Busting Brackets
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Big East Basketball: 2019-20 offseason questions facing each team

By Lukas Harkins

PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 21: A detailed view of a Wilson college basketball during the third round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Consol Energy Center on March 21, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 21: A detailed view of a Wilson college basketball during the third round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Consol Energy Center on March 21, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 02: Thompson of the Bulldogs controls. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 02: Thompson of the Bulldogs controls. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

Butler: Who will emerge as scoring options next to Baldwin?

Kamar Baldwin is a superb college basketball player. Now entering his senior year with the program, Baldwin is comfortably one of the top-50 players in the entire nation but he cannot carry the Bulldogs all by himself. That much was evident during this past season as the team stalled without a true secondary scoring option in the absence of Kelan Martin. Baldwin tried his best and posted a strong season, but his efficiency and defensive play (understandably) dipped as a result of needing to shoulder most of the scoring weight fo the team.

Heading into this season, Baldwin will once again be the top scoring option for the team but the program needs someone else to step up. Without a true scoring hierarchy behind the senior guard, it is reasonable to expect that the Dawgs will struggle with the same issues they experienced in 2018-19. Thankfully, though, there seem to be a few potential answers to this question.

More. Complete coverage of the Butler Bulldogs. light

Perhaps above all others, Jordan Tucker looks poised to take the next step with his game. A top-100 recruit out of high school, Tucker sat out the first half of last season (transfer rules) before forcing the issue a bit in his first true collegiate minutes. When on his game, Tucker is a smooth scorer with the ability to fill it up at all three levels. He struggled mightily with regards to his finishing around the hoop last season and Butler fans have to hope for improvement in that facet of the game. With an entire offseason of work, though, he should be a consistent double-digit scorer who can create for himself. Butler needs that. Desperately.

In addition, incoming freshman Khalif Battle (No. 94) is well-documented as an athletic two-way threat. While it would be a mistake to expect too much out of the first-year player, he could be a highly impactful spark plug scorer off the bench. He shoots it well from distance, finishes with authority, and can defend at a high level too. Add in the fact that senior wing Sean McDermott will bring back his elite spacing and the pieces are there fo Butler’s offense to not only be improved but quite deadly.

Baldwin will get his. Others will need to get theirs.

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