Tonight the Lady Bulldogs lost at home 73-58 to University of Wisconsin- Green Bay.
First there was a Dawgpound section tonight. The section next to the band was full. The group next to a band did not cheer at all and sat the entire game. There was also a small group of students behind the basket including a couple of guys with body paint. I was honestly surprised that this many students came to the game especially since the men played a game that tipped off at 7:30. I expected many people to be watching the game on their computer or listening to it on the radio. On Saturday the women's game is at 2, so come out and support the Lady Bulldogs. There is no conflict with the men's game at Youngstown State as it starts at 7:00. One thing that I would like hear more is cheering, but in a blowout it is understandable why fans do not cheer as much.
Bulldog fans need to understand that Green Bay is a great basketball team. They came into Hinkle tonight with a 4-0 record in league play and a 12-3 overall record. There losses where at Illinois State, at home vs. Marquette, and at Wisconsin. Their last lost occurred on December 11th. According to a story on ESPN's website, Green Bay has won the Horizon League regular season championship the past 9 years. During that stretch they won the conference tournament 7 times and made 7 appearances in the NCAA tournament. Last year Green Bay was ranked #22 when they played Butler in the championship game. Green Bay won that game 91-64. Green Bay also won both games during the regular season.
Next Game: Saturday vs. Wisconsin-Milwaukee at 2:00
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Heading into a our seventh and to this date most important Horizon League basketball contest Tomorrow night against Cleveland State (12-5, 5-0) the mens basketball team is healthy, a number 12 ranking, and has arguably the most improved frontcourt in the country. And I STILL dont think that we have seen our best Butler basketball team on the hardwood yet.
A.J. Graves exploded early in the year in winning the Great Alaskan Shootout, all three games he scored at least 17 points in. He kept Butler in the game against Ohio St. with his timely 3-point shooting and 14 point effort. Against Florida St. and Bradley he put up 25 and 21 respecively. However, in six games of conference play, Graves has scored double figures in but TWO of them, his Horizon League high of 13 vs Wisc. Green Bay on January 10th. I'd like to hope that Graves is for real, and the NBA potential type player that many thought he was early in the season. I'd like to think that Horizon League opponents haven't figured his game out and the way to play night night and night in grueling conference play. So therefore, A.J. Graves has yet to put together his best basketball game this season. Once he can do that, and stops forcing his shot and lets the game come to him it will make everyone, including senior gaurd Mike Green (the teams leading scorer, rebounder and assist man) that much better. And that's a scary thought.
Butler, a 16-1 basketball team, does not yet have an identity. That's a scary thought too, considering we have four players in double figures. Are we an inside team or outside team. It seems that the Bulldogs have not put together a game yet in which one has stepped up and not the other. Recently it's been the play inside of freshman Matt Howard who has scored atleast 13 points the last eight games, and Mike Green who has seemed to knife through any defender that he wants to in the paint. To start the year it was all the outside shooting of Graves, Pete Campbell, and Julian Betko. All three have yet to be on the same page on the same night as well. Betko has scored only 11 points in the last five games.
The one thing that we could count on has always been our foul shooting though right? Saturday against Milwaukee the Bulldogs shot a woeful 8-15 from the line.
The good news is that we repeatedly are finding different ways to win a basketball game. And once the Bulldogs find that identity, the sky is the limit for this veteran team.
A.J. Graves exploded early in the year in winning the Great Alaskan Shootout, all three games he scored at least 17 points in. He kept Butler in the game against Ohio St. with his timely 3-point shooting and 14 point effort. Against Florida St. and Bradley he put up 25 and 21 respecively. However, in six games of conference play, Graves has scored double figures in but TWO of them, his Horizon League high of 13 vs Wisc. Green Bay on January 10th. I'd like to hope that Graves is for real, and the NBA potential type player that many thought he was early in the season. I'd like to think that Horizon League opponents haven't figured his game out and the way to play night night and night in grueling conference play. So therefore, A.J. Graves has yet to put together his best basketball game this season. Once he can do that, and stops forcing his shot and lets the game come to him it will make everyone, including senior gaurd Mike Green (the teams leading scorer, rebounder and assist man) that much better. And that's a scary thought.
Butler, a 16-1 basketball team, does not yet have an identity. That's a scary thought too, considering we have four players in double figures. Are we an inside team or outside team. It seems that the Bulldogs have not put together a game yet in which one has stepped up and not the other. Recently it's been the play inside of freshman Matt Howard who has scored atleast 13 points the last eight games, and Mike Green who has seemed to knife through any defender that he wants to in the paint. To start the year it was all the outside shooting of Graves, Pete Campbell, and Julian Betko. All three have yet to be on the same page on the same night as well. Betko has scored only 11 points in the last five games.
