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Post by Non Alum Dave on Oct 26, 2019 14:46:35 GMT -5
When you look at returning production, it's not unreasonable to place HC at the bottom. However, I take issue when he talks of HC's talent level. Of the players on this year's roster, 5 have never played in a collegiate game, and 2 have played sparingly. How would he know how talented they are? At any rate, means nothing. The writer does provides quite a bit of info. One other thing: he seemed to infer Loyola was in the league when Jimmy Patsos was coach. Not so.
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Post by spenser on Oct 26, 2019 15:56:29 GMT -5
Since it is an exhibition against Assumption, I'm guessing no tickets needed and since the first regular home game is 11/12 vs. Fairfield, no rush for tickets. Announced at the game today. No tickets needed.
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Post by hchoops on Nov 1, 2019 8:34:04 GMT -5
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Post by sader1970 on Nov 1, 2019 8:53:02 GMT -5
I don't know if this will produce any more wins but it should be much more entertaining to watch.
"Incredibly young roster" - you got that right with only 1 senior and one who didn't play much at that. The future looks a lot brighter than the past or even the present.
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Post by hchoops on Nov 1, 2019 16:38:57 GMT -5
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Post by HCFC45 on Nov 3, 2019 7:00:05 GMT -5
From today's Telegram:
Men’s college basketball: Tough Holy Cross guard Austin Butler ready to lead Crusaders
By Jennifer Toland
Telegram & Gazette Staff
Posted Nov 2, 2019 at 8:50 PM
WORCESTER — Austin Butler, as it turns out, played most, if not all, of Holy Cross’ 2018-19 season with a torn labrum in his right (shooting) shoulder.
The discomfort didn’t stop Butler from starting every game, averaging 12.6 points and 4.1 rebounds and making 40 percent of his 3-point attempts.
“That kind of gives you an idea of how tough he is,” first-year Holy Cross coach Brett Nelson said.
Butler had surgery in April, was cleared to start shooting in mid-August, and OK’d for 5-on-5 drills by the time the Crusaders opened practice in September. He is still rehabbing and strengthening his shoulder, but he certainly seemed to be in top form during HC’s exhibition game against Assumption last week.
Butler, a junior guard, scored 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds.
“It feels better than it did last year, that’s for sure,” Butler said. “It’s all good now. It’s fixed and it’s stronger than before. I’m excited to be out there after six months of not really being able to do much.”
Holy Cross opens the 2019-20 season Tuesday at Maryland, and the Crusaders are enthusiastic to get things going under Nelson, who was hired in July to replace Bill Carmody. Carmody retired in June after coaching Holy Cross for four seasons.
Nelson’s Crusaders will feature up-tempo offense and man-to-man defense, a switch from Carmody’s Princeton offense and matchup zone defense, and Butler, for one, is excited to get back to that style.
“Absolutely,” Butler said. “It’s what I’ve been used to since high school, getting up and down and playing man-to-man and kind of having a little more freedom on offense to drive the ball. We’re going to play fast but disciplined and it starts on the defensive end, so that’s our focus. The main thing is just guarding the basketball because once we get stops and rebounds it will transition into our offense.”
Since cracking the starting lineup as a freshman, the 6-foot-5, 212-pound Butler has been known for his all-out, tenacious style. That stood out to Nelson immediately.
“The thing about Austin,” Nelson said, “is he really cares. He really wants to be good. He’s a total team guy. He’s a competitor. He’s able to play through bangs and bruises. He’s going to give his body up for the team. He’s going to give you everything. As a coach you love that. I think it rubs off on other players. What you see (from Butler) in games is what you see every day in practice.”
Butler played in 30 games with 21 starts as a freshman and earned All-Patriot League Rookie Team honors. He scored in double figures 23 times last season.
Butler was part of a six-member class that also includes teammates Kyle Copeland, a guard, and Connor Niego and Matt Faw, both forwards. Former classmates Caleb Green and Jacob Grandison transferred from Holy Cross after last season, Green to Fairfield and Grandison to Illinois.
“Our class was really close.” Butler said, “but we have to keep moving forward. We’re learning and getting better and better each day.”
In Jehyve Floyd, who graduated, Grandison and Green, the Crusaders lost three of their top four scorers from last season. HC’s roster features five freshmen and five sophomores. Guard Clayton Le Sann is the only senior.
As HC’s most experienced player, Butler will be counted on for leadership.
“He’s growing into that role,” Nelson said. “I need him to become one of the main leaders of the group. For him, it’s been mainly leading by action; he’s had some upperclassmen here in the past. For him now, it’s his turn to do it, not only with his actions but verbally taking ownership of the program and running with it.”
