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The Columbus Crew traveled south to take on Nashville SC a week after suffering its first loss of the season against Charlotte FC. Sean Zawadzki opened the scoring for the Black & Gold in the first half with a thundering header off a corner. Nashville struck back, scoring twice in first half stoppage time to grab the lead heading into the intermission. Early in the second half Columbus had a chance to tie the game, but Diego Rossi’s penalty clattered off the woodwork. Marino Hinestroza was the hero to even the score later in the second half, sending a looping header into the side netting. The game ended 2-2, with the Crew taking a point home. With Wilfried Nancy returning to the sideline, the Black & Gold coaching staff returned to full strength. Nancy switched tactics and formations up in the first half but adjusted again in the second half after Nashville’s two goals. Let’s dive into those adjustments. First half setup When the Crew released the starting lineup, there were two irregularities that fans noticed. The first was the absence of star striker Cucho Hernandez. While no real details were provided about his absence other than a “team decision”, he was not available to play against Nashville. The second was the incorporation of three central midfielders, Zawadzki, Aidan Morris, and Darlington Nagbe. Some thought that Zawadzki would play along the backline and Yaw Yeboah would push up into attack like an extra winger. Others thought the same but on the other side with Mo Farsi possibly pushing into the attack as a winger. Both thoughts ended up being wrong though. Columbus’ backline remained the same as always, with Yevhen Cheberko, Malte Amundsen, and Steven Moreira anchoring the center. Farsi and Yeboah remained outside as wingbacks, setting the stage for Nagbe, Morris, and Zawadzki to run the midfield. Both Rossi and Jacen Russell-Rowe stayed high up top as strikers, so the Black & Gold essentially played with three holding midfielders on the pitch. On defense, the Crew set up in a 5-3-2. That formation remained consistent with what Columbus had done in games prior. Offense though was a different story. On the offensive side, the Black & Gold opted to play in a 3-3-4. The three central defenders stayed in their natural positions while the wingbacks pushed high up the field next to Rossi and Russell-Rowe. Nagbe was the conductor in the center of midfield while Zawadzki and Morris had differing roles from their midfield partner. Both Zawadzki and Morris tended to drift outside and act as half-pivots for the wingbacks. They could also be considered as covering wingbacks because they often played defense in the wingback position if there was a turnover and needed to recover. Both midfielders playing as pivots bridged the gap between the wingbacks and outside center backs. The downside was that Nagbe was all alone in the center of the pitch and the wide areas were vulnerable in a counterattack if Morris and Zawadzki did not recover correctly. This formational and tactical tweak worked initially, generating offensive chances and lots of possession. In the long run though, Nashville scored two goals and took a lead into halftime. Second half return to normalcy At halftime, Nancy opted to sub Zawadzki out in favor of Hinestroza. This turned out to not be because of Zawadzki’s play, but because he had suffered a concussion in the first half. Hinestroza for Zawadzki is not a like-for-like switch by any stretch of the imagination. This change put Columbus back in their usual formation, with two central midfielders instead of three. The Black & Gold do not play with a natural no. 10, they often have a fluid front three that is positionless in the final third. Hinestroza slid into that position-less attack alongside Rossi and Russell-Rowe, setting Columbus back in a 5-2-3. With this formation change came a few tactical tweaks. The wingbacks got up the field as usual, but with two midfielders now in the center, the outside center backs were free to push up. Moreira and Amundsen ventured forward much more in the second half with the formation change. The other change was not a concerted tactical change. Columbus struggled in the first half when they tried to go forward too fast and turned the ball over. This gave Nashville more rhythm in the game and allowed them to have more attacking chances. The Black & Gold dominated the second half by controlling the ball, settling down, and keeping possession. By keeping possession, they put constant pressure on Nashville’s defense to remain stout in the face of a potent attacking team. After trying again and again, the Crew finally found the breakthrough courtesy of Hinestroza. Simple reminders to calm down and keep the ball changed the game for Columbus in the second half. The formational changes played their part, but simply reminding an elite team to play their game is powerful. That’s exactly what happened for the Black & Gold, and it allowed them to salvage a point on the road against a stingy Nashville team.

