unfortunately for Butler fans, the Bulldogs could not finish the job on the road and ultimately lost. In the loss though, the Dawgs showed an intensity and toughness that fans had not seen very much, if at all this season. Butler played hard defense, dove on the floor after loose balls and got physical with the Huskies. After going down by a sizable margin in the first half, the Bulldogs easily could have quit. Instead, Butler battled back into the game and gave UConn a run for its money. If the Dawgs can look past the result and see how their high-octane play almost gave them a win against a ranked opponent, this season could take a turn for the better. Butler will need to keep up that high-energy spirit, because the Big East slate is merciless. DePaul scouting report The Blue Demons currently have a 10-10 record , but are just 1-8 in Big East conference play. DePaul’s lone conference win came against Georgetown, but since then the Blue Demons got blown out at home by Creighton. DePaul’s record is already vastly improved from last season, when the Blue Demons went an abysmal 3-29 overall and 0-20 against the Big East. DePaul is led by a guard tandem of sophomore Jacob Meyer and junior CJ Gunn . Meyer averages 13 points per game on 41.4% shooting from the field, and 37.7% from beyond the arc. The sophomore has also attempted the most three-pointers on the team so far this season. Gunn averages 11.5 points per game on 41.7%  shooting and is second on the team in shots attempted. With most of the Blue Demons’ scoring output coming from the backcourt, the emphasis will be on Butler’s guards to limit those scoring chances. If the Bulldogs can contest shots and rebound, they will be in good shape to win this game.

Fifth-year forward Jahmyl Telfort had 25 points in the loss against UConn. Photo by Jonathan Wang. CALEB DENORME | MANAGING EDITOR | cdenorme@butler.edu The men’s basketball team dropped to 8-11 after an overtime loss to UConn . This defeat also means the Bulldogs’ conference record falls to 1-7. Butler was without junior guard Kolby King , who is recovering from a concussion. This meant that sophomore guard Finley Bizjack got the starting nod. The Trophy Club, Texas native made the most of his opportunity, pouring in 17 points. Fifth-year forward Jahmyl Telfort led the scoring charge with 25 points. The Dawgs started slow, falling behind by 15 at one point before clawing their way back into the game. Butler took the lead with just under four minutes to go in the second half, but could not land the knockout punch to shock the Huskies on their home floor.  In a heartbreaking overtime loss, let’s go beyond the box score. Mental improvement Throughout this season one of Butler’s main problems was its work effort and mentality. Early on, it looked like this game would be the same old story for the Dawgs. With just over four minutes to go in the first half, the Bulldogs were staring down the wrong end of a 15 point deficit. Butler was being out-rebounded and out-toughed on both ends of the floor. Then, a switch flipped and the Dawgs began to show a bit of bite. Thad Matta’s men cut the UConn lead down to eight by halftime and kept chipping away despite everything the Huskies were throwing at them. Telfort ran the show, Bizjack made hustle plays and fifth-year center Andre Screen did the dirty work down low.  As time went on, Butler began to gain momentum and UConn looked vulnerable. The Bulldogs saw that weakness and continued to attack until they grabbed the lead late in the game. The Dawgs could have closed down shop when they went down by 15. Nobody would have blamed them because fans had seen it happen before. Instead though, this team decided to fight back and take the No. 19 team in the nation down to the wire in a hostile environment.  The mentality and toughness Butler displayed against UConn is a glimmer of hope in an otherwise gloomy season. Fans will be hoping this version of the Bulldogs will show up moving forward.  Close only counts in horseshoes So many times this season the Dawgs have found themselves on the wrong side of close games. Some will say that Butler is better than its 8-11 record, but the ability to get the job done in crunch time is crucial to being a winning basketball program. There were a few moments in this game where the Bulldogs could have all but secured the victory but could not get it done. Senior forward Pierre Brooks missing a free throw on the front of a one-and-one to possibly extend Butler’s lead to three is one example. Another is Screen fouling UConn forward Alex Karaban to give him an and-one opportunity to tie the game in overtime, which he would end up converting. No matter how much talent the Bulldogs seemingly have or do not have on the court, the veteran mindset to close out games is not there right now. For how hard Butler played, it was almost a shame it did not end up walking out of Connecticut with a win. For now, the Dawgs will rue their missed chances and move their focus to face DePaul this Saturday at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Butler will likely get another chance to prove they can close out a game as a revamped Blue Demon squad comes to Indianapolis.

