Butler Basketball: Breaking down the non-conference schedule

MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 16: A Butler Bulldogs cheerleader cheers in the second half against the Winthrop Eagles during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center on March 16, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 12: Head coach Mark Turgeon of the Maryland Terrapins looks on against the Michigan State Spartans in the semifinals of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 12, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Michigan State defeated Maryland 64-61. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Early November

Kennesaw State at Butler, November 10th

After two exhibition games, the first regular season game for Butler takes place at home against Kennesaw State. The Owls went 14-18 last season and an even .500 in the Atlantic Sun. Kendrick Ray led the team in scoring last season with 21.2 points per game, but he has since moved on to play professionally. In addition, big man Aubrey Williams graduated. Williams averaged 12.9 points and 10.8 rebounds per game last season. Junior guard Nick Masterson will likely be the leading scorer for this upcoming season and Butler should have no problem with this young squad.

Princeton at Butler, November 12th

After going undefeated in the Ivy League last season and making the NCAA Tournament, hopes are high for the Princeton Tigers this season. The Tigers return 60% of their scoring from last season and will be a tough early test for Butler. Ranking ninth in the country in scoring defense last season, Princeton will look to control the pace of this game at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Butler will have to be ready for what could be a slow, low-scoring game.

Butler at Maryland, November 15th

Maryland might be without Melo Trimble for the first time in the past few years, but this is still a difficult major conference opponent. Maryland is a very solid program who will be looking for revenge on the Big East after they fell to Xavier in last season’s NCAA Tournament. This game takes place as a part of the Gavitt Tip-Off Games between the Big East and the Big Ten conferences. Maryland went 24-9 last season with a 12-6 record in the Big Ten. Replacing Melo Trimble will be a major challenge, though.