Butler is ranked #11 in preseason poll

[landrus13]

I am a Bulter Bulldogs fan and they are currently ranked #11 in the CBS sports preseason poll for the 2009-10 season. They will also play Ohio State, Xavier, and UCLA. The Bulldogs haven't played the Sycamores since the 2008 season, when Butler defeated the Trees.

What are some of your thoughts?

 

[IndyTreeFan]

I couldn't care less...

 

[Eleven]

I am a Bulter Bulldogs fan and they are currently ranked #11 in the CBS sports preseason poll for the 2009-10 season. They will also play Ohio State, Xavier, and UCLA. The Bulldogs haven't played the Sycamores since the 2008 season, when Butler defeated the Trees.

What are some of your thoughts?

Considering that the series is split 2-2 over the last 4 years, I'm sure that ISU would LOVE to play Butler...

 

[BlueBleeder]

I am a Bulter Bulldogs fan and they are currently ranked #11 in the CBS sports preseason poll for the 2009-10 season. They will also play Ohio State, Xavier, and UCLA. The Bulldogs haven't played the Sycamores since the 2008 season, when Butler defeated the Trees.

What are some of your thoughts?

My thought is that Butler has become the same "pansy-ass" type team that many of the "upper echelon" BCS schools have become. They are scared to continue playing Indiana State in fear of being beat by an "inferior" opponent. Of course, especially this year, i don't believe State will be much of an inferior opponent to anyone. I wish Butler had to guts continue playing us, because i believe it would have been one hell of a game this year.....but I digress.

 

[landrus13]

Butler has been a lot better over the years than Indiana State, and they will continue to be but these next few years will be statement seasons for Indiana State, to prove if they can play with the best in the MVC.

 

[Sackalot]

Recent years (10 lets say) Butler has been a very successful program..but I can remember when they were absolutly horrible. They haven't been a powerhouse for all that long at all. But I, for one, am glad to see it. Butler is a great school with a long history (way back they were great). ISU has most certainly competed with Butler everytime ISU has played them in the recent past. I think it is good instate competition that is good for ISU if it can happen.

 

[landrus13]

I'd like to see Butler play Indiana sometime soon.

 

[Sackalot]

Butler should wipe the floor with IU....but then, basketball is a great sport because any team can win any night...

 

[Sycamore Proud]

I certainly hope you don't think the Horizon League is as strong as The Valley.:talktohand::krazy: You would then have no credibility at all.

 

[landrus13]

Where did I say the Horizon League was better than the MVC?

 

[True Blue]

Actually, I think we are 3-1 against Butler in the last 4 games. I know we beat the last Graves boy 3 out of his 4 years. Who can forget Schnitker's game winner at Hinkle!

 

[SycfromBirth]

Selective Memory

You may or may not recall that the last time ISU beat Butler at HC (2006-2007), ISU was the beneficiary of a hard Jay Tunnell foul on A.J. Graves (their leading scorer at the time). Tunnell actually ended up poking Graves in the eye late in the first half (thus the 17-5 run) noted in the attached recap from the game. http://www.gosycamores.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=65150&SPID=7259&DB_OEM_ID=15200&ATCLID=872388
Graves returned in the second half, but was much less effective.

The following year (2007-2008) at Hinkle Fieldhouse, I was one of the few ISU fans present for the 76-48 beat-down that Butler delivered. (Graves poured in 26 points, BTW).

I will say that in 2005-2006, I was also at Hinkle for the Tyson Schnitker 30 foot buzzer beater to give ISU the 59-58 win. That was a truly SWEET win back then.

Yes, I miss playing Butler. Yes, we can definitely compete with Butler at the HC, but, I think playing at Hinkle Fieldhouse would be an uphill struggle (to get beat by 10-15).

I have accepted that Butler has been trying to play a stronger schedule over the last few years. Playing in the Horizon League hurts them a great deal. While they did drop ISU during the past couple years, they have been scheduling SIU, Bradley, and ISU-red over that span.

If we play as well as we should this year, it will be a no-brainer for ISU and Butler to resume their rivalry. It is a "cheap" game from a travel standpoint.

 

[bent20]

It would be nice to see Butler get a chance at a bigger conference (although I don't know what that would take), but much like Boise State in football, why do it if you're doing well enough where you are?

 

[Sycamore Proud]

Where did I say the Horizon League was better than the MVC?

No! Did I say you did?

 

[4Q_iu]

It would be nice to see Butler get a chance at a bigger conference (although I don't know what that would take), but much like Boise State in football, why do it if you're doing well enough where you are?

Well other than the obvious difference in the NCAA MBB Tourney (win the crappy MCC, oops I mean Horizon) and you're off to the Dance!

Boise St is effectively banned from the BCS due to the BCS structure; though they may break in again this season

In a sidenote; some non-BCS fans have formed a football playoff PAC (political action committee) think lobbyist... their goal is to get Congress involved and end the BSC farce

 

[4Q_iu]

Guess they're sold out...

Sometime in the past 3-4 seasons; Butler beat iu, nd and purdue but was beat by STATE

Butler was selling 'Indiana State Champion' t-shirts,' had an outline of the state w/ the scores scattered in relation to iu, nd and purdue on the map.

Somehow, they 'overlooked' the loss to STATE! :naughty:

I just checked their bookstore website -- looks like they've stopped selling them

 

[xfactor9600]

My thought is that Butler has become the same "pansy-ass" type team that many of the "upper echelon" BCS schools have become. They are scared to continue playing Indiana State in fear of being beat by an "inferior" opponent. Of course, especially this year, i don't believe State will be much of an inferior opponent to anyone. I wish Butler had to guts continue playing us, because i believe it would have been one hell of a game this year.....but I digress.

Perhaps they don't want a hit to their RPI?

 

[Jason Svoboda]

Perhaps they don't want a hit to their RPI?

They kept Ball State, who had one of the worst RPIs in the country.

 

[xfactor9600]

They kept Ball State, who had one of the worst RPIs in the country.

Yes, but are they required by Indiana law to play at least one "state" school per year? I know Ohio has a similar law. I can't remember if Indiana forced all the public institutions to play a state school or not?

 

[Jason Svoboda]

Yes, but are they required by Indiana law to play at least one "state" school per year? I know Ohio has a similar law. I can't remember if Indiana forced all the public institutions to play a state school or not?

But if it were an RPI issue, why wouldn't they keep ISU and drop Ball State? Methinks it may have a bit to do with the fact that Ball State has been an easy win for them for a long while... a nice tune up before the conference slate.

They also play Evansville frequently, too.