For Butler, Success Lies In Bulldog Defense

STINGIEST SCHOOLS

Butler coach Brad Stevens credits his team's 24-game winning streak to its defense, which is among the nation's top 10 and hasn't allowed more than 70 points in a game since Dec. 8.

Team Opp. PPG

1. Princeton (22-9) 53.3

2. Northern Iowa (30-5)55.1

3. Temple (29-6) 56.8

4. Wisconsin (24-9) 56.9

5. USC (16-14) 57.2

6. Old Dominion (27-9) 57.5

7. Delaware St. (17-12) 58.3

8. Arizona St. (22-11) 58.7

9. Butler (32-4) 59.6

10. Saint Louis (23-11) 59.7

Ronald Nored exhaled deeply during a phone interview Tuesday, sighing in relief at not being asked yet again about the similarities between Butler and the movie Hoosiers.


The sophomore guard understands the novelty — and can almost appreciate it — but he and the Bulldogs don't see their having reached the Final Four in Indianapolis, just seven minutes or so from campus, as a case of serendipity. Rather, it's the result of commitment to defense.

The sophomore guard understands the novelty — and can almost appreciate it — but he and the Bulldogs don't see their having reached the Final Four in Indianapolis, just seven minutes or so from campus, as a case of serendipity. Rather, it's the result of commitment to defense.

Butler hasn't lost since a 67-57 setback at UAB on Dec. 22, which means the Horizon League champions are undefeated in 2010 and have won 24 straight.

The Bulldogs, who allow an average of 59.6 points per game, haven't given up more than 70 since Dec. 8 and have been downright oppressive in March. Foes this month have averaged 55 points in six Butler victories, including four in the NCAA Tournament.

This is what Nored didn't mind discussing, fitting since he was the Horizon's co-Defensive Player of the Year.

“Our defense is a team defense, and it consists of five guys' will to do their job for every second of every possession,” he said. “We've had two years together, and we know each other's strengths. We don't try to do more than we should, and we try to make it tough for the opponent to score.”

Nored admits it's an odd collection of talent. Glance at Butler's roster, and there isn't much size — 6-9 sophomore Gordon Hayward, the Horizon Player of the Year, is the tallest Bulldog who logs significant minutes.

How it all meshes, however, is remarkable.

Senior Willie Veasley, listed as a guard/forward, is 6-3, and coach Brad Stevens likens him to Rockets forward Shane Battier. Hayward is a former high school tennis star who sprouted 10 inches between his freshman and senior years. Junior forward Matt Howard is 6-8, and 6-3 sophomore guard Shelvin Mack and Nored, at 6-0, round out the starting five.

Nored usually draws the opponent's top backcourt threat. He hounded Kansas State junior guard Jacob Pullen, the Wildcats' leading scorer, into 4-of-13 shooting in the West Regional final. Howard and Mack generally take similarly sized players if possible. But in consecutive games Veasley has defended Syracuse's Wesley Johnson and K-State's Denis Clemente.

“He went from an NBA lottery pick to the fastest guard in college basketball,” Nored said of Vealey's last two assignments.

Hayward, with his quick feet, is of the rare breed comfortable inside and out — on offense and defense.

“Gordon was covering guards all season, but then in the Tournament, he's matching up with 4s and 5s,” Nored said. “Our versatility allows us to do so many different things.”

As does their preparation. In addition to Pullen, Nored also faced Syracuse's Andy Rautins last weekend. The Butler sophomore gave up four inches to the Orange senior, who led his team with 15 points but also turned the ball over five times.

Because Stevens and his coaching staff are huge proponents of analytical study — a la Daryl Morey and his Rockets think tank — tons of film is pored over. It's condensed into seven-minute DVDs in which every shot a foe has taken is included, and tendencies are discovered.

“Pullen is a great shooter off the dribble,” Nored said. “He shoots that pull-up jumper off his left hand. He's great going to his left. After watching extra footage, that was the focus for me. Rautins was the same way — they both shoot it well going to the left, so it was crazy.”

Stevens knows that even if his shooters go cold, defense doesn't have to take a night off.

“One of the things that I really believe about these tournaments, your margin for error decreases — there's no question about it — as you play better teams,” he said. “ The team that sticks to their plan, that does what they do as well as they can for 40 minutes, has a great chance of winning.”

By JEFFREY MARTIN
Copyright 2010 Houston Chronicle