NCAA BK

Wed, Feb 13, 2013 - 7:00 PM ET
Game Preview
 

Charlotte-Butler Preview

Share This Story

Updated Feb 12, 2013 5:45 PM ET
     
 

Butler coach Brad Stevens and Charlotte coach Alan Major are Indiana natives who have differing opinions on how the absence of another person from the Hoosier State will impact their upcoming Atlantic 10 matchup.

The 11th-ranked Bulldogs will be without Andrew Smith when they look to improve to 13-0 at home Wednesday night against the 49ers.

Stevens and Major are not only both from the state, they are also former assistants under Thad Matta. Stevens was Matta's assistant at Butler and Major served in that role at Xavier and Ohio State.

Major is returning to his native Indianapolis, where Smith also hails from.

The Butler center is unavailable with an abdominal injury suffered in Saturday's 59-56 victory at George Washington. The 6-foot-11 Smith is second on the Bulldogs (20-4, 7-2) with 11.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.

"Andrew's not only one of our best offensive players but also one of our best defenders," said Stevens, who has been told the injury is not long term. "With Charlotte coming in here, Charlotte prides itself on winning the battle of the paint so certainly that presents a great challenge for us."

Major, in his third season with the 49ers (17-6, 5-4), doesn't expect Smith's absence to be to his team's advantage.

"It may affect things in terms of their rotation and who we match up but outside of that, it may not have a huge effect on the game," Major said. "I expect Butler to be the same old Butler."

Stevens is concerned about defending 6-9 forward Chris Braswell, averaging a team-high 11.8 points, and the 6-8 Willie Clayton, who is shooting 58.0 percent and grabbing 6.9 rebounds per game.

"Braswell is an accomplished guy with about 1,300 points and certainly a lot of those baskets in the paint," Stevens said. "Clayton is as good of an offensive rebounder and low-post scorer as we've played all season. It's going to be a great challenge for us, especially with a man down."

Stevens has not named Smith's replacement in the starting lineup, with Erik Fromm a likely candidate. Butler leads the A-10 in rebound margin at plus-7.8.

The Bulldogs have experience without one of their stars, going 2-1 in January without top scorer Rotnei Clarke.

"Just like when Rotnei was out, we've got to step up by committee and just hopefully play as well as we can," Stevens said.

Butler, off to its best home start since finishing 15-0 in 2009-10, nearly blew a 17-point second-half lead Saturday against a Colonials team that starts four freshmen.

Charlotte is also very young, with two freshmen and two sophomores joining the senior Braswell in its starting five. The 49ers enter after losing consecutive games for the first time, falling 68-61 to Virginia Commonwealth on Saturday.

"I'm happy with how our young guys have been thrust into some roles in which they've had to do a lot and they've done a nice job up to this point," Major said.

Charlotte leads the all-time series 2-1. These teams last met in 1993.

Tagged: Charlotte, Butler, Chris Braswell, Andrew Smith

Related Stories

Member Comments

Please note by clicking on "Post comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be Polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.

powered by


Trending Now

Stories | Photos | Lists | Videos

NCAA BK Videos

Kansas lands top recruit Posted: May 14, 2013
Reid Forgrave on Kansas landing top recruit Andrew Wiggins. Find out if he think...

Burke bolts for NBA after 2 season Posted: Apr 14, 2013
Wooden Award winning guard Trey Burke talks about opting to head to the NBA afte...

Zeller to enter NBA draft Posted: Apr 11, 2013
Hear what Indiana's Cody Zeller has to say about entering the NBA draft.

MORE FOXSPORTS VIDEO »

Fox Sports Store

    itemName itemURL imageSrc price itemDescription
    Nike Florida Gators #1 Replica Elite Basketball Jersey - Black http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Florida_Gators/browse/featuredproduct/885881/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_885000/ff_885881_xl.jpg&w=100 74.95 Nike Florida Gators #1 Replica Elite Basketball Jersey - Black
    Nike Georgetown Hoyas #22 Hyper Elite Road Performance Jersey - Navy Blue http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Georgetown_Hoyas/browse/featuredproduct/1030243/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1030000/ff_1030243_xl.jpg&w=100 119.95 Nike Georgetown Hoyas #22 Hyper Elite Road Performance Jersey - Navy Blue
    Nike Duke Blue Devils #5 Tourney Takeover Replica T-Shirt - Duke Blue http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Duke_Blue_Devils/browse/featuredproduct/1032710/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1032000/ff_1032710_xl.jpg&w=100 27.95 Nike Duke Blue Devils #5 Tourney Takeover Replica T-Shirt - Duke Blue
    Nike Oregon Ducks X-Ray Ball T-Shirt - Green http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Oregon_Ducks/browse/featuredproduct/1052002/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1052000/ff_1052002_xl.jpg&w=100 24.95 Nike Oregon Ducks X-Ray Ball T-Shirt - Green
    Nike Ohio State Buckeyes Road Warrior Tri-blend T-Shirt - Scarlet http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Ohio_State_Buckeyes/browse/featuredproduct/1052645/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1052000/ff_1052645_xl.jpg&w=100 29.95 Nike Ohio State Buckeyes Road Warrior Tri-blend T-Shirt - Scarlet
    Indiana Hoosiers 2013 NCAA Men\'s Basketball Road to March Madness T-Shirt - Crimson http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Indiana_Hoosiers/browse/featuredproduct/1124528/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1124000/ff_1124528_xl.jpg&w=100 19.95 Indiana Hoosiers 2013 NCAA Men\'s Basketball Road to March Madness T-Shirt - Cri..
    adidas Louisville Cardinals 2013 March Madness #10 Premier Swingman Jersey - Red http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Louisville_Cardinals/browse/featuredproduct/1127200/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1127000/ff_1127200_xl.jpg&w=100 89.95 adidas Louisville Cardinals 2013 March Madness #10 Premier Swingman Jersey - Red
    adidas Notre Dame Fighting Irish 2013 March Madness #45 Premier Swingman Jersey - White http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Notre_Dame_Fighting_Irish/browse/featuredproduct/1127218/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1127000/ff_1127218_xl.jpg&w=100 89.95 adidas Notre Dame Fighting Irish 2013 March Madness #45 Premier Swingman Jersey ..
    Nike Gonzaga Bulldogs March Madness Bracketville T-Shirt - Navy Blue http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Gonzaga_Bulldogs/browse/featuredproduct/1155821/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1155000/ff_1155821_xl.jpg&w=100 24.95 Nike Gonzaga Bulldogs March Madness Bracketville T-Shirt - Navy Blue
    Top of the World Miami Hurricanes 2013 NCAA ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament Champions Adjustable Hat – Green http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Miami_Hurricanes/browse/featuredproduct/1177723/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1177000/ff_1177723_xl.jpg&w=100 25.95 Top of the World Miami Hurricanes 2013 NCAA ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament Cham..
Microsoft© 2013 Microsoft