Butler Basketball: Previewing Jordan Tucker’s impact for 2019-20

On the defensive end…

This is where Jordan Tucker will need to make the most substantial improvements. Over the course of last season, Tucker struggled to consistently defend at a high level and that hurt the team. It is important to mention, though, that Butler’s entire frontcourt was disappointing on the defensive end of the floor. The defense at the power forward and center slots this year should be vastly improved with Bryce Nze and Derrik Smits joining the rotation as transfers seeking potential starting spots.

Tucker will likely be relegated to defending his natural position on the wing as a result and will have better help defense behind him. Additionally, I will reiterate that he now has actual collegiate experience under his belt. This, along with another complete offseason with the coaching staff, should lead to defensive improvement for Tucker. He will not have to be an elite stopper but making strides on this end would make him a far more well-rounded player capable of seeing the floor for >30 minutes per game.

It is important to mention in this section, though, that Tucker is a great defensive rebounder for his position. He reads misses well and uses his athleticism to leap for boards. Tucker led the team in defensive rebounding rate last season at 21.4% and should continue to be valuable on the glass.

There is a very real chance that Butler’s starting lineup features four players that are all above-average rebounders for their positions: Baldwin, Tucker, Nze, and Smits. The Dawgs could really be a tough team on the glass this year.

Strong defensive rebounding has been a staple of Butler basketball for many years but it was missing last season. There could be a resurgence in that statistic in 2019-20.