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NCAA Basketball: Top 10 takeaways from first week of 2022 offseason

By Tristan Freeman

Mar 26, 2022; San Francisco, CA, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Eric Musselman looks on during warmups before the game against the Duke Blue Devils in the finals of the West regional of the men's college basketball NCAA Tournament at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 26, 2022; San Francisco, CA, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Eric Musselman looks on during warmups before the game against the Duke Blue Devils in the finals of the West regional of the men's college basketball NCAA Tournament at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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Thad Matta poses with Blue at Hinkle Fieldhouse
Thad Matta poses with Blue at Hinkle Fieldhouse /

9. Butler hires Thad Matta, lands big transfer

When the Bulldogs fired head coach LaVall Jordan so late in the offseason, it looked as if they were going to have a complete exodus of players. However, the recent hiring of former Ohio State head coach Thad Matta seems to have been viewed positively by the Butler Basketball players.

To this point, only Bryce Golden has officially left the team, now off to Loyola-Chicago of the Atlantic 10. But several other key pieces have already announced their intentions to remain with Butler, while also landing someone from the transfer portal.

6’8 forward Ali Ali was an All-MAC player this past season for Akron, averaging 13.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg, and 2.9 apg, while shooing 46% from the field and over 40% from three-point range. He started out the season with 17 points in a near-upset over Ohio State and had a career-high 32 points against Buffalo, including 16/22 from the free throw line.

Ali will boost Butler’s three-point shooting, coming off a year of ranking 322nd in NCAA Basketball. And it also signals Matta’s strength in the midwest, which isn’t a surprise considering the success he had at Ohio State before health problems forced him out. But he’s one of the better coaches in NCAA Basketball and will be a good hire for the Bulldogs long-term.

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