Sophomore center Boden Kapke had 13 points in the Bulldogs’ loss against Creighton. Photo by Jonathan Wang.  CALEB DENORME | MANAGING EDITOR | cdenorme@butler.edu The men’s basketball team continues its Big East march with a home matchup against Seton Hall. The Dawgs are in the middle of a dismal nine-game losing streak, with their last win coming on Dec. 3 against Eastern Illinois .   The Bulldogs seek to defend Hinkle Fieldhouse and earn their first win of 2025 against the Seton Hall Pirates .  Here is what you need to know as Butler prepares to battle the Pirates: Who: Butler vs. Seton Hall When: January 15, 7 p.m. Where: Hinkle Fieldhouse How to watch: FS1 Toughness and a strong mentality A main catalyst of Butler’s losing streak has been the way opponents have out-muscled the Dawgs. The Bulldogs have been pushed around by every single opponent during this nine-game streak, so Butler will need to play tougher to get a much-needed victory. Rebounding and turnovers are a consistent struggle for the Dawgs, with both problems showing up at different times. There will be games where the Bulldogs rebound well, but turn the ball over 20 times. Other times Butler will limit its giveaways, but get blitzed on the boards. For the Dawgs to become a complete team that can finish games, they must learn to be tougher on the glass and be smart with the ball. When the giveaways and missed rebounds happen, Butler needs to keep a good mentality as well. The Bulldogs are too often dropping their heads after a bad play instead of moving on to the next. This allows opponents to attack in those lapses of concentration and get easy opportunities at the rim. If there was ever a game to get a win, this matchup with Seton Hall is extremely promising. The Pirates have been dismal this season, so Butler will be looking to end the streak at home in front of a noisy Hinkle crowd. Seton Hall scouting report The Pirates come into this game with a 6-10 overall and a 1-4 conference record and their lone Big East win came in overtime against basement-dwellers DePaul . Seton Hall finished last season with a 25-12 record , crashing out in the first round of the Big East tournament before winning the NIT with wins over North Texas , UNLV , Georgia and Indiana State .  The Pirates are led by a pair of guards, sophomore Isaiah Coleman and graduate Chaunce Jenkins . Coleman leads the team in points and rebounding, averaging 15.7 points and five rebounds per game . Also adding production out of the backcourt, Jenkins averages 11.3 points per game and is the Pirates’ main three-point threat, taking a team-high 66 shots from long range this season. This is a depleted Seton Hall team compared to the squad that conquered the NIT last season. Losing guard Kadary Richmond in the transfer portal to St. John’s and guard Al-Amir Dawes’ graduation hurt this team significantly. Both guards averaged over 15 points per game last season, leaving a sizable scoring gap for the new squad to fill. This is a winnable game for Butler. Seton Hall has struggled this season and has found it hard to get wins in Big East play. If there was ever a time for the Bulldogs to stand up and grab a victory in front of their home crowd, it’s this game against the Pirates. Fans of the Dawgs will be hoping the Hinkle crowd will spur their team to a win for the first time in 43 days.