Butler, Niego, freshmen Joe Pridgen and Drew Lowder, and sophomore Marlon Hargis started against Assumption, but Nelson said that starting lineup is not set in stone.
“It’s fluid,” Nelson said. “I base everything off of practice and we’ll continue to evaluate practice. We could have multiple starting lineups at different points in the year. As I’ve told the guys, the strength of our team is our team. We’re probably not going to have one ‘star.’ We all have to be in it together.”
In the exhibition, freshman Ryan Wade played 27 minutes off the bench. Le Sann and Copeland were held out due to injuries.
Following the Maryland game, the Crusaders play at UNH on November 9. Holy Cross plays Fairfield in its home opener November 12.
Nelson said the freshmen are making strides and the team has shown improvement on both sides of the ball.
“That’s encouraging,” Nelson said. “We still have a long way to go. We will be a lot different in January that we are in November. This team just has to continue to have a good attitude like they have, continue to work and buy in, and work hard in practice.”
—Contact Jennifer Toland at jennifer.toland@telegram.com. Follow her on Twitter @jentandg.
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Post by sader1970 on Nov 3, 2019 7:39:11 GMT -5
I have loved Austin's style of play right from the start. He reflects that all-around athlete he is including his football pedigree. NAD and I used to keep score how many times he hit the floor in a game. If he hadn't literally hit the hardwood at least 4-5 times in a game, I'd think his game was "off."
Hope he is made a team captain - officially.
Thanks for sharing the article, 45.
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Post by hchoops on Nov 3, 2019 8:50:16 GMT -5
Interesting that the starting lineup is fluid. From the exhibition I would expect Butler, Pridgen, and Lowder are pretty much locks,. The frontcourt might be more fluid, but .Hargis .certainly had a good first half. We probably will not go with a smaller lineup vs Maryland, so possibly two of Niego, Verbeek and Faw might start that one, and then a smaller lineup, inc Hargis, vs UNH and SH But as Wade showed in the exhibition, minutes off the bench may exceed the starters’ minutes.
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Nov 3, 2019 9:09:48 GMT -5
That's a nice article on Austin Butler. You have to love the passion he brings to his play, and he's not just a scrapper, he's a very talented player. I recall saying that last season and one of our board cynics just would not buy it, suggesting that AB was just ordinary at best. With the new style of play I think AB will move forward this year, perhaps especially with rebounding as I and others have predicted previously.
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Post by hchoops on Nov 4, 2019 15:47:10 GMT -5
The 2019-20 fact book is not on line. What are the odds that it will be there tomorrow before the season opener ?
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Nov 4, 2019 20:38:08 GMT -5
A letter from head coach Brett Nelson 11/4/19
Good afternoon! I am very excited about our season opener tomorrow night at Maryland. It will be a great challenge for our team and we will be attacking every game with a one play at a time mentality. The players have improved every week and are adjusting to our system and style of play. Our focus in practice has been on the fundamentals, pace and aggressiveness on both ends, and being a connected group. I like the way our players have attacked practice everyday with an eagerness to learn and compete. The upperclassmen (Austin Butler '21, Kyle Copeland '21, Matt Faw '21, Clayton Le Sann '20, Connor Niego '21) have been good with helping the new players and underclassmen adjust to college basketball, both on and off the court. A few weeks ago, we had an open practice for Holy Cross Basketball Alumni and it was a great turnout! It was awesome having former players in the gym interacting with the current team. As always, former players are always welcome in our gym and we look forward to more of you coming in the future.
With one day left before our first game, I am excited to start this journey with this team and look forward to growing everyday. Hope to see you all soon! Brett Nelson Head Coach
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Post by rgs318 on Nov 5, 2019 7:11:03 GMT -5
Sounds as though he will have the players well prepared for a major challenge. GO CROSS GO
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Post by timholycross on Nov 5, 2019 9:53:35 GMT -5
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Post by Tom on Nov 5, 2019 10:12:38 GMT -5
Of the three MA teams HC will play, HC's ceiling of wins is below BU and Harvard's floor for wins. 85 percent of Crossporters think HC will do better than this guys 7 win prediction. I hope we know something he doesn't and it's not just purple glasses
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Post by hchoops on Nov 5, 2019 10:14:22 GMT -5
some ceilings and floors are false ones
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Post by Tom on Nov 5, 2019 11:29:59 GMT -5
some ceilings and floors are false ones The Globe's floor was 2 wins. With one game against a D-III opponent, if that's a false floor and we don't get to two wins, even the most patient fans will be grabbing their torches and pitchforks
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Post by Ignutz on Nov 5, 2019 13:15:23 GMT -5
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Post by Sons of Vaval on Nov 5, 2019 18:34:14 GMT -5
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