The Columbus Crew dropped its first game of the season in Charlotte FC 2-0 on Saturday night.  Plagued by early injuries and suspect refereeing decisions, the Black & Gold held on to a 0-0 score line until Charlotte broke through in the 83rd minute. The hosts did not let up, doubling their advantage a mere five minutes later to send the Crew home with no points to show for. It was a game of adjustments for the Black & Gold coaching staff, having to weather the storm alone with Wilfried Nancy sidelined in Columbus with an illness. Let’s dive into the tactical adjustments that the coaches put into action down in Charlotte. First half adjustments Just 25 minutes into the match, the Black & Gold already had to substitute Rudy Camacho, Christian Ramirez and had Derrick Jones sent off. Whether the Jones red card is valid or not is up for debate, but the Crew faced the task of playing the next 65 minutes with ten men. This forced Columbus to tweak its formation to compensate for losing Jones in the middle of the pitch. Because Camacho and Ramirez were already subbed off due to injury, the Black & Gold did not have the optimal personnel on the field to play how they wanted. The squad made do with what they had and set up a new offensive and defensive formation. On defense, the Crew only had to tweak its shape slightly. Columbus typically defends in a 5-2-3, so they simply switched to a 5-2-2. They kept the backline intact with the three central defenders and then dropped in Yaw Yeboah and Mo Farsi. Darlington Nagbe and Max Arfsten set up as two holding midfielders with Diego Rossi and Cucho Hernandez in front of them. Arfsten playing out of position was not the coaching staff’s first choice, but they already had to burn two substitutions. If Arfsten could hold down the center of the pitch until changes could be made at halftime, the Black & Gold would be in good shape. Rossi tended to drop deeper to assist the midfield duo, but Hernandez stayed high and roamed that backline as he always does. When Columbus transitioned to offense, they opted to play in a 3-1-4-1. The three centerbacks would stay deep, while Yeboah and Farsi went up and played as wide midfielders. Nagbe stayed as the sole defensive midfielder as Arfsten and Rossi pushed up to play dual no. 10’s. Hernandez stayed as a no. 9 to stretch the defense. Despite being a man down, the Crew still got numbers forward and even scored near the end of the first half. A suspect VAR decision negated that goal, but it showed that even down a man, the Black & Gold can still be dangerous going forward. Second half adjustments Columbus came out of the locker room in the second half ready to make changes. The first change was bringing on Yevhen Cheberko and taking off Yaw Yeboah. This switch allowed the Crew to become more balanced and get certain players back to their natural positions. The central back three changed with the Cheberko substitution and shifted Zawadzki into midfield. Cheberko took his spot at the central center back position, flanked by Malte Amundsen on the left and Steven Moreira on the right. Arfsten went out wide to the left to play left wing-back, while Mo Farsi stayed at his right wingback spot. On defense, Columbus shifted to a 5-3-1. The back five remained with Nagbe, Zawadzki, and Rossi in midfield. Nagbe dropped a little deeper like a no. 6, while Zawadzki and Rossi played like a hybrid no. 8/10. Hernandez continued to probe the defense from his striker position up top. On offense, the Black & Gold changed to a 3-4-2. The three center backs made up the backline, and both wingbacks pushed up into wide midfield roles alongside Zawadzki and Nagbe. Rossi pushed forward and played as a false nine, with Hernandez still in his natural striker role. This setup on both ends of the field gave the Crew a more balanced look and got some players back into their natural positions. There were some caveats to how they played compared to when there is a full complement of 11 players on the pitch. In the second half the Black & Gold tended to sit back a more, likely trying to escape Charlotte with a point. Another tweak was the positioning of Zawadzki and Farsi. Zawadzki tended to push higher up the field to join the attack while Nagbe stayed in his holding midfielder position. Farsi often would pinch towards the inside of the field to help the midfielders build out of the back. This gave Columbus an extra body in the center of the pitch to combine and move the ball. In the end, the Crew conceded two goals in the final few minutes of the match. It was a tough result to swallow with the injuries and refereeing decisions, but it will ultimately be a bump in the road for a team that has high ambitions in 2024.

Senior DJ Davis averaged 13.5 points per game in one season at Butler. Photo by Elle Rotter. CALEB DENORME | ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR | cdenorme@butler.edu The men’s basketball team’s season may have ended on the court when they lost to Minnesota in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament, but it continues off the court. Butler senior DJ Davis, sophomore Connor Turnbull and redshirt junior Artemios Gavalas all entered the portal after the season ended. The transfer portal opened on March 18 and will close on May 1. The NCAA shortened the length of the portal from 60 days in 2023, to 45 days in 2024. Eight of Butler’s 14 players in the 2023-24 season were brought to the Bulldogs via the transfer portal. Davis, a 6’1” guard from California, transferred to Butler from UC Irvine. Davis was third on the Bulldogs in points per game with 13.5 and shot 35.1% from beyond the arc. He ended the season tied for first in the nation in free throw percentage, shooting an impressive 95% from the charity stripe. Davis’ season-high 28 points came in an overtime victory against Villanova. Before Butler, he spent three seasons at UC Irvine where he hit 149 three pointers and was named to the 2022-23 All-Big West Conference First Team. Turnbull, a 6’10” forward from Missouri, came to Butler as a four-star recruit in 2022. Turnbull played in 22 games as a first year, averaging 2.0 points and 5.3 minutes per game. He returned for his sophomore season and appeared in nine games, averaging 4.1 points and 11.7 minutes per game. Turnbull suffered an elbow injury that would hold him out of the rest of the 2023-24 season before entering the portal. Gavalas, a 6’0” guard from New York, transferred to Butler from St. John’s. He played in seven games, totaling eight minutes played on the year. At St. John’s, Gavalas played in seven games in two years, scoring three points in seven minutes of action. All three players have not committed to another school yet. They have until the May 1 deadline to transfer to another program, come back to Butler or in Davis’ case, go to the NBA.