Graduate forward Patrick McCaffery had 17 points in the loss against UConn. Photo by Jonathan Wang. CALEB DENORME | SPORTS EDITOR | cdenorme@butler.edu The men’s basketball team fell for the fifth straight time on Saturday, this time to No. 11 UConn . The Bulldogs got off to an extremely slow start but fought back multiple times to cut the lead to a one-possession game. It was in those crucial moments that the Dawgs could not take advantage, ending in yet another loss to the Huskies.  Let’s go beyond the box score for Butler’s home loss to the reigning national champions: Failure to capitalize on opportunities In the opening seven minutes of the game, the Bulldogs dropped behind 25-9. Spurred on by a sellout home crowd, Butler cut the lead to three with a little over two minutes to go before halftime. UConn would finish the half on a 6-0 run to take a nine-point lead into the locker room. After a disastrous start Butler fought back into the game, but then the Dawgs gave UConn all the momentum back. The Huskies continued to pad their lead throughout the first part of the second half until Butler got back within a possession with five minutes to go. In those five minutes the Bulldogs had numerous opportunities to take the lead, but they never did. The inability to take the game from UConn led to the loss, and head coach Thad Matta knows he needs to see improvement. “That’s where we’ve got to get better, where we can make those plays to win the games,” Matta said. “Those are the plays that we have to make.” Butler showed resilience to fight back and stay in the contest, but they could not put the final pieces together to take the lead. The components were all there for the Dawgs to capture a marquee victory in front of their home crowd, but they fell short yet again. “We show some unbelievable signs,” Matta said. “We’re a team that everybody has to play good. We’ve been tested, there’s no question about that.” Where does Butler go from here? At this point in the season last year Butler had a 10-3 record . This year’s Bulldogs are now 7-6 and on the brink of being .500 early on in the season. This squad was supposed to take the next step in Matta’s third season back at his alma mater, but instead, the Dawgs have an abysmal record and an impatient fanbase. The losses to UConn, Marquette , Houston and Wisconsin are excusable from the Bulldogs’ standpoint. Aside from the Houston matchup, Butler has been in every game they lost to those ranked opponents. The defeats that will sting the most will be the two “buy” games against Austin Peay and North Dakota State . At the end of the day, it all comes down to Butler’s mentality. On paper, the Dawgs should be a team that challenges the upper half of the Big East. Now at 7-6 with multiple bad losses on their resume, that is not the case. No one denies that the Bulldogs have talent, but they implode when the lights are the brightest. When Butler figures out how to execute and follow through for 40 minutes of basketball, the Dawgs will begin to win games. Until then though, the Bulldogs remain in a free-fall.  “We’ve seen everything,” Matta said. “So now it’s time to [start] winning some basketball games.”

Junior guard Kolby King played 19 minutes in the loss to Houston. Photo by Darcy Leber. CALEB DENORME | SPORTS EDITOR | cdenorme@butler.edu The Bulldogs seek to get back in the win column on Tuesday against North Dakota State (NDSU) after suffering a blowout loss to Houston over the weekend. The Cougars ran the Dawgs out of the gym, winning by a margin of 28 points. Butler returns home with a 7-2 record trying to grab another victory with conference play looming on the horizon.  Here is what you need to know as the Bulldogs battle the Bison: Who: Butler vs. North Dakota State When: Dec. 10, 5:30 p.m. Where: Hinkle Fieldhouse How to watch: FS1 Getting back on track Saturday’s loss to Houston was ugly, to say the least. Butler got shut down on the offensive end and was outmatched in almost every phase of the game.  This game against NDSU comes at the perfect time for the Bulldogs. The matchup is an opportunity to get a bounce-back win against an inferior opponent before heading off to face a gauntlet of a schedule. After the Bison, the Dawgs will face No. 20 Wisconsin , No. 6 Marquette and No. 18 UConn in a one-week span. With those huge matchups coming up, Butler cannot afford to have a poor showing in this game. Coming off the loss down in Houston, the Dawgs need to come out hungry and put North Dakota State away in a convincing fashion.  North Dakota State scouting report The Bison are 7-4 and currently on a four-game win streak. Last season, NDSU went 15-17 and bowed out in the quarterfinals of the Summit League Tournament. North Dakota is led by the tandem of senior guard Jacari White and senior forward Jacksen Moni . White has played all 11 games this season, averages 17 points per game on 45.2% shooting and has hit the most threes on the team. Moni averages 16 points per game on 50% shooting and is second-highest on the team in assists despite playing only eight games.  The weakness for NDSU is going to be how often they turn the ball over. The Bison have 116 turnovers through 11 games , averaging 10.5 giveaways per matchup. If the Bulldogs want to have a strong showing in this game, they need to limit their own turnover problem and capitalize on the giveaways North Dakota will give them. It should be a nice bounce-back game for Butler, but the Dawgs need to come out ready to play. Fans saw what happened against Austin Peay earlier in the year, and nobody wants a repeat of that game.