Butler Basketball: Analyzing the 2019-20 roster and projected rotation

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 15: Butler Bulldogs players react from the bench against the Indiana Hoosiers in the second half of the Crossroads Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 15, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Indiana won 71-68. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – FEBRUARY 20: Baldwin of the Bulldogs dribbles. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Keys to success and season prediction

Butler needs to improve on both ends of the floor in order to make a run at reaching the NCAA Tournament in 2019-20. With that said, though, there is enough talent to make that happen. Even though the Dawgs ran out of gas at the end of last season, it is important to member that the vast majority of key players are returning from a team that was firmly on the bubble with two weeks left in the season. Considering an added year of experience and the additions of Smits/Nze/Battle, it is reasonable to assume that Butler will be an improved team with Big Dance potential.

With that said, though, the entire Big East is expected to be stronger. It will be quite difficult to rise up the conference rankings but there will also be plenty of opportunities for high-quality wins. This is especially true when you consider the rigorous non-conference schedule that Coach Jordan was able to put together. There will be ample opportunity for this team to showcase its skill and add resume-defining victories. With a strong senior class and some potential breakout stars, I would be surprised if Butler did not compete for an NCAA Tournament bid. I’m not saying that dancing is a lock, or even that it is likely, but I think it is fair to say that the Dawgs will be in the bubble conversation throughout the season.

In order for Butler to reach its ceiling, Jordan Tucker and Khalif Battle will need to emerge as major contributors. Tucker, now a junior, will likely be called upon to be the secondary scorer alongside Baldwin. Battle, on the other hand, will need to carry the scoring burden for the reserve group as a freshman. It won’t be easy, but if he can emerge as one of the better sixth men in the conference, that would greatly improve Butler’s odds at dancing.

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In the end, Butler will likely be picked to finish eighth in the Big East in the preseason. And while this is certainly reasonable (and where I would place the team as well), this could also be the floor for the team. The Dawgs boast one of the conference’s best players in Kamar Baldwin and he is surrounded by a more talented group than this past season. I would expect Butler to hover near the bracketology cutline throughout the year and their end result will depend on how well they close games.