Senior Jahmyl Telfort had 25 points in the loss against Minnesota on March 20. Photo by Elle Rotter. CALEB DENORME | ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR | cdenorme@butler.edu The men’s basketball team ended their season in brutal fashion on Tuesday night, falling to Minnesota 73-72 in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). The Bulldogs had a lead late in the game, but a critical DJ Davis turnover allowed the Golden Gophers to take the lead on two free throws. From there, the Dawgs needed some Hinkle Magic, but the cathedral was fresh out of pixie dust. Jahmyl Telfort led the scoring charge with 25 points, tying Minnesota’s Dawson Garcia. Both Posh Alexander and Davis had 13 points each in the losing effort. Minnesota will move on to face the winner of tomorrow’s Indiana State vs. SMU game. Butler’s once-promising season ended with a 3-7 record in their last 10 games. In a gutting loss, let’s go beyond the box score. Same old situation It’s almost fitting, in a sick way, that Butler’s season ended the way that it did. The game against Minnesota was a microcosm of the entire season in many ways, culminating in the Dawgs’ eventual exit from the NIT. The Bulldogs committed 14 turnovers on the night, some at crucial points in the game. Davis’ turnover with under a minute to go will be the one that sticks out though. All Butler had to do was hold onto the ball, but a lapse of judgment and a poor choice led to Minnesota’s go-ahead free throws. “Their coach was screaming ‘foul,’” Thad Matta said. “I was like ‘keep it DJ, keep it DJ.’” Matta said that he talked with Davis about that last minute turnover, and assured him that was not the only play that lost Butler the game. The Dawgs also struggled to consistently score the basketball. Their track record as a streaky team showed up again, culminating in multiple droughts that lasted for numerous minutes. Those droughts allowed Minnesota to extend their lead, or at times get back in the game. In the end, it was a major factor in the difference of this game. It will go down as a step in the right direction for the Bulldogs in the end, but this loss will leave a bad taste in everyone’s mouths heading into next season. 2023-24 season in review For a team that was only projected to finish above DePaul in the Big East, Butler wildly exceeded expectations. The Bulldogs started the season strong, beating teams such as Texas Tech, Boise State and Marquette. In mid-January there were talks about the Dawgs being an NCAA Tournament-caliber team. Those predictions quickly faded when the Bulldogs ended the regular season on a 3-6 stretch. Despite the shortcomings at the end of the season, Matta still considered this season to be a success. “There’s a lot of factors going into college basketball these days,” Matta said. “We’ve got to keep growing.” Growing is exactly what this team has the potential to do. If all goes according to Matta’s plan, he will have four starters returning next season with the exception of graduate Jalen Thomas. With transfer portal season looming and recruits coming in, this team can only add pieces. All in all, this season will be considered a ‘close, but no cigar’ type of year. They exceeded expectations, got the program on the right track and built a foundation for next season. For Matta though, it is something more. “I told these guys, they gave me life,” Matta said. “I’m real proud of this team.”

