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.