Twitter - @ButlerWBB
Game Notes
INDIANAPOLIS – The 2015-16 regular season will get underway this Friday night as the Bulldogs host Valparaiso at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.
Gameday Information
Date: Friday, November 13, 2015 - 7:00 PM EST
Location: Indianapolis, Ind. – Hinkle Fieldhouse
Live Stats / Webcast: ButlerSports.com
Series History: Butler leads the all-time series over Valparaiso 22-8
Last Meeting: Valparaiso defeated Butler 91-57 during the 2014-15 season
About Butler
Kurt Godlevske returns to Butler for his second season as the head coach for the women's basketball program. The 2015 roster features 10 student-athletes, five of which are true freshmen. Senior leadership will be provided by Blaire Langlois and Belle Obert, the 2015-16 team captains. Langlois averaged 11.2 points and 2.3 assists a year ago while Obert hauled down 7.5 rebounds per contest and led the BIG EAST Conference in blocked shots per game (2.6). Langlois and Obert are slated to return to the starting lineup this year along with sophomore sharpshooter Sydney Buck. Buck was a unanimous selection to the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team last year after averaging 7.7 points per game. 63 of Buck's 79 made field goals came from behind the 3-point arc, making her one of the best 3-point threats in the conference.
The Bulldogs are in a unique situation this season as they head into the start of the regular season with six freshmen all prepared to log major minutes. Brittany Ward and Tori Schickel will add much needed depth to the front court while Michelle Weaver and Alexa Bailey will give Coach G a pair of young, talented point guards. The Bulldogs also have two athletic wing players in redshirt freshman Nicole Orr and true freshman Taylor Buford.
Scouting Valparaiso
The Crusaders were picked to finish 10th in the Horizon League after a vote from head coaches, sports information directors and media members. The good news for Valpo is that the team returns Preseason Second Team All-League selection Dani Franklin, a talented forward that earned Freshman of the Year and Sixth Player of the Year honors in 2014-15. Franklin averaged 13.0 points in just 22.4 minutes per game last season while firing off a 47.3 field-goal percentage, the HL's second-highest figure. Franklin is the only underclassman on either Preseason All-League team.
Teammate Jasmyn Walker is another piece to the puzzle for Head Coach Tracey Dorow giving the Crusaders a pair of sophomores in the front court that can do some damage. Walker grabbed 250 rebounds last year, a total that equaled the sixth-most in team history and the most ever by a freshman. Valpo lost point guard Jessica Carr and junior college transfer Sharon Karungi to graduation which in turn makes them a young team, much like Butler. Seven of the thirteen eligible players on the 2015-16 roster are underclassmen and five of the seven players will be making their Crusader debuts this fall.
All-Time Series
Butler leads Valparaiso in the all-time series 22-8. The Crusaders came away with a 91-57 win last year in the season opener at Valpo, but the Bulldogs held the upper hand in both the 2012-13 (69-55) and 2013-14 (65-50) meetings. The last time these two clubs faced off as members of the Horizon League was 2011-12. Valpo picked up two wins that year by sweeping the regular season series 58-53 at home and 72-59 at Hinkle.
Season Openers
Butler lost to Valparaiso in the 2014-15 season opener 91-57. The Bulldogs were short-handed in the contest and would eventually finish the game with only four players. Only seven 'Dawgs were able to dress for the first game of the season and after an injury and two players fouling out, Coach G would finish his coaching debut by playing a two-two zone. Blaire Langlois scored 20 points in a losing effort, while fellow Carmel, Ind. native Abby Dean would lead all scorers with 21. Butler's last win on opening day came the year prior with the Bulldogs recording an 85-69 win at home vs. Cleveland State.
Brittany Ward Named Preseason Freshman of the Year
Brittany Ward was tabbed Preseason BIG EAST Freshman of the Year after a vote from the league coaches. The highest ranked recruit in the conference (5-star, 97 Grade, Ward averaged 16.5 points, 10.9 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game as a senior. The three-time all-state honoree finished her Pike career with 1,498 points and 1,000 career rebounds.
Blaire Langlois Named Preseason All-BIG EAST
Langlois was named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team for the first time in her career. The combo guard is Butler's top returning scorer (11.2) and assist-provider (69). Her 2014-15 campaign was highlighted by a 32-point performance at Georgetown, which included a program-record nine three-pointers. She ended the year with three consecutive double-digit scoring performances, including 24 points against Villanova in the BIG EAST Tournament.
