We continue our recruit and return series with the Butler Bulldogs, whose season ended Saturday with a 77-69 loss to Virginia in the second round. A look at what the 2016-17 season could hold:
Possible 2016-17 starting five (statistics reflect regular season average)
G: Tyler Lewis (6.2 PPG, 3.0 APG)
G: Kethan Savage (transfer from George Washington)
G: Kelan Martin (16.1 PPG, 6.8 RPG)
F: Andrew Chrabascz (10.1 PPG, 4.2 RPG)
C: Tyler Wideman (7.7 PPG, 5.7 RPG)
Who is lost: Kellen Dunham, Roosevelt Jones and Austin Etherington are all gone from this season's lineup. Dunham is a two-time All-Big East selection who led the conference in 3-point shooting and was sixth in points per game this season. He has been a major offensive weapon for the Bulldogs for the last few years and the type of guy who you can run plays for in the half court. More than that though, he was also known for being a great teammate and consummate program-first type of player. The loss of Jones is no less substantial. He too played a major leadership role on this team as a fifth-year senior, but his versatility was virtually unmatched. A second-team All-Big East performer, he finished among the top 15 ranked Big East players in seven different categories. He was Butler's third-leading scorer at over 14 points per game, led the team in assists at just under five per game and also was second in rebounding at just under seven per game. Combine that with his ability to play multiple positions on both ends of the floor and Butler isn't likely to find any one player capable of plugging as many holes as Jones. Etherington, a second-year transfer from Indiana, provided consistent rotation minutes and a quality 3-point shooter at the forward positions off the bench.
Who is added: Butler welcomes a four-player recruiting class that might not have an ESPN 100 product but does feature balance, depth and a pair of four-star prospects who will both be capable of playing consistent rotation minutes as freshmen. Six-foot-10 big man Joey Brunk will have the luxury of learning behind Chrabascz and Wideman as a freshman but should gradually be the type of player who can develop into a signature piece as an upperclassman. Howard Washington is a versatile guard who is as skilled as he is cerebral and also uniquely experienced. He might have the most immediate opportunity next season and could be capable of playing both on and off the ball. Scoring guard Kamar Baldwin and athletic swingman Henry Baddley could also challenge for playing time on the perimeter as well. The Bulldogs' most notable addition will come via the transfer market as Savage will become eligible after sitting out this season. The former George Washington guard was a stat-stuffer in the Atlantic 10, starting 25 games and averaging almost 12 points and five rebounds. Sean McDermott, a big 6-6 wing, could also contend for a spot in the rotation after redshirting this year as a freshman.
What it means for next season: Butler was a team that was in many ways led by a big three of sorts this season in Dunham, Jones and Martin. With Dunham and Jones both leaving, Martin will be asked to build off his sophomore season and take over as the team's primary offensive threat as a junior. A second-team All-Big East selection, he led the team in both scoring and rebounding during conference play and now will need to do it as the primary focus of opposing scouting reports on a nightly basis. That won't be the only change for the Bulldogs next season. They'll go from a team that carried the majority of their firepower on the perimeter, albeit big and versatile guards, to one that will now be far more experienced on the interior with the return of Chrabascz and Wideman to the starting lineup. Lewis will need to step up and provide stability at the point guard position, and Savage will also be relied on to step right in and make an immediate contribution as another probable starter in the backcourt. The team's depth will fall, in large part, upon the four-man freshman class, as there will undoubtedly be minutes available to earn.
Trending: Level. There are major changes in store for Butler next season, but coach Chris Holtmann still returns his starting frontcourt and one of the better players in the conference in Martin. If he can get consistent play from his backcourt, the Bulldogs are again likely to find themselves in the middle of the conference and contending for a spot in the NCAA tournament.