Butler Basketball: Setting 2020 offseason priorities for the Dawgs

VILLANOVA, PA - JANUARY 21: Bryce Golden #33, Aaron Thompson #2, Bryce Nze #10, and Jordan Tucker #1 of the Butler Bulldogs huddle against the Villanova Wildcats at Finneran Pavilion on January 21, 2020 in Villanova, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 01: Tucker of the Bulldogs talks. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

1. Determine Tucker’s final NBA Draft decision.

After a season in which he averaged 8.9 points per game in Butler’s sixth-man role, Jordan Tucker declared for the NBA Draft on March 26th. He did leave open the option to potentially return to Indianapolis for his senior year, though. Figuring out that final decision, in my opinion, should be the first priority for Butler this offseason. This is due to the potential impact that he could have as a returner and the scholarship implications that his decision will have on the offseason.

If Tucker chooses to return, he could easily be the team’s best scorer in addition to being the lone returning perimeter shooting threat. While the Dawgs are returning three starters, none of them are especially well-known as scorers. Bryce Nze will be Butler’s top returning scorer (regardless of Tucker’s decision) but he is mostly limited to making his impact at the rim and thus shouldn’t be expected to be the primary option offensively.

So even though Tucker struggled with efficiency last season with shooting splits of just .357/.357/.791, he would likely be “the guy” for the Dawgs as a senior. Tucker would obviously be welcomed back to Butler as he would fill a crucial starting role on the perimeter. He would be the team’s top returning 3-point shooter (by a mile) and would be the focal point of the offense.

Butler’s scholarship situation for this coming season is also greatly impacted by Tucker’s decision. The Dawgs will either have one or two scholarships open depending on if he returns to school and knowing that number would be very beneficial to the staff’s pursuit of potential transfers – namely, they could take a risk on a sit-out addition while also adding an immediately-eligible piece if they have two scholarships open.

Coach Jordan has indicated that the staff is helping Tucker through the evaluation process, so it is likely that they already have an idea of whether or not he will be returning.