The 2017–18 Butler Bulldogs men's basketball team represented Butler University in the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They were coached by LaVall Jordan, in his first year as head coach of his alma mater. The Bulldogs played their home games at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana as members of the Big East Conference. They finished the season 21–14, 9–9 in Big East play to finish a tie for sixth place. As the No. 6 seed in the Big East tournament, they defeated Seton Hall before losing to Villanova in the semifinals. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 10 seed in the Midwest region. There they defeated Arkansas in the first round before losing to Purdue in the second round.
Previous season The Bulldogs finished the 2016–17 season 25–9, 12–6 in Big East play to finish in second place. They lost to Xavier in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament. The team received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as a No. 4 seed in the South Region. They defeated No. 13 Winthrop and No. 12 Middle Tennessee to advance to the Sweet 16. In the Sweet 16, they lost to eventual National Champion North Carolina.
On June 9, 2017, head coach Chris Holtmann left the school to become the head coach at Ohio State. On June 12, the school hired Milwaukee head coach and Butler alum LaVall Jordan as head coach.
Off season
Departures Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes Steven Bennett 25 G 6'3" 190 Senior New Castle, IN Graduated Andrew Chrabascz 45 F 6'7" 230 Senior Portsmouth, RI Graduated Tyler Lewis 1 G 5'11" 170 RS Senior Statesville, NC Graduated Trey Pettus 10 G 6'4" 200 Senior St. Louis, MO Graduated Kethan Savage 11 G 6'3" 205 RS Senior Alexandria, VA Graduated Avery Woodson 0 G 6'2" 190 Senior Waynesboro, MS Graduated
2017 recruiting class Butler originally signed five recruits in its 2017 class which was hailed as the best recruiting class in Butler history. Following Chris Holtmann's departure, however, top-rated recruited Kyle Young was released from his letter of intent and followed Holtmann to Ohio State. On October 8, 2017, Cooper Neese announced he would be transferring to Indiana State before the season began.
Preseason In a poll of Big East coaches at the conference's media day, the Bulldogs were picked to finish in eight place in the Big East. Senior forward Kelan Martin was named to the preseason All-Big East First Team.
Roster
Schedule and results
!colspan=12 style=| Spain Exhibition Trip
!colspan=12 style=| Exhibition
!colspan=12 style=| Non-conference regular season
!colspan=9 style=|Big East regular season
!colspan=9 style="|Big East tournament
!colspan=12 style=| NCAA tournament
Rankings
*AP does not release post-NCAA tournament rankings
Awards Name Award(s)Kelan MartinPreseason All-Big East First TeamBig East Player of the Week – Nov. 13Big East Player of the Week – Jan. 2Lute Olsen National Player of the Week – Jan. 2Big East Player of the Week – Jan. 15All-Big East First TeamTyler WidemanBig East Sportsmanship Award
References