Follow the Bulldogs on Twitter
Bulldog fans can follow the team throughout the season on Twitter @ButlerWBB. Additional information can be found by visiting the website at ButlerSports.com
3-Point Tandems... Splash Sisters
Blaire Langlois and Sydney Buck were two of the top 3-point shooters in the BIG EAST. Each member of the duo placed their names in the Butler women's basketball record book by shooting the ball from distance at a high level. Langlois moved to fifth place at BU with 66 made 3-point field goals made in a single-season. Buck was close behind on the all-time list with 63 made 3-point field goals, a total that places her eighth all-time. Langlois and Buck also etched their names in the record book for most 3-point field goals attempted. The teammates will go in side-by-side, tied for sixth place all-time with 193 each.
Bulldog Bits
- Kurt Godlevske named Blaire Langlois and Belle Obert team captains for 2015-16
- Blaire Langlois is the top returning scorer on the team after averaging 11.2 ppg last year
- Belle Obert led the team and the BIG EAST Conference in blocked shots last year (2.6)
- Langlois was selected to the Preseason All-BIG EAST team
- BU returns three starters to the lineup in Langlois, Obert and sophomore Sydney Buck
- Three of the five freshmen on the roster were named to the Indiana All-Star Team
- Brittany Ward is the highest ranked recruit in the BIG EAST Conference (No. 34 overall)
- Ward was recognized as the Preseason BIG EAST Freshman of the Year
- The Bulldogs posted a 3-1 record during their Australia trip (Melbourne, Sydney, Cairns)
Probable Starters
#02 Blaire Langlois, 5-8 Guard… Senior from Carmel, Indiana
#03 Brittany Ward, 6-1 Forward… Freshman from Indianapolis, Indiana
#12 Sydney Buck, 5-7 Guard… Sophomore from Fort Wayne, Indiana
#22 Alexa Bailey, 5-7 Guard… Freshman from Bedford, Indiana
#25 Belle Obert, 6-2 Forward… Senior from Loomis, California
G'Day Mate
Butler took a 10-day trip to Australia in August allowing the Bulldogs to play four exhibition games in three different cities. Butler ended the trip with a 3-1 overall record. The lone setback came during the first game of the trip as the Melbourne Boomers held off a late BU charge to hold onto a 59-56 win. Butler stayed in Melbourne to defeat Victoria Select 96-42 the next day. Butler's second stop was in Sydney where the team defeated the Blaze 79-54. The last stop on the tour sent the Bulldogs to Cairns where Butler defeated the Dolphins 78-67.
Welcome Back Belle Obert
Belle Obert joined the Butler women's basketball program last season after completing a stellar volleyball career for the Bulldogs. Standing at 6-2, Obert went from competing as one of the best outside hitters in the BIG EAST Conference in volleyball, to becoming one of the best defensive forwards in the conference during basketball season. Obert earned All-Conference, All-Region, and honorable mention All-America honors in volleyball and quickly transitioned into a member of the Butler starting five during the month of November where she led the team and the BIG EAST Conference in blocked shots per game (2.6).
Godlevske Makes a Splash with 15-16 Recruits
Kurt Godlevske added five talented student-athletes to the program in the off-season. Brittany Ward (5-Star), Alexa Bailey (3-Star), Tori Schickel (3-Star), Michelle Weaver (3-Star) and Taylor Buford will all fight for playing time this season in an attempt to impact the team during their rookie seasons:
Brittany Ward - 97 Scouts Grade, Ranked 34th Overall, 6th Position Rank
Tori Schickel - 90 Scouts Grade, 17th Position Rank
Michelle Weaver - 90 Scouts Grade, 22nd Position Rank
Alexa Bailey - 90 Scouts Grade, 33rd Position Rank
Prime Time
Butler will play three games on national television this season with all three contests coming at home inside Hinkle Fieldhouse. FS2 will pick up coverage between Butler and TCU on Dec. 1 and the 'Dawgs will return to FS2 when they host Seton Hall on Feb. 19. The lone contest on FS1 will be against DePaul on Friday, Jan. 15.
Challenging Schedule
The Bulldogs will play four teams that reached last year's NCAA Tournament and three programs who participated in the WNIT. Tournament teams from a year ago include Chattanooga, South Florida, Green Bay and Arkansas. WNIT teams on this year's schedule include TCU, Wright State and Ball State.
Familiar Foes
Five of Butler's 11 2015-16 non-conference opponents appeared on last year's schedule. Butler posted wins over Ball State and Wright State, but fell to Valparaiso, Chattanooga and Indiana State. Godlevske put an emphasis on playing top competition this year during the early stages of the season. Signature matchups include hosting TCU, Green Bay and Arkansas at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Up Next
The Bulldogs will play at Chattanooga on Sunday, Nov. 15. The Mocs are currently receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll and are ranked No. 25 in the AP Poll. The game will tip at 2 p.m.
