Busting Brackets
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Butler Basketball: Breaking down each 2018-19 non-conference opponent

By Lukas Harkins

CINCINNATI, OH - JANUARY 02: Jordan the head coach of the Butler Bulldogs gives instructions to his team against the Xavier Musketeers at the Cintas Center on January 2, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - JANUARY 02: Jordan the head coach of the Butler Bulldogs gives instructions to his team against the Xavier Musketeers at the Cintas Center on January 2, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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SOUTH BEND, IN – DECEMBER 22: Head coach Mark Montgomery of the Northern Illinois Huskies shouts. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN – DECEMBER 22: Head coach Mark Montgomery of the Northern Illinois Huskies shouts. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Dec. 8: Northern Illinois at Butler

Even though Northern Illinois struggled this past season, they have a few players that can give defenses headaches. Most notably, rising junior Eugene German is one of the best scorers in the country. A six-foot guard, German averaged 20.6 points per game last season while scoring relatively efficiently from the field. In addition, the program also brings back two solid seniors in Levi Bradley (14.6 points, 5.5 rebounds) and Dante Thorpe (10.8 points).

Despite this solid trio, though, it is unlikely that Northern Illinois will pose much of a threat to Butler. The Huskies may not have lost many players this offseason (Justin Thomas to transfer being the biggest departure) but they were simply not very good last season. On the whole, Northern Illinois finished 13-19 (6-12 MAC) last season. While German can explode as a scorer and keep the Huskies in games, the team will need a few others to seriously step up in order to compete with the Bulldogs.

Northern Illinois ended last season by losing nine of their last 12 games. In addition, the Huskies finished last season with an abysmal record of 1-13 on the road. Their only victory came against Chicago State, who won just three games all season.