The Columbus Crew returned to MLS regular season action with a bang on Saturday, thrashing the New York Red Bulls to the tune of a 3-0 victory. It was a comprehensive and dominating win for the Black & Gold, controlling the game from the opening kick. Cucho Hernandez put Columbus up 1-0 in the first half courtesy of a Yaw Yeboah cross that he rocketed into the roof of the net. In the second half, Jacen Russell-Rowe and Aidan Morris helped secure all three points for the Crew with goals of their own. Wilfried Nancy set up his team as usual, but they shifted to play a different formation for the entire match. Let’s dive into the tactical and formational decisions that went into the Black & Gold’s big win. Playing in a 3-3-4 The Black & Gold lined up in their normal 5-3-2/3-5-2 to start off the game but quickly shifted to a different formation. They changed to a 3-3-4, which sparked an impressive attacking game and a dominant performance for Columbus. New York set up in a 4-4-2 that could shift and change as Emil Forsberg roamed the field. The visitors also like to employ a high gegenpressing system that tends to prey on opposing teams’ mistakes high up the pitch. Although the Crew switched to three in the back on offense, the Red Bulls’ press did not seem to affect them. The Columbus backline consisted of Steven Moreira, Rudy Camacho, and Malte Amundsen still operating in their usual positions. Yeboah pushed high up the field as a left winger to join Hernandez, Russell-Rowe, and Diego Rossi in the attack. Sean Zawadzki pinched inside from his wingback position to join the midfield alongside Morris and Darlington Nagbe. This put the emphasis on the attack for the Black & Gold. With four attackers up top, the Crew stretched New York’s backline and forced their midfielders to help on defense. Spreading the Red Bulls backline led directly to Columbus’ first goal. When Morris shifted out to the left to play as a half-pivot, New York’s right back stepped up to mark him. This allowed Yeboah to get in behind and provide the assist for Hernandez’s goal. Another concern for the Black & Gold was the midfield battle. With four midfielders slated to start on the pitch for New York, the Crew would be outnumbered. With Columbus switching to the 3-3-4, the numbers were still not in their favor. They evened those odds by having the attackers drop in to help build up and around the Red Bulls’ midfield when needed. The Black & Gold did not use the middle of the pitch to build up throughout much of the game though. This meant the midfield battle did not turn out to be as important. With Columbus building up on the wings, they could overload the outsides by shifting midfielders outside. Morris and Zawadzki would move out wide if the ball was on their side of the pitch to play as half-pivots and connect to the wingers. In the 3-3-4, the Crew were able to stifle New York with long spells of possession. Typically, a team like the Red Bulls can win the ball back quickly with their pressing, but Columbus showed their skill by retaining the ball time after time. New York even changed tactics in the second half and started to man-mark the Black & Gold backline. This led the Crew to drop the midfielders inside to help build out, so it did not slow them down much. No matter what New York did, the Crew countered with more possession and attacking chances. It was one of those games where they just could not do any wrong. The shift to the 3-3-4 paid off in a big way, to the tune of three goals and yet another win in this 2024 season. It was a total dismantling of New York by an elite Columbus team that only seems to be getting better. It was only a matter of time until this team caught their stride, and it showed up in the form of a 3-0 win over a talented Red Bulls squad.

The Columbus Crew advanced to the next round of the CONCACAF Champions Cup after defeating the Houston Dynamo 2-1 on aggregate. After winning the first leg 1-0, Columbus returned home and tied Houston 1-1 following a late tally from the Dynamo. Cucho Hernandez opened the scoring in the 40th minute to continue his hot scoring streak. The Black & Gold played well from that point on but conceded a penalty in the 90th minute. Houston would convert, but the Crew ended up seeing the game until the end and advancing. Wilfried Nancy used a rotated lineup yet again, which meant the team set up a little different than usual. Let’s dive into the tactical decisions that helped the Black & Gold advance. Darlington Nagbe playing attacking midfielder Darlington Nagbe’s position is not as much about him, but more about the personnel Nancy put into the starting lineup. Nancy opted to go with three strikers in the starting lineup, with Hernandez, Jacen Russell-Rowe and Christian Ramirez all getting the nod. While Hernandez and Russell-Rowe can regularly drop in and play as a no.10, it is not the optimal position for them. Nancy’s response to this was to push Nagbe forward to play the no. 10 position on offense. Derrick Jones stayed back as the lone defensive midfielder, only sitting a few yards in front of the backline. At times, Hernandez and Russell-Rowe dropped in to help Nagbe build up, but most of the game was played in transition with Nagbe at the attacking midfielder position. Columbus went relatively light in the middle of the pitch, opting to overload to wings. Both Yaw Yeboah and Mo Farsi ran the length of the pitch, getting into the attack as much as possible. Even the outside centerbacks pushed up to form a cupped backline and assist in the attack. The way the Black & Gold can adjust their formation based on personnel and still find ways to grind out games is impressive. Playing in different forms with rotated teams will be key if the Crew are looking to compete in all these different competitions. It has worked so far, but it is still early in the season. Changing formations in-game Just like last week’s matchup against Houston, Columbus played with formational fluidity and changed their shape throughout the match.  Yet again, the Black & Gold changed their look a few times against the Dynamo. The Crew started out in a 5-2-3 on defense and a 3-4-3 on offense. The four midfielders on offense played in a stretched diamond, with Nagbe as the no. 10 and the wingbacks playing wide midfielder positions. The front three consisted of the three strikers, but they are all interchangeable as they roam the field. Later in the match, Columbus switched to a 4-2-4. This time, the entire backline shifted to the right with Farsi going up into the attack to play as a right winger. Russell-Rowe and Ramirez played as dual strikers with Hernandez on the left wing. Nagbe stayed as the no.10, which allowed a deeper Jones to help on the defensive line if needed. This switched happened around the 35-minute mark just as the Black & Gold were pushing for their goal. This change let Farsi commit more to the attack and allowed the Crew to push Steven Moreira and Yeboah into the attack from outside fullback positions. Jones stayed in his deep-lying midfield position to give the defense stability, so Columbus was still balanced in the back. These shifts can turn the tides of matches, which is exactly what happened for the Black & Gold and allowed them to move on in the Champions Cup. With a congested schedule and more games to come look for the Crew to keep changing how they setup and continue to rotate their lineups.

