Butler Basketball: 2024-25 season preview for the Bulldogs
By Jack Gutzler
Schedule Preview
Non-Conference Schedule
11/4 - Missouri State (H)
11/8 - Austin Peay (H)
11/11 - Western Michigan (H)
11/15 - SMU (H)
11/22 Merrimack (H)
11/28 - Northwestern (N, Arizona Tip-Off)
11/29 - Mississippi State/UNLV (N, Arizona Tip-Off)
12/3 - Eastern Illinois (H)
12/7 - Houston (A)
12/10 - North Dakota State (H)
12/14 - Wisconsin (N, Indy Classic at Gainbridge Fieldhouse)
Big East Schedule
12/18 - Marquette (A)
12/21 - UConn (H)
1/1 - Villanova (H)
1/4 - St. John's (A)
1/8 - Providence (A)
1/11 - Creighton (H)
1/15 - Seton Hall (H)
1/21 - UConn (A)
1/25 - DePaul (H)
1/28 - Marquette (H)
1/31 - Georgetown (A)
2/5 - Seton Hall (A)
2/8 - Providence (H)
2/15 - Georgetown (H)
2/18 - Xavier (A)
2/22 - DePaul (A)
2/26 - St. John's (H)
3/1 - Villanova (A)
3/5 - Xavier (H)
3/8 - Creighton (A)
Schedule Outlook
Butler is set to have a few non-conference tests ahead of the always challenging Big East slate. Their non-conference schedule is highlighted by opponents such as SMU, Northwestern, Mississippi State/UNLV, Houston, and Wisconsin. The road matchup versus Houston will easily be Butler's toughest non-conference matchup, and presents a golden opportunity for a signature non-conference win. Houston is ranked in the top 5 in the preseason rankings, and will evidently be an extremely challenging matchup for Butler. Northwestern, Mississippi State, UNLV, and Wisconsin are all solid teams as well, and will also present quality win opportunities for Butler.
The Bulldogs' Big East schedule is relatively straightforward as per usual, with Butler playing all conference opponents twice. Butler will open conference play on the with a road game Marquette on December 18. Last year, Butler had a surprising upset road victory over Marquette and they will look to do the same this year. Butler will host the defending back-to-back national champion UConn Huskies for their Big East home opener on December 21. Last season, the Bulldogs nearly upset UConn in Hinkle Fieldhouse, but ultimately came up just short. Butler will close out conference play with their final home game versus Xavier on March 5 before wrapping up the regular season altogether on March 9 at Creighton, another building where Butler had an upset victory last season. The 2025 Big East Tournament will be played from March 12 to March 15, and the Bulldogs will play at least one additional conference opponent there.
Butler's postseason fate will be determined following the Big East Tournament, and given there will be additional postseason tournaments this year, there is a good chance Butler will play postseason basektball. In addition to the NCAA Tournament, NIT, and CBI, a new postseason tournament known as the College Basketball Crown is set to be played next year, and will feature multiple teams from the Big 12, Big East, and Big Ten.