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Butler Basketball: Setting 2020 offseason priorities for the Dawgs

By Lukas Harkins

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)
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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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 13: Thompson of the Bulldogs handles. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 13: Thompson of the Bulldogs handles. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /

5. Determine who the go-to player will be.

Butler will win its fair share of games during this coming season if it plays team basketball and prioritizes elite defense and offensive ball movement. When it comes down to crunch time, though, there needs to be a gameplan for who will take command of the game. Kamar Baldwin simply epitomized clutch during his time with the program and his killer mentality will surely be missed most at the end of close games. In his absence, the Dawgs will need to find someone else to turn to.

Jordan Tucker might be the best option on paper considering his size at 6-foot-7 and three-level scoring ability. In order to truly emerge as the go-to player, though, he will need significantly improve as a finisher at the rim. That is, of course, if he even elects to return for his senior season as we have already discussed the likelihood that he will be playing professionally somewhere next year.

Even if Tucker returns, though, senior point guard Aaron Thompson might be the one to have the ball in his hands. Although not a threat to score from beyond the arc, Thompson is an excellent attacker and smart decision-maker. He will not turn the ball over in a crucial moment and he does an excellent job probing the inside. He can force defenses to adjust and that makes him very dangerous. If AT is the go-to player, then Butler will be completely embracing team basketball as it is possible he is simply the one setting up a shot rather than taking one himself.

When it comes to potential darkhorses for this role, freshmen Scooby Johnson and Myles Tate immediately come to mind. These two were go-to players throughout their high school careers and are proven winners. Both can score from distance and should be able to win their one-on-one matchups at the collegiate level. Tate, especially, already exudes confidence with an excellent step-back that very few defenders can keep up with.

A transfer could also possibly be the go-to player, but we do not know who that addition will/could be yet.

Next. Butler's 2021 Recruiting Big Board. dark

That concludes this look at Butler’s potentially biggest priorities for this 2020 offseason. With at least one open scholarship left to work with and an NBA Draft decision to monitor, there are many questions surrounding the next few months. There should also be a brewing excitement for the campaign as fans will be able to see the program’s highly-touted freshmen take the court.