Seniors Posh Alexander and DJ Davis combined for 27 points against Xavier on March 6. Photo by Grace Hensley. CALEB DENORME | ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR | cdenorme@butler.edu The men’s basketball team heads to New York City for their first-round matchup of the Big East Tournament against Xavier. The Bulldogs bested the Musketeers in the final game of Butler’s regular season, 72-66. The Dawgs secured the eighth seed in the tournament, setting themselves on a crash course with Xavier yet again. Butler beat Xavier in the first round of the Big East Tournament in 2021 and 2022, both in overtime. Here is what you need to know as the Bulldogs try to keep their season alive against Xavier. Who: Butler vs. Xavier When: March 13, 4 p.m. Where: Madison Square Garden How to watch/listen: FS1, 1430 WXNT Repeating last game’s performance Butler’s last matchup against Xavier went almost exactly according to plan. Despite the 12 minute scoring drought in the middle, the Bulldogs got the job done thanks to a fast start, efficient offense and tough defense. Those are the ingredients that the Dawgs will have to use to beat the Musketeers again. This time they will not have a home court advantage and Hinkle Magic on their side. Having a clean game and playing smart is how Butler will get the win. Xavier will be looking to get revenge after their last performance, so this will not be a cake walk for Butler. If history is any indication of how this game may go, fans may be in store for some free extra basketball after two closely contested halves. Xavier scouting report Xavier finished the regular season with a record of 15-16, and 9-11 in the conference. They clinched the ninth seed in the Big East Tournament. The Musketeers are led by guards Quincy Olivari and Desmond Claude. The backcourt duo averages 35.5 points per game. Olivari, a 6’3” graduate student, averages 19.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. He transferred to Xavier from Rice for his graduate year, and ended up leading the Musketeers in scoring this season. Olivari is a dual-threat scorer, who can get in the paint but also hurt teams from deep. He boasts a team-best 43.2% shooting percentage from beyond the arc. Butler’s number one priority will be limiting Olivari’s impact, because he can explode offensively on any given night. Claude, a 6’6” sophomore, averages 16 points per game but struggles from the three point line. He only shoots a mere 20.6% from beyond the arc, but 41.5% from the field. He is a big-bodied guard who lives to drive into the paint and attack the rim. He also is second in the team in total minutes played, with 1,037. Butler’s undersized guards will have to play strong defensively to keep Claude at bay. Butler has a chance to keep building on this season with a win over Xavier. The Musketeers will not make it easy though, because they want this rivalry game too. It is win or go home now, so there is no longer any room for error.

The Columbus Crew secured its second win of the young MLS season on Saturday night with a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Fire. Substitute Jacen Russell-Rowe opened the scoring for the Black & Gold before Chicago equalized just a few moments later. Fellow countryman and substitute Mo Farsi won all three points for the Crew deep into stoppage time with a rebound tap-in. It was another rotated lineup for Columbus, but Wilfried Nancy had Aidan Morris and Sean Zawadzki play different roles throughout the night to secure the win for the Black & Gold. Let’s dive into the contest. Morris’ positioning Morris is known around MLS for being one of the best ball-winning central midfielders in the league. His ability to tackle and retain the ball is critical to how the Crew play as a team. On Saturday though, his role shifted slightly. Morris cheated more toward the left side of the field than he usually does. On a typical night, he lines up alongside Darlington Nagbe in the center of the pitch. This time, he resorted to playing as a half-pivot near the left flank. This move had a few different fallouts. Morris’ positioning as the pivot on the left side allowed Yaw Yeboah to push higher up the field and play more like a natural winger. Due to Morris occupying his former space, Yeboah was now one-on-one against Chicago’s outside defender. Those are the matchups that Nancy wants his team to find and exploit. Morris setting up more on the left also allowed him to overlap Yeboah. This let Columbus diversify their attack and keep the Fire’s backline guessing at times. Another thing to note is how the rest of the Black & Gold’s lineup catered to this new connection on the left side. Zawadzki and Max Arfsten pinched in towards the middle of the field to try and assist the overload of the left side. Despite all the positive outcomes of this move, there were fallbacks too. Taking Morris out of the midfield left Nagbe alone. Chicago now had a numbers advantage, and it was difficult to get Nagbe involved in the game. This caused a lot of the Crew’s issues in building out of the back in the first half. At times, Arfsten would move into the center of the field but never found his footing as a true central midfielder. This is why Columbus committed so many turnovers in the first half and allowed the Fire to create some good scoring chances. All in all, it was not a bad move from Nancy. It did not impact the game as much as he hoped it would, but in the end, the Black & Gold came out with the victory. Zawadzki’s versatility There are not many positions on the field left that Zawadzki has not already played. In Columbus’ matchup with Chicago, the young jack of all trades filled in wherever he could. At the beginning of the match, Zawadzki played as the right center back in Nancy’s three-or-five back defensive system. He was the bridge to Arfsten on the wing and extra support on the outside of Rudy Camacho. At times he ventured up the pitch to join the