NCAA Basketball: Breaking down the field of the 2018 Battle 4 Atlantis

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 06: Basketballs are shown in a ball rack before a semifinal game of the West Coast Conference Basketball Tournament between the Santa Clara Broncos and the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Orleans Arena on March 6, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Gonzaga won 77-68. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

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MILWAUKEE, WI – MARCH 18: Kamar Baldwin (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

Butler Bulldogs – Big East

Over the last several seasons, Butler basketball is one of the most successful programs in the country. In the last 11 years, the Bulldogs have made the NCAA Tournament nine times and have compiled a record of 18-9 in the Big Dance. With Brad Stevens as the head coach, the team also went to back-to-back Final Fours.

Butler is the poster child for former mid-majors to rise up the ranks to become a very good program. Just a few years ago, the Dawgs were at the top of the Horizon League, typically a one-bid conference. Now, they are competing with teams like Xavier and Villanova at the top of the Big East.

The Dawgs have gone through several coaching changes over the past few seasons as well, though. After Stevens, Brandon Miller took over for one season before receiving a medical leave of absence. Chris Holtmann was then the head coach from 2014-2017 before leaving this offseason to take the head job at Ohio State. Now, former UWM head coach LaVall Jordan is the head coach.

In what will be Jordan’s second season as the head coach, Butler basketball will be taking part in the 2018 Battle 4 Atlantis. For the 2018-19 season, it looks like current sophomore guard Kamar Baldwin will be the team’s star player with big men Nate Fowler and Joey Brunk attracted a lot of attention.

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