The one thing that we could count on has always been our foul shooting though right? Saturday against Milwaukee the Bulldogs shot a woeful 8-15 from the line.
The good news is that we repeatedly are finding different ways to win a basketball game. And once the Bulldogs find that identity, the sky is the limit for this veteran team.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
In response...
... to the previous comment on Tim Maurer's recent post. This blog will continue through the basketball season, which will end in April with Bulldog national championships (I hope).
In regards to the lack of recent posts and the previous comment, I would like to inform all of you who were not aware that for the past month Butler students, which include the DogBloggers, have been on winter break... a break which is a much needed time to relax, recharge and spend time with family and friends. So, I apologize on behalf of the Dawgnet staff for not being able to update regularly, but you'll have to forgive us for being human.
Now that classes have resumed and our publication can begin to get up and running again, the DogBlog and Dawgnet will be updated as often as possible. Please keep in mind that this is the first week of classes, however, so we are just getting back on our feet.
In absence of our posts, I encourage all of our readers to post their own observations, thoughts, criticisms, encouragements and questions.
The women's next games is this Thursday at 7 p.m. in Hinkle. The men's next game is this Thursday at 7:30 p.m. against Cleveland State. You can watch the latter game by clicking here, signing into your account or making a new one. The process is easy and free.
I would suggest that readers should head down to Hinkle and show the women's team some support, and catch the men's highlights on DogBlog, Dawgnet and ESPN later that night.
Look for a return to continuous posting with these games. Until then, please forgive our humanity.
In regards to the lack of recent posts and the previous comment, I would like to inform all of you who were not aware that for the past month Butler students, which include the DogBloggers, have been on winter break... a break which is a much needed time to relax, recharge and spend time with family and friends. So, I apologize on behalf of the Dawgnet staff for not being able to update regularly, but you'll have to forgive us for being human.
Now that classes have resumed and our publication can begin to get up and running again, the DogBlog and Dawgnet will be updated as often as possible. Please keep in mind that this is the first week of classes, however, so we are just getting back on our feet.
In absence of our posts, I encourage all of our readers to post their own observations, thoughts, criticisms, encouragements and questions.
The women's next games is this Thursday at 7 p.m. in Hinkle. The men's next game is this Thursday at 7:30 p.m. against Cleveland State. You can watch the latter game by clicking here, signing into your account or making a new one. The process is easy and free.
I would suggest that readers should head down to Hinkle and show the women's team some support, and catch the men's highlights on DogBlog, Dawgnet and ESPN later that night.
Look for a return to continuous posting with these games. Until then, please forgive our humanity.
Catching Up
Sorry that I have not been posting lately. Here is an update from my perspective.
Men's Scores
Jan 5th
Valpo 73
Butler 65
Jan 7th
Butler 66
Loyola 55
Jan 10th
UW- Green Bay 74
Butler 65
Jan 12th
UW- Milwaukee 72
Butler 56
Women's Scores
Jan 5th
Butler 69
Valpo 77
Jan 10th
Butler 61
Loyola 50
Jan 12th
Butler 72
UIC 57
Men's Record: 16-1 (5-1)
This is the best start in school history!
Women's Record: 12-2 (2-1)
Thoughts
Matt Howard has played extremely well the past few games. He has earned a place in the starting lineup. In the Valpo game he scored 17 points in 12 minutes of action. In the Loyola game he scored 19 points in 20 minutes. In the Green Bay game he scored 22 points in 29 minutes. Last Saturday he scored 17 points in 22 minutes. Throughout this stretch Howard has started games out by scoring points in the paint. During the games Butler's offense has gotten away from passing the ball to him in the post. There are several possible reasons for this. One is that the his scoring has made open shots from beyond the arc. Another is that he has been taken out of the game to rest. Sometimes they never go back to this method of scoring and I wonder why. I should not complain thought since the dawgs are winning. Howard was also named Horizon League player of the week on Monday.
Zach Hahn has found has finally has scored points from three point range. Just like any shooter, it was simply a matter of time before he was going to make shots. A recent high point was scoring 8 points in the Green Bay victory. I think he will continue to improve as the season progresses.
The game at Loyola was more/less a home game for Butler. While I was watching the game on my computer, I noticed that a ton of Butler blue in the audience.
