another insider article talks about both VCU and Butler's additions into the A-10 in a list of the 10 most significant changes this season. http://insider.espn.go.com/mens-col...her-significant-conference-changing-teams-ncb talking about the differences between us and Butler . . .
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6a2zcaFI71qbmigqo1_1280.jpg totally, balls-to-the-wall NSFW just for you Finance Their professors are alright! (Ignore the OSU shirt, that's a Butler prof, courtesy of www.meinmyplace.com)
Somebody needs to contact Dr. Rao, so we can compete at this level of academia. Dr. Rao should go to rate my professor, and see the "hotness" rating for potential professor positions. Equal opportunitily yours, Gopher+RamFan
That's a really good point made in the insider article and one that is in-step with the other recent article out of Philly regarding VCU's transition into the A-10
This year's Butler team will not be as good as the 09/10 Final Four team, but will be every bit as good (much deeper) than the 10/11 Final Four team. (Adjusted Defensive rank of 28 from a year ago Id guess will be in the single digits this season) I sincerely hope that VCU has as successful of a campaign as is hoped for. I really have no doubt that Butler will be playing in a 5th Sweet 16 this decade. It would be nice to see other conference teams do like. As an aside, you would think someone at ESPN could actually look something up. Over the last 5 years, Butler's NSOS rank (Pomeroy) has been - 22nd (07/08), 41st (08/09), 1st (09/10), 7th (10/11), and 32nd (11/12) Literally every year Butler plays one of (if not the) hardest schedules in the country (Itll be Top 5 again this year) In context, VCU was 128th, 73rd, 159th, 25th, and 48th during that same time period.
I have no problem believing that. Much like VCU's Final Four team in 2011, Butler was fairly underwhelming for most of the regular season (by Final Four team standards) and likely would not have gotten an at-large bid had they not won the Horizon outright. I could see Butler with Rotnei Clarke and the post-Final Four classes being deeper than that squad.
What is Butler's scheduling philosopy, specifically regarding playing BCS teams at their place without a return home game? This has been a constant source of disagreement on these boards.
Hinkle Fieldhouse is a historic venue in a state where basketball is undoubtedly the top dog in the sports pecking order. We don't quite have that luxury. Butler also gets Power Six teams to play against them in HnH series because they don't play a crazy full-court-press defense that keeps coaches up at night trying to prepare for it. Never trust a writer from ESPN to do his homework. Ever. As for my evaluation of Butler, I still think they have a ways to go. I don't see Rotnei Clarke as the answer. I don't see how one catch-and-shoot guard will solve all of the issues their faltering offense had last season. "Sweet Sixteen"? Maybe, but in the NCAA Tournament anything can happen depending on matchups and momentum. I see Butler as a team that might get in the dance as a 10 or 11, but when you say "Sweet Sixteen" you're almost implying that they'll have a top-4 seed (i.e. a position where they'll be favored to actually reach the second weekend of the Tournament). Sorry, but I just don't buy it.
