INDIANAPOLIS — First-year Butler coach Ronald Nored expects “a lot to learn” from Sunday, when the Bulldogs host Indiana in an exhibition game at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
“Obviously this will be our first time playing someone other than ourselves, and so there’s going to be a lot to learn − how our guys operate in this environment, playing in this home arena in front of fans. How we execute a game plan?” Nored said. “This exhibition season is really about learning. I’ve said we want to win as much as we can, but we’re going to study the film and try to get better from this.”
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Butler hired Nored in March after Thad Matta retired after four seasons with the Bulldogs. Butler welcomed 10 new players to its roster during the offseason, including five transfers (forward Christian Moore, Citadel; guard Jordan Ellerbee, Florida Gulf Coast; forward Samis Calderon, Kansas; forward Treyson Anderson, North Dakota State; guard Eduardo Klafke, Mississippi).
The other five are freshmen, including guards Baron Walker and Samu Alder, and forwards Herly Brutus, Asim Djulovic and Marko Maric. Fifth-year guard Jalen Jackson and senior Drayton Jones are the only returning starters from last season.
“We plan to tinker a pretty good bit,” Nored said when asked about anticipated lineup changes. “Exhibition season is about us trying to learn our teams, see how guys fit together, how they play together. Nov. 2 will be the time we put the team out there for real for the first time. And so over the next three weeks, we’re really trying to get a feel for our guys and how they compete together.”
Nored said he wants his team to be “disciplined defensively.” Butler allowed 77.5 points per game last season, ranking it ninth in the 11-team Big East Conference. Nored hopes Butler’s disruptive defense leads to fast transition play on offense.
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Nored praised his team being receptive to coaching. They receive correction “well,” Nored said. “Sometimes too well.” Nored wants Butler to play free this season. In May, Nored said he looks for players who are connected, competitive and prepared when recruiting. He said Tuesday the Bulldogs are showcasing the three traits at a “high level.”
“Our coaching staff really hit the nail on the head on a lot of these guys, who they are as people. We’ve got people from a lot of different cultures, and they’re really enjoying their time together,” Nored said. “It’s fun to go into the locker room, hear the music playing and watch them connect that way. It’s fun to watch them compete together on the court, and then when they step away from the building, it’s the same thing. It’s a great group.”
Djulovic (Serbia), Maric (Croatia) and Adler (Finland) are from Europe. Klafke and Calderon grew up playing together in Brazil. Fourth-year center Kevin Ndzie played professional basketball in Italy and is from Cameroon. Cultural differences haven’t divided the team. It’s brought these young men closer.
Jackson, Butler’s leader on and off the court, described the team as “connected.” He said the team hangs out more than in years prior. Butler was picked last in the Big East preseason poll. Jackson hopes Sunday will show the basketball world Butler’s chemistry and potential.
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“It’s a test to all the work. It’s going to be a testimony to all the work that we put in. More so, prove ourselves right,” Jackson said. “We know we should belong in the moments to play against the best teams, but a lot of the outsiders don’t.
“They picked us at 11. Instead of letting us make us mad, we can say all we want in the world, but it’s more about going on the court and proving to ourselves that all the work we’ve put in, all the time we spent together, it all pays off. Because eventually we all believe in each other, no matter what everyone around us says.”
Butler will host Indiana State on Oct. 18. The Bulldogs travel to Ohio State to play their final exhibition game on Oct. 25. Butler opens its season Nov. 2 at home against Lafayette.
Butler last played IU in a regular season game in December 2020. Nored smiled when asked whether he hopes to schedule Indiana for a regular-season game in the future.
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“That’s a great question,” Nored said. “To be determined.”
Joshua Heron is an enterprise and Fever reporter. Follow him on Twitter at @JoshEHeron.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Diverse Butler team has ‘a lot to learn’ before season opener. What to expect in exhibitions