The crowd for the Green Bay game, last Thursday night, was only 3,226. The biggest reason for that was the start time 9:00. The game started late due to being televised on ESPNU. Very few people get that channel. I often reference the channel as ESPN U don't get it. Because of that it was not worth the late start time . If the game was on ESPN or ESPN2 a very good argument can be made that starting at 9:00 is worth it.
The men's team is ranked 12 in the AP and Coach's poll this week.
Tara Miller of the Butler's women's team currently leads the nation in assists to turnover ratio. She has 46 assists thus far and 13 turnovers for a ration of 3.54.
The men play Cleveland State Thursday night at 7:30. Cleveland State is currently the leader in the Horizon League with a 5-0 record in league play. The Bulldogs are 5-1 in league. Also on Thursday night the Women play Green Bay at Hinkle Feildhouse starting at 7:00.
Men's Scores
Jan 5th
Valpo 73
Butler 65
Jan 7th
Butler 66
Loyola 55
Jan 10th
UW- Green Bay 74
Butler 65
Jan 12th
UW- Milwaukee 72
Butler 56
Women's Scores
Jan 5th
Butler 69
Valpo 77
Jan 10th
Butler 61
Loyola 50
Jan 12th
Butler 72
UIC 57
Men's Record: 16-1 (5-1)
This is the best start in school history!
Women's Record: 12-2 (2-1)
Thoughts
Matt Howard has played extremely well the past few games. He has earned a place in the starting lineup. In the Valpo game he scored 17 points in 12 minutes of action. In the Loyola game he scored 19 points in 20 minutes. In the Green Bay game he scored 22 points in 29 minutes. Last Saturday he scored 17 points in 22 minutes. Throughout this stretch Howard has started games out by scoring points in the paint. During the games Butler's offense has gotten away from passing the ball to him in the post. There are several possible reasons for this. One is that the his scoring has made open shots from beyond the arc. Another is that he has been taken out of the game to rest. Sometimes they never go back to this method of scoring and I wonder why. I should not complain thought since the dawgs are winning. Howard was also named Horizon League player of the week on Monday.
Zach Hahn has found has finally has scored points from three point range. Just like any shooter, it was simply a matter of time before he was going to make shots. A recent high point was scoring 8 points in the Green Bay victory. I think he will continue to improve as the season progresses.
The game at Loyola was more/less a home game for Butler. While I was watching the game on my computer, I noticed that a ton of Butler blue in the audience.
The crowd for the Green Bay game, last Thursday night, was only 3,226. The biggest reason for that was the start time 9:00. The game started late due to being televised on ESPNU. Very few people get that channel. I often reference the channel as ESPN U don't get it. Because of that it was not worth the late start time . If the game was on ESPN or ESPN2 a very good argument can be made that starting at 9:00 is worth it.
The men's team is ranked 12 in the AP and Coach's poll this week.
Tara Miller of the Butler's women's team currently leads the nation in assists to turnover ratio. She has 46 assists thus far and 13 turnovers for a ration of 3.54.
The men play Cleveland State Thursday night at 7:30. Cleveland State is currently the leader in the Horizon League with a 5-0 record in league play. The Bulldogs are 5-1 in league. Also on Thursday night the Women play Green Bay at Hinkle Feildhouse starting at 7:00.
Updates
Okay, so yes, no one has updated in awhile...but quickly I will give a brief of where each team is at. The men are now 16-1, having won their past 8 games. They are now ranked 12th in both the AP and the Coaches poll. Their next game is Thursday, 01/17 at Cleveland State (the league leader).
The women are now 12-2 having had their second loss handed to them by Valparaiso on 1/5 (77-69). Recently though, in their past two games against Loyola Chicago and Illinois Chicago, they have come out on top. Their next game is on Thursday 1/17 against Green Bay @ 7 p.m. in Hinkle.
The women are now 12-2 having had their second loss handed to them by Valparaiso on 1/5 (77-69). Recently though, in their past two games against Loyola Chicago and Illinois Chicago, they have come out on top. Their next game is on Thursday 1/17 against Green Bay @ 7 p.m. in Hinkle.
Friday, January 4, 2008
If you are not doing anything tomorrow.....
The men are taking on Horizon League newcomer Valparaiso tomorrow (1/5) at 2 p.m. It's the team's first home conference game. The women on the other hand are taking on Valparaiso on the road at 2:35 p.m. This is the girl's first conference game.
Either game can be viewed on the Butler Athletics site.
Either game can be viewed on the Butler Athletics site.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Green on the first half of the season
"The non league games are scheduled to prepare us for the conference games and I believe they have done just that. We have played a bunch of road games and were fortunate enough to win. That half of the season is over and we look forward to the 2nd half which is conference."
Mike Green
Mike Green
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