attack, but in the first half, he mostly stayed in his positional place. That would all change in the second half. After halftime, his role shifted in possession. He technically still played as the right center back, but he would move into a central midfield position on offense. This allowed Morris to stay as the half-pivot on the left and Nagbe now had help on the inside. This simple change meant Columbus always kept Camacho and Malte Amundsen back on defense. Both wingbacks would still get forward along with Zawadzki and the rest of the midfielders. Zawadzki’s ability to drive at defenses and connect with Nagbe and Morris made this move pay off. It left the Black & Gold a bit light on the back end, but it is a gamble that Nancy is not afraid to make. Later in the second half Zawadzki moved again, this time back to the center back position in the middle of that back three. Derrick Jones came on for Camacho, sliding into Zawadzki’s former position in midfield. This meant the young American moved back to defense for the remainder of the match. Zawadzki’s positional adaptability is something that the Crew will cherish down the stretch of this season. In a year with so many competitions, they will need a guy who can play two or three positions to fill in when needed. Both Zawadzki and Morris’ positional versatility contributed to Columbus winning this game.

The Columbus Crew hit the road for a midweek clash with the Houston Dynamo in the Round of 16 of the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Wednesday evening. The Black & Gold battled back and forth all game with the Dynamo before finally finding the breakthrough in stoppage time. Alexandru Matan came on as a second half sub to grab the goal and the win for Columbus to take back home for the second leg. This game was a perfect example of how adaptable the Crew are not only tactically, but structurally as well. Let’s dive into those tactical decisions that went into the Black & Gold’s win over Houston. Playing with fluid formations The Crew are known around the league as a team that can take on many shapes. Coach Wilfried Nancy has a preferred formation he likes to set his team up in, but his team can adjust as the game goes on. Throughout last season and the start of this new one, Columbus has taken on many formational forms. Against Houston, the Black & Gold pulled out all the stops. First was the way the Crew lined up initially. Columbus sets up in a 5-2-3 with wingbacks that will climb the field and act as wingers. Aidan Morris and Darlington Nagbe play as the two holding midfielders, while Marino Hinestroza, Diego Rossi, and Jacen Russell-Rowe share the attacking duties up top. The defense will typically change to a three-back set when the Black & Gold attack in this formation. The wingbacks will go up the field and act like wingers. The attacking three are the most fluid out of the position groups. They have the option to roam and find pockets of space to help aid in the buildup or generate scoring chances. This approach favors players like Rossi and Cucho Hernandez who are multi-faceted and can play through the middle or out wide. This is the formation Columbus uses most of the time. Again, Nancy likes to allow his squad freedom in getting forward. This free-roaming soccer is what makes the Crew so potent in attack in the 5-2-3. Second, the Black & Gold shifted into a more attack-minded 3-3-4. We have not seen this setup that much from Columbus, but the key is the inclusion of Sean Zawadzki in the starting lineup. Zawadzki started his career with the Crew playing as a central midfielder but has since transitioned to center-back and wing-back. Zawadzki started out the game playing as the left wing-back but quickly shifted into a midfield role when the Black & Gold switched to the 3-3-4. The three center backs commanded the backline, with Zawadzki, Morris and Nagbe holding down the midfield. Mo Farsi shifted into a right-wing position and Hinestroza played on the left wing. This gave Columbus an attack-minded setup and allowed certain players to play to their strengths. Hinestroza, for example, had good moments on the left wing. Whether he cut inside or took it down the line, he looked strong in his debut for the Crew. Zawadzki is another example. He was able to get the ball in the middle of the pitch and drive towards the goal from that central midfielder position. The 3-3-4 left the Black & Gold undermanned at the back, but that could quickly be solved by Farsi and Zawadzki returning to their wingback roles. It was a risk to leave only three defenders back to stop Houston’s counter, but it worked out in the long run for Columbus. Finally, the Crew changed to a 4-3-3 at times to give the defense more structure but also allow Zawadzki to join the midfield. Yevhen Cheberko shifted to the left-back position while Rudy Camacho and Moreira occupied the center back roles. Farsi remained on the right, but this time as a flat fullback. Adding Zawadzki to the midfield seemed to be the overall goal for Nancy in this match. Houston likes to play with three or four midfielders at times, so Columbus needed to beef up their numbers in the middle to even the numbers advantage. Even the forwards dropped back to help. Oftentimes, Russell-Rowe and later Hernandez would come back into pockets of space to assist in moving the ball up the pitch. With three midfielders and a dropping attacker, Columbus could even up the odds in the middle of the pitch. These different formational looks for the Black & Gold not only give players different roles to create and find the game but also keep the opposition guessing. The Dynamo had to adapt to playing against three different formations in the same game, and even then, there was freedom in the Crew’s positioning. This game is just another example of why Nancy is one of the best coaches in MLS. His attention to detail and willingness to be flexible makes his teams so tough to play against.

