Butler Basketball: 2023-24 season preview for the Bulldogs

Schedule Preview

Non-Conference Schedule
11/6 – Eastern Michigan (H)
11/10 – Southeast Missouri State (H)
11/13 – East Tennessee State (H)
11/17 – Michigan State (A, Gavitt Tipoff Games)
11/23 – Florida Atlantic (N, ESPN Events Invitational)
11/24 – Penn State or Texas A&M (N, ESPN Events Invitational)
11/26 – Iowa State, VCU, Boise State, or Virginia Tech (N, ESPN Events Invitational)
11/30 – Texas Tech (H, Big East-Big 12 Challenge)
12/9 – California (H)
12/15 – Saginaw Valley State (H)

Big East Schedule
12/19 – Georgetown (H)
12/23 – Providence (A)
1/2 – St. John’s (A)
1/5 – UConn (H)
1/10 – Marquette (A)
1/13 – Seton Hall (H)
1/16 – Xavier (A)
1/20 – DePaul (H)
1/23 – Georgetown (A)
1/27 – Villanova (H)
2/2 – Creighton (A)
2/6 – UConn (A)
2/10 – Providence (H)
2/13 – Marquette (H)
2/17 – Creighton (H)
2/20 – Villanova (A)
2/24 – Seton Hall (A)
2/28 – St. John’s (H)
3/2 – DePaul (A)
3/6 – Xavier (H)

Schedule Outlook

Butler is set to face off against several tough non-conference opponents to start the season. The two most important matchups will come in back-to-back games against two potential preseason AP top 15 teams in Michigan State and Florida Atlantic.

Michigan State may be be the toughest of these two matchups for the Dawgs given the Spartans could very well be ranked in the top five when the two teams face off. Additionally, the game will be played in East Lansing, a notoriously tough environment for any opposing team. Meanwhile, the Florida Atlantic game will take place on a neutral site as part of the opening around of the ESPN Events Invitational. Despite the game taking place on a neutral site, the matchup will still be an extremely challenging matchup for Butler given Florida Atlantic nearly returning their entire roster to from last year’s Final Four team.

Regardless of the outcome in the Florida Atlantic game, Butler will also face off against two other opponents in the ESPN Events Invitational, with at least one of those opponents having made an appearance in the 2023 NCAA Tournament.

Following the ESPN Events Invitational, Butler will have back to back home games against two more power conference opponents in Texas Tech and California. While Texas Tech is coming off a down year last season, they significantly improved their roster this offseason while also hiring former North Texas head coach Grant McCasland.

Meanwhile, California is coming off a historically bad season that saw them post a 3-29 record. The matchup is part of a home-and-home series between the two school, with Butler defeating California on the road last season by a score of 82-58. While California will also be led by a first-year head coach in Mark Madsen, the program remains in the midst a significant rebuild and the game will likely sway in Butler’s favor.

The Bulldogs won’t see any changes to their Big East schedule when compared to past seasons, and Butler will face off against all other Big East schools twice. While the Dawgs’ non-conference schedule will present many challenges and crucial matchups, their performance in Big East play will remain the most vital part of Butler’s season.