So how did Jimmy get the bloody nose?

[muwarrior69]

I stepped away from the TV and when I came back, the refs took Jimmy out of the game for a bloody nose. What happened? Was a fowl called?

[d6]

I believe it was Pondexter who came down with an elbow square on Butler's nose.  It was under the basket and happened on Pondexter's follow through down low.  It wasn't a foul, but it did cause Butler to clutch his face while Pondexter got the board and made the putback.  Not dirty.  Not a foul.  But definitely a shot square on the nose.

[chren21]

Is it me or did Butler have his worst game of the season?

[thatman32]

Is it me or did Butler have his worst game of the season?

Yeah Butler had a horrible game.  He played very soft and the results show!  This offseason he needs to grow a pair and not be afraid of contact, hit the weights, and work on his post up game.  He probably lost weight during the year too which is very problematic.

[HoopsMalone]

Yeah Butler had a horrible game.  He played very soft and the results show!  This offseason he needs to grow a pair and not be afraid of contact, hit the weights, and work on his post up game.  He probably lost weight during the year too which is very problematic.

I don't know if I would say Jimmy needs to grow a pair.  He initiated contact all year and had the courage to hit some game winning shots.  He banged with bigger guys all season.  He certainly has courage.

He did disappear a little bit out there yesterday and towards the end of the year.  People may have figured out what he does to get good looks.  He had a few nice takes but did not finish them. 

The whole team needs to hit the weights.  He and DJO need to add a consistent 12 foot jumper because they both run in to people a lot when trying to get all the way to the basket. 

[d6]

I don't want to come across as a Butler apologist, but does anyone else think the claim that Butler is soft is unfounded?  I think it may be fair to argue that Butler needs to finish more, but to argue that he's soft doesn't make sense, at least to me.  Butler was essentially our center this year.  He had to guard PFs and Cs all year.  If he was as soft as people seem to be arguing, we would have been about 12-24.  Butler initiates contact and got to the foul line at one of the highest rates in the country.  That is not a result of being soft.  Last night, I think Pondexter was simply more athletic, and was quicker to the ball.  While Butler may not have had a great game, that doesn't make him soft. 

[chapman]

I don't want to come across as a Butler apologist, but does anyone else think the claim that Butler is soft is unfounded?  I think it may be fair to argue that Butler needs to finish more, but to argue that he's soft doesn't make sense, at least to me.  Butler was essentially our center this year.  He had to guard PFs and Cs all year.  If he was as soft as people seem to be arguing, we would have been about 12-24.  Butler initiates contact and got to the foul line at one of the highest rates in the country.  That is not a result of being soft.  Last night, I think Pondexter was simply more athletic, and was quicker to the ball.  While Butler may not have had a great game, that doesn't make him soft. 

I guess it all depends on what you mean by "soft".  He takes a beating, so he's certainly tough.  But as far as dishing out a beating, not so much.

[DCWarriors04]

Yeah, but we're talking about Butler, who is a 3, matching up against other teams 4s and 5s. Of course he's going to get beat up, he's undersized. Last night was the first time in a LONG time that I can remember Marquette matching up against a team that size wise was similar to us. Most nights everyone on the team is shorter than the player they're matching up against.

[ATWizJr]

Yeah Butler had a horrible game.  He played very soft and the results show!  This offseason he needs to grow a pair and not be afraid of contact, hit the weights, and work on his post up game.  He probably lost weight during the year too which is very problematic.

I don't remember all this criticism when he was hitting game winners.  Check yourself dude.  He's a wing forced to play against 4's and 5's.

[patso]

It was a foul. I saw it live and on th`e replays. And the other team shot two

[thatman32]

I don't remember all this criticism when he was hitting game winners.  Check yourself dude.  He's a wing forced to play against 4's and 5's.

If your going to play against 4's and 5's(especially if your driving into the lane and expecting some sort of contact) then you have to get some And1s and he doesn't get a lot . . but he draws some fouls.  Too often, as one poster stated above, he has to dish out some pain to others and he just doesn't because he is not strong enough. 

I have no qualms with him hitting game winners in fact I'm proud of him but in the most important game of his college career he played soft and not well.  The tape doesn't lie.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Jimmy F*ckin Butler wanted to play with the bloody nose. 

Jimmy F*ckin Butler ain't soft.

Jimmy F*ckin Butler could have played better yesterday.

[g0lden3agle]

If your going to play against 4's and 5's(especially if your driving into the lane and expecting some sort of contact) then you have to get some And1s and he doesn't get a lot . . but he draws some fouls.  Too often, as one poster stated above, he has to dish out some pain to others and he just doesn't because he is not strong enough. 

I have no qualms with him hitting game winners in fact I'm proud of him but in the most important game of his college career he played soft and not well.  The tape doesn't lie.

Being in the top 3 in the BEast in FT attempts/game is good enough by me...

[4everwarriors]

I'm pretty sure he was Kleinschmidting his nose in the huddle during a timeout.

[ATWizJr]

Being in the top 3 in the BEast in FT attempts/game is good enough by me...

Yeah, drawing enough contact to be in the top 3 is shows he's got plenty of toughness and is obviously not afraid of contact.  The exact opposite of what is being claimed.

[willie warrior]

This is a sorry thread.

It is well documented previously on this board that Butler's main weakness is that when he is fouled he does not finish at the basket. That is likely a strength thing. He does go to the FT line a ton.

That is the player that he is. He is a slasher, and needs to work on the weights. He is one of our studs, so let's not get carried away with the rest. and bench him or whatever it is some are hinting at. Besides, this year who else did we have to do the banging down low, besides Lazar. That is not Butler's game, but he did it.

[thatman32]

Yeah, drawing enough contact to be in the top 3 is shows he's got plenty of toughness and is obviously not afraid of contact.  The exact opposite of what is being claimed.

I like how you guys talk about what he did during the big east season.  I guess people will do anything to justify a their argument . .  even when its pathetic.  Lets talk about the NCAA game that MU just lost(the most important game of the year).  Last time I checked the NCAA tournament is more important the big east season.  If anything the big east season is prequel to the real season.  If you watched the NCAA game you would realize that Jimmy is soft.  I stand by that argument and i don't care what he did during the big east season because the last time I checked the big east teams have absolutely sucked during the tournament which further dissolves your argument of the importance of the big east season. 

[g0lden3agle]

I like how you guys talk about what he did during the big east season.  I guess people will do anything to justify a their argument . .  even when its pathetic.  Lets talk about the NCAA game that MU just lost(the most important game of the year).  Last time I checked the NCAA tournament is more important the big east season.  If anything the big east season is prequel to the real season.  If you watched the NCAA game you would realize that Jimmy is soft.  I stand by that argument and i don't care what he did during the big east season because the last time I checked the big east teams have absolutely sucked during the tournament which further dissolves your argument of the importance of the big east season. 

So instead of looking at an entire body of work, we should be looking at just the most recent game? Makes sense.

[tower912]

Yup, by that reasoning Bill Self and Jay Wright should be fired.