The Columbus Crew went on the road for the first time in 2024 and earned a 1-1 draw with Minnesota United. The Black & Gold found the breakthrough courtesy of Cucho Hernandez in the 59th minute in what was an even game. The Crew held that lead until the final seconds of the contest when Tani Oluwaseyi found the top corner of the net from a tight angle to tie the game up. Despite the shared points, fans will be disappointed the Crew were not able to hang on for all three points. Wilfried Nancy set up his team the same as he always does, but Minnesota showed an amount of fight that Columbus was not used to. Let’s dive into all the tactical decisions that went into this game. Minnesota’s first half press One thing that gave the Black & Gold trouble throughout the first half was the Loons’ press. At times Columbus looked overwhelmed trying to build out of the back, something they are not accustomed to doing. What made Minnesota’s press so potent was the structure and numbers they pressured with. On offense, Columbus likes to send both wingbacks high up the field as wingers. This means the three central defenders can spread out, with Aidan Morris and Darlington Nagbe being inside releases in the middle of the pitch. Essentially, the Crew always have five players in the back to build up. Minnesota recognized this and committed five of their own players to a systematic press that gave Columbus fits. The Loons split their team in half, pressing with five and defending with five. They practically defended in a 4-1-4-1. Striker Teemu Pukki was the lone presser up top. Behind him were Minnesota’s wingers and two midfielders in a flat four, marking the two outside center-backs and midfielders. Former Crew captain and Ohio native Wil Trapp was the lone defensive midfielder, man-marking dropping attackers for the Black & Gold. This press did not over-extend Minnesota, and it created a blanket coverage to restrict what Columbus could do in the buildup. Morris and Nagbe were tough to find due to the constant barrage of defenders behind them, so the Crew backline had to figure out other ways to advance the ball. It was a very well-constructed press by the Loons that kept the game deadlocked for almost an hour. Other teams around the league will be looking at Minnesota’s pressure in the first half for tips on how to stop Nancy’s machine. Adjusting in the second half The scales tipped in Columbus’ favor in the second half for a host of reasons. First, Nancy opted to bring former Minnesota United star Christian Ramirez off the bench in place of Alexandru Matan. Matan proved his worth throughout last season, but sometimes the game calls for a clinical veteran striker to come in. That is where Ramirez excels, and he made the Black & Gold look like a better team in the second half. Second, Minnesota eased off their press that was so potent in the first half. The Crew realized that they must bypass the Loons’ press by finding the gap between the opposition’s ranks. Columbus started spraying out long passes to the attackers’ feet, which sprang the attack. This caused Minnesota to sit back a little bit more and switch to a more man-to-man press. Third, the Black & Gold started to find their stride with the press and re-press. Both wingbacks would fly up the field to pressure along with the attackers, forcing Minnesota to play the ball long. Veteran defenders like Rudy Camacho, Steven Moreira, and Malte Amundsen along with Morris and Nagbe capitalized on those long passes, forcing turnover after turnover. So, why the 1-1 draw? Columbus did not maximize their chances on offense. They generated good scoring opportunities but just could not finish, whether it was a wayward shot or a misplaced pass. On defense, the Black & Gold fell victim to what has become a normal trend: closing games out. The Crew could have been considered the better team for 93 minutes, but one collective mishap on the long through turned three points into one. It is still very early in the season, and the Black & Gold have not performed as well as the team that beat LAFC. Despite this, there is no need for panic. As more games come and go the team will find their stride. It will only be a matter of when. Whenever it does switch on for them, the rest of the league better watch out.

