Butler Basketball: 3 takeaways from season-opening win over Miami (OH)

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DETROIT, MI – MARCH 16: Thompson #2 of the Butler Bulldogs shoots. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

1. Butler is DEEP.

That heading just about sums it up. Unlike some years in the past, Butler’s roster is extremely deep and filled with talented players who can excel on any given night. While obviously Kamar Baldwin is the star of the team, the help around him could potentially be different on any given night. And, in the season-opening win over Miami (OH), there were a few players who stood out in addition to Baldwin, who led the team in scoring.

Most notably, sophomore big man Joey Brunk absolutely dominated the game in the paint. Even though he came off of the bench, Brunk played 24 total minutes and seemed to score every time he touched the ball. A former top-150 recruit in the nation, this was Brunk’s first career game playing over 20 minutes and he excelled: 17 points (7-for-7 FG) and 6 rebounds. He was named the Player of the Game for his efforts.

Additionally, Paul Jorgensen and Aaron Thompson also posted strong all-around games. Even though Paulie only scored two points in the first half, he helped put the RedHawks away in this one by putting up 15 points in 17 second-half minutes. A microwave scorer, Jorgensen can be extremely difficult to stop when he gets going. He ended the night with 17 total points (6-for-14 FG) and a team-high 7 rebounds.

Thompson, on the other hand, really picked his spots offensively. He finished the night with a rather quiet 11 points (5-for-6 FG) and 4 assists in 31 minutes. Thompson also knocked down a 3-pointer, which could be a major sign of things to come for the young sophomore guard.

Add in the potential of players such as Henry Baddley, Sean McDermott, and Nate Fowler and it is easy to see just how deep the Bulldogs are. And this does not even include the fact that Butler adds Jordan Tucker, a former top-100 recruit who transferred from Duke, in mid-December.