On the eve of the much anticipated season opener against the Ball State Cardinals, the Bulldog nation is buzzing. Aside from having one of the best backcourts in the country, for the first time in recent years this basketball team has a legit post player and rebounder in Freshman Matt Howard. Howard led the team in rebounding in both exhibition games, averaged 12.5 points, and shot 11-13 from the foul line. Last season, senior guard Mike Green averaged 6.0 boards per game, which led the team.
What to watch for:
The key to this season could be the free throw shooting of Mike Green. He led the team in attempted free throws last season, and shot just over 70 percent. He got to the line a lot at the end of games in 06-07, and with opponets like Ohio State, Michigan, and Gonzaga he's got to be able to score from the charity stripe in the clutch.
A.J. Graves, Green, and Pete Campbell are the only returning players that averaged a signicant amount of points last season. The Bulldogs need to find at least one more guy to step up and score. That player could be Howard, but he is expected to do more as a freshman defensively and on the glass as he blocked two shots in each of the two pre-season contests. Look out for fifth year senior, scrappy forward, Drew Streicher to do a little more in the scoring column this year. Howard requires a lot more attention on the block than former Bulldog big men Brandon Crone and Brian Ligon, giving Streicher, Butler's leader in field goal percentage last season, more oppertunites to score playing opposite the freshman sensation.
The Butler-Ball State basketball game used to be one of the premier "mid major" college basketball rivalries in the country. New Ball State coach Billy Taylor will look to restore the rivalry Friday night. The Cardinals are predicted to finish third in the Western Division of the Mid American Conference.
Drew Schmelzer
Picture: Coach Stevens (bottom right) talks strategy with his team during a timeout. Photo by Josh Arntz
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