It would be a lie if we said we had no hopes for Butler basketball this season. After finishing 18-15 last year, going 9-11 in the Big East, and still managing to snag a postseason NIT bid (though getting bounced in the first round), it felt like there was a lesson learned. And for a moment, as this season began, it seemed like they got the memo. With Caitlin Clark’s boyfriend, Connor McCaffery, stepping in as an assistant coach, the Dawgs stormed into the season with a six-game winning streak. But then? Well, it all started to feel like a rerun of the same old story.
Butler, entering the third year of Thad Matta’s second stint as head coach, saw some departures, but they also brought in reinforcements. Guard Jamie Kaiser Jr., forward Patrick McCaffery, and guard Kolby King joined the squad. Pierre Brooks also returned for his second season, and Matta believed these additions would bring serious improvements.
Then came a brutal, seemingly never-ending nine-game losing streak, and any whispers of “improvement” disappeared fast. The Dawgs stumbled their way to a 14-19 overall record, landing as the 8th seed in the Big East. Not exactly the comeback tour we were hoping for.
And that wasn’t enough to get them onto the March Madness bracket. Even with Caitlin Clark’s “lucky charm” effect, Butler’s season wrapped up with a whimper. This led to Butler AD Grant Leiendecker laying down the law in a statement: “Our goal and expectation continues to be nothing short of competing at the highest levels of college basketball — consistently making NCAA Tournament appearances and building on our proud tradition.”
A message from Butler AD, Grant Leiendecker:
“Our goal and expectation continues to be nothing short of competing at the highest levels of college basketball — consistently making NCAA Tournament appearances and building on our proud tradition.”#DawgsOnly pic.twitter.com/abAnyJIv9L
— Butler Basketball Guru (@ButlerGuru) March 26, 2025
Basically, what he meant was missing March Madness is simply not acceptable. And, honestly, it’s a fair demand. Butler has a history of being a powerhouse, so the recent struggles sting. Back in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, they were a national threat. From 2006 to 2012, they were consistently ranked and made the postseason every year (except a couple of blips in ‘04, ‘05, and ‘14). Remember 2010? They made it to the national championship game!
That’s the legacy they’re trying to reclaim, but right now, they’re barely treading water. After finishing eighth last year (just one spot above their previous season’s finish) and landing in the same position this year, this climb is going to be massive. Sure, the Dawgs improved slightly compared to Matta’s first year, but it’s not nearly enough. They need more, and they need it fast.
For now, though, Butler’s season isn’t entirely over. They’ve accepted an invite to The College Basketball Crown in Las Vegas, a 16-team tournament hosted by Fox Sports for squads that didn’t make the NCAA Tournament. Six teams are coming from the Big Ten, Big 12, and Big East, with the rest determined by NET rankings. Butler faces Utah in the first round on March 31. If they win, they’ll face the winner of George Washington vs. Boise State.
Let’s see if they make something of it or fizzle out yet again. Meanwhile, Caitlin Clark’s Iowa women didn’t exactly get their fairytale ending either.
Caitlin Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes meet an icy end
Iowa rolled into their second-round NCAA Tournament matchup against Oklahoma with confidence. After stacking a solid February and a strong Big Ten Tournament showing on top of their opening-round win over Murray State, the Hawkeyes believed they could hang tough. But belief wasn’t enough.
Their margin for error was razor-thin. They didn’t need a miracle, but they did need a clean game to put pressure on Oklahoma late. That didn’t happen.
Iowa actually started strong, dropping 10 quick points in the first three minutes. But after that, the offense turned ice-cold. The Hawkeyes didn’t hit another field goal in the first quarter, and Oklahoma pounced, closing out the period up 20-11. If Lucy Olsen wasn’t hitting, the possessions just died. Over the final 16 minutes of the first half, Iowa managed just one field goal from someone other than Olsen. Oklahoma, on the other hand, was relentless.
Even when Olsen hit a three right before halftime, giving Iowa a sliver of hope, the Sooners snuffed it out immediately. Iowa never got within single digits again after the third quarter’s 8:52 mark. By the fourth quarter, they were staring at a brutal, season-ending deficit.
Final score: Oklahoma 96, Iowa 62. And just like that, Iowa’s shot at reaching the Sweet 16 for a third straight year evaporated. So, while Butler’s season technically trudges on in the secondary tournament, Caitlin Clark’s alma mater’s run has officially come to a close. And in both cases, the season didn’t end the way they’d hoped.
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