Run it back? Butler fans can look to next year. There will be a lot less roster turnover.
Butler's hopes of working its way into the NCAA tournament ended Wednesday with a first round loss to Xavier in the Big East tournament.
There's the potential of an NIT invite, which has some appeal with the NIT's semifinals and final played at Hinkle Fieldhouse this year. But Wednesday's loss pretty much turned the page for next season.
Butler brought in nine players last offseason, completely remaking its roster for Thad Matta's second year in charge. This offseason figures to be a lot less volatile.
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Last week, just two players, Jalen Thomas and John-Michael Mulloy, were honored during senior night.
That could be telling because the Butler big men aren't the only seniors on the roster. Posh Alexander, DJ Davis, Jahmyl Telfort and Andre Screen are all seniors with another year of eligibility remaining because of the COVID year. Them choosing not to go through senior night could signal all four players plan to return next season, or at the very least, haven't closed the door on a return.
In today's transfer portal world things change quickly. But as of now, Butler is losing two scholarship players with one player — Brebeuf Jesuit guard Evan Haywood — committed for the Class of 2024. That gives Butler 11 scholarship players and two available scholarships remaining.
According to 247Sports, Butler's only open 2024 offer is to Daquan Davis, a four-star guard from Atlanta currently playing with Overtime Elite.
Butler has several offers out to top Class of 2025 recruits like Lawrence North guard Azavier "Stink" Robinson and Greenfield-Central guard Braylon Mullins. That seems to signal Butler's recruiting efforts are focused on 2025, and the transfer portal is likely how it will fill its roster.
If Butler gets all of Davis, Telfort, Alexander and Screen to return, while adding a complementary player or two in the transfer portal, finishing in the top half of the Big East should be the minimum expectation. Another year of continuity in Matta's system with players that have already logged extensive minutes of Big East basketball has the looks of an NCAA tournament team.
If one of the four fourth-year players chooses to turn pro or transfer, the Dawgs will still be in good shape. If all four players depart, Butler would be in its third roster reset in three years, forcing it to turn to underclassmen Finley Bizjack, Landon Moore, Augusto Cassia, Boden Kapke and Connor Turnbull and senior-to-be leading scorer Pierre Brooks II as its new core. Or Butler could attack the portal once again and hope to replicate the successful signings from the 2023 class.
Regardless of what happens this offseason, Matta's ability to quickly get new players up to speed should calm any fears of a roster reset hurting the program. High roster turnover isn't ideal, but it's becoming the norm in college basketball. If Butler's veteran nucleus returns, Bulldogs fans should feel free to let out a joyful shout, and plan to pack out Hinkle Fieldhouse for an exciting 2024-25 season.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Butler basketball roster 2024-25 won't have as much turnover
