Butler Basketball: 2019-20 season preview for the Bulldogs

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 20: Kamar Baldwin #3 of the Butler Bulldogs dribbles the ball while being guarded by Brendan Bailey #1 of the Marquette Golden Eagles in the first half at the Fiserv Forum on February 20, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

1 of 13

DETROIT, MI – MARCH 18: Coach Jordan of the Bulldogs reacts. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Butler basketball missed the Big Dance last season but there are reasons for optimism heading into 2019-20. What’s the outlook for this campaign?

Butler basketball has been one of the nation’s most consistently successful programs over the past several years. With that said, though, the Dawgs find themselves in somewhat unfamiliar territory this season as they are fresh off a first-round exit in the NIT in 2018-19. Butler’s fanbase has grown accustomed to reaching the NCAA Tournament and last season was definitely a disappointment. This is especially true considering the Dawgs were a bubble team throughout most of the campaign before tumbling down the stretch.

With the majority of their roster returning for this coming season, as well as the arrival of a four-star freshman, there are reasons for optimism heading into this campaign. Head coach LaVall Jordan is now starting to fill the roster with more of his own pieces and his system should be fully implemented this season. Kamar Baldwin is back as Butler’s senior star and he will look to carry the team to the Big Dance. He is already poised to end his career as an all-time great with the program but could significantly raise his profile by going out with a bang.

Butler was picked to finish eighth in the Big East this season but it would not be a major shock to see the team outperform that slot. The Dawgs will be very experienced and feature arguably the third-best player in the conference. Additionally, the arrivals of three key newcomers should raise the ceiling tremendously for the squad.

It might be cliché and/or biased to say that Butler is being underrated but I think that might be the case. The Dawgs are essentially a bubble team from last season returning the vast majority of their key contributors while also adding a trio of impact pieces. Most of the other teams in the nation with similar backgrounds are projected to dance this season. KenPom agrees with this assessment as well with Butler’s preseason ranking of No. 33 in the nation.

Now, without any further ado, let’s dive a bit deeper into Butler’s projections for this campaign. This season preview will break down Butler’s roster, rotation, storylines to watch, schedule, and overall outlook. Let’s dive in.