Big East Basketball: Preseason conference power rankings 2023-24
10. Butler Bulldogs
Last season: 14-18, 6-14 in the Big East
Head coach Thad Matta had a rough go of things in his return to the sidelines with the Butler Bulldogs in his first season. Things could remain the same for them with just three returners from last year’s 14-18 squad as begin at No. 10 in the preseason conference power rankings. They’ll have six new names out of the portal to get acclimated to things in the conference, though two already have Power 6 experience.
Senior forward Jalen Thomas is the lone returner from last year’s team with starting experience in the lineup. 6-foot-10 big man Connor Turnbull returns for his second season after appearing in 22 games in 2022-23. They’ll have to rebuild their entire starting rotation in a talented Big East landscape in Coach Matta’s second season.
Posh Alexander (St. John’s) is one addition out of the transfer portal who should help. He’s a gritty two-way presence who produced 10.2 ppg, 4.2 apg, 3.9 rpg and 2.0 spg across 30 appearances with the Red Storm in 2022-23. He’s a former Big East Defensive Player of the Year who should help turn things around in the backcourt with experience in the conference already under his belt.
Pierre Brooks (Michigan State) is another name who could boost their backcourt with two seasons of Big Ten experience under his belt. He’s a 6-foot-6 guard/wing who posted 3.6 ppg and 1.7 rpg across 30 appearances (5 starts) for the Spartans. If he improves his efficiency and understanding of the game with Butler, he’s another piece for them who could grow.
Finley Bizjack is a 6-foot-4 freshman guard who could boost their backcourt if his transition to college basketball goes well. He posted 28.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg and 3.6 apg as a high school senior and proves to be a terror shooting the ball on the perimeter with nice length.
After winning just six games in conference play in 2022-23, the Bulldogs could find themselves in a similar fashion in 2023-24. Butler won three of their final 11 games to end the slate this past season. They’ll need to improve on that figure this upcoming year to call the season a success in Year 2 under Coach Matta.