Senior DJ Davis had 17 points against DePaul on Jan. 20. Photo by Makenna Frias. CALEB DENORME | ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR | cdenorme@butler.edu The men’s basketball team hits the road for a matchup with DePaul on March 2. The Bulldogs lost their last game in embarrassing fashion to St. John’s, 82-59. Butler is ninth in the Big East standings with a conference record of 7-11. In their last matchup with the Blue Demons, the Dawgs prevailed by 14 points, 74-60. Here is what you need to know as Butler prepares to battle DePaul. Who: Butler vs. DePaul When: March 2, 12 p.m. Where: Chicago, Illinois How to watch/listen: FS1, 1430 WXNT Stop the bleeding Butler has lost their past five games, four straight by double digits. On Feb. 2, the Bulldogs took down the no. 13 ranked Creighton Bluejays. Since then, the Dawgs are 1-6 and have completely fallen out of the NCAA Tournament picture. This matchup against DePaul could not come at a better time for Butler. The Blue Demons are 3-25, and have not won a single game in conference play this season. Earlier in the season, this would be an automatic win for the Bulldogs. Now though, it does not look as certain. DePaul has not proved they are ready to compete with the teams in the Big East, but the Dawgs have managed to go into an absolute tailspin in the month of February. One of these teams is going to have to win, the only question is who will it be? WIll Butler snap their streak and get back in the winning column? Or will DePaul grab that elusive conference win they are starved for? It will be a battle for two teams in the basement of the Big East this weekend. DePaul scouting report The Blue Demons are 3-25 this season, and are winless in conference play. They currently are dead last in the Big East standings. DePaul is led by graduate Chico Carter Jr. and sophomore Elijah Fisher. The Blue Demon duo combines for 21.2 points per game. Carter Jr., a 6’2” guard, averages 10.9 points per game on 39.4% shooting. Carter missed time due to a rib injury in January, but still leads the team in scoring average. He shoots only 32.9% from three, but can hurt opponents in different ways. Butler will need to key in on him if they want to snap the losing streak. Fisher, a 6’6” guard, brings a different skillset to the table compared to Carter Jr.. Fisher shoots an impressive 52% from the field, but a mere 27.8% from three. Expect him to drive into the paint and try to find easy baskets using his tall frame. He will be a challenge to defend for the undersized Butler guards. Butler should win this game, but nothing is certain anymore. A month ago, this team was 15-7 and projected to be seeded in the NCAA Tournament. Now they are 16-13 on a five-game losing streak. Circumstances change quickly in college basketball, so this is sink-or-swim time for the Butler Bulldogs.

Senior guard DJ Davis had 25 points in the loss versus St. John’s on Jan. 2. Photo by Elle Rotter. CALEB DENORME | ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR | cdenorme@butler.edu The men’s basketball team returns home  looking to break a four-game losing streak when they take on St. John’s on Feb. 28. Their most recent loss was to Seton Hall, 76-64. Butler is ninth in the Big East standings, only above basement-dwellers Georgetown and DePaul. In their last matchup with St. John’s, the Bulldogs lost 86-70. Here is what you need to know as Butler prepares to take on the Red Storm. Who: Butler vs. St. John’s When: Feb. 28, 8:30 p.m. Where: Hinkle Fieldhouse How to watch/listen: CBSSN, 1430 WXNT Having an even offensive approach Butler’s last game against Seton Hall showcased one of the ugliest offensive displays the Dawgs have put out all season. Not only were they missing shots, but they were dominated in the paint. 61.1% of Butler’s shots against the Pirates were from beyond the arc. Of the 64 points the Bulldogs scored, only 16 were scored in the paint. Not only is this type of offense unsustainable, it is downright poor. By refusing to try and establish a presence in the paint, the Dawgs became one dimensional. This, along with the 16 turnovers on the night, is what led to the offensive implosion. If Butler is to win against the Red Storm and string together victories, they will have to get back to a balanced offensive approach. Mixing open perimeter looks with high-percentage inside shots is the best way to attack any defense going forward. St. John’s scouting report The Red Storm come into this game with an overall record of 16-12 and 8-9 in conference play. They are currently seventh in the conference standings. St. John’s is led by guard Daniss Jenkins and center Joel Soriano. The Red Storm duo combines for 29.5 points per game. Jenkins, a 6’4” graduate, averages 14.8 points per game on 44.4% shooting from the field. He is also the team’s leading threat from deep, shooting 34.8% on a team-high 138 threes attempted. In the previous matchup with Butler, Jenkins scored a team-high 17 points on 50% shooting and dished out seven assists. Soriano, a 6’11” graduate, averages 14.7 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. He is a menace in the paint, shooting 59% from the field and leading the team in total rebounds. Soriano had a double-double last time out against the Bulldogs, with 14 points and 12 rebounds. To beat St. John’s, the first priority for Butler has to be stopping Soriano. The Dawgs have struggled in recent games to defend down low, so containing a beast like Soriano is no easy task. If the Bulldogs play tough, help defense, they will have a shot at stopping this four-game skid.