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Butler Basketball: Keys to success against Wofford in 2019-20

By Lukas Harkins

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 30: Head coach Lavall Jordan of the Butler Bulldogs is seen during the game against the Villanova Wildcats at Hinkle Fieldhouse on December 30, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 30: Head coach Lavall Jordan of the Butler Bulldogs is seen during the game against the Villanova Wildcats at Hinkle Fieldhouse on December 30, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 09: Thompson/Baldwin of the Bulldogs fight. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 09: Thompson/Baldwin of the Bulldogs fight. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

1. Prioritize the 3-point line on both ends.

It is no secret that Wofford is one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the country. Even in the absence of Fletcher Magee this season following his graduation, this team is going to absolutely let it fly from beyond the arc. Head coach Jay McAuley looks poised to continue the same perimeter-centric, ball-movement heavy offensive scheme in his first season leading the program. The Terriers boast an abundance of high-quality threats from beyond the arc and seemingly all of them have the greenest light in the country.

Nathan Hoover is clearly their top shooter as he is attempting 8.3 3-pointers per game this season but Storm Murphy and Tray Hollowell are both also launching 5+ threes per game so far. To put their strong shooting into context, every single player in the Wofford rotation has made at least one 3-pointer through the team’s first three games except for big man Chevez Goodwin.

Wofford’s offensive scheme centers around movement. They pass the ball at an elite level and are constantly running around screens to create open looks from beyond the arc. Magee was clearly the top shooter on the roster last season but Hoover is definitely ready to fill that role in 2019-20. With his elite catch-and-shoot abilities and consistent motor running all over the court offensively, Butler will have him at the top of its scouting report for this battle.

In order to slow down Wofford’s offensive attack, Butler’s guards and wings will need to stay locked in for the entire contest. Even if the Dawgs are able to open up an early lead, the Terriers’ 3-point shooting could bring them back from just about any deficit. As a result, Butler will need to remain diligent in prioritizing the 3-point line defensively.

Butler’s starting guards, Aaron Thompson and Baldwin, are both regarded as elite-level stoppers on the perimeter and should be tasked with covering Wofford’s top options. Additionally, watch for defensive specialist Henry Baddley to play significant minutes in this one off the bench. Baddley might not be a major offensive threat but the senior is a vocal leader defensively and can give AT/KB a break by chasing around screens for 10-15 minutes in this contest. He plays with a great motor on that end of the floor.

Butler prides itself on defensive discipline this season and that will need to show against Wofford. You would be hard-pressed to find a team that runs more complex and effective offensive sets than the Terriers. Wofford is very tough to cover in the halfcourt and that is not something you can say about a lot of teams.

In addition to deploying every option to slow down Wofford’s high-powered offense from beyond the arc, Butler could look to bury their fair share of threes as well. While the Dawgs definitely have a size advantage in the paint (more on how they can use that later), they also feature a pair of elite sharpshooters in Sean McDermott and Jordan Tucker on the perimeter. McDermott, in particular, is scorching hot to begin this season but has been limited to just 12 total shot attempts in Butler’s last two games.

Wofford has struggled to contain superb perimeter shooting teams over the past few years and making their defenders run around screens and exert effort on that end of the floor could be crucial. McDermott and Tucker’s off-ball movement on the offensive end could not only free up looks for them from distance but also work as a method of draining Wofford’s energy. In this case…offense might be the best defense. Tired legs take tired shots (in reference to the Terriers).

Look for Coach Jordan to heavily emphasize sets that involve every player on the court for Butler. Thompson will dictate the pace, the bigs can distribute from inside or out, the shooters can run around screens or cut to the rim, and Baldwin has the ability to take over when necessary. Butler’s versatility could be on full display in this one while keeping Wofford’s relatively porous defense on its toes all night long.