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BIG EAST Conference preview: Marquette the team to beat

By Erica Ayala

MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 07: Marquette Golden Eagles guard Allazia Blockton (11) looks inside during the Big East Women's Championship Game between the DePaul Blue Demons and the Marquette Golden Eagles on March 7, 2017 at the Al McGuire Center in Milwaukee, WI. (Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 07: Marquette Golden Eagles guard Allazia Blockton (11) looks inside during the Big East Women's Championship Game between the DePaul Blue Demons and the Marquette Golden Eagles on March 7, 2017 at the Al McGuire Center in Milwaukee, WI. (Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 04: Butler Bulldogs forward Tori Schickel (34) shoots free throws to tie the game during a Big East Tournament game between Xavier Musketeers and the Butler Bulldogs on March 04, 2017, at the Al McGuire Center in Milwaukee, WI. (Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Butler Bulldogs forward Tori Schickel (34) (Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Butler

Preseason predicted ranking: 8th, down two spots from 2016-17 finish

2016-17 Record: 2-16

2016-17 Overall Record: 6-25

Biggest Losses:

Alexa Bailey will not return to Butler, opting instead to play at the University of Indianapolis, a Division II school.

Key returners:

Junior and team captain Tori Schickel will be a focal point again for the Bulldogs. She averaged 14.6 points and 11.7 rebounds in 31 games last season, and posted 11 double-doubles in her sophomore campaign.

She is joined by sophomore guard Kristen Spolyar (12.8 ppg) and junior Michelle Weaver (10.2 ppg).

Newcomers:

Butler adds two transfers: Whitney Jennings from Iowa and graduate student Iman Lathan from Cal State Fullerton. Alisha Aube is the lone freshman.

Head coach: Kurt Golevske returns for his fourth season with the Bulldogs. He spent two years with the program as an assistant before taking over for the 2014-15 season. He has a career record of 30-62 (.326) while at Butler.  Of 16 wins in the past two seasons, only 6 have come against BIG EAST opponents.

Godlevske has coached championships teams in girls and boys basketball and led NCAA Division II Lake Superior State University to a 36-19 record in two seasons.

Key non-conference games:

The Bulldogs will face West Virginia (15) and Virginia Tech at the Paradise Jam next month before opening conference play against Xavier on December 29.

Outlook: 

Butler struggled last season, earning only two wins within the conference. The inability to win in conference is an Achilles heel for BIG EAST teams, it would appear. Non-conference play will prove important, but the Bulldogs hope for their first top 5 BIG EAST finish since 2015.

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