Da'Sean Butler
Encyclopedia
Da'Sean Butler is an American professional basketball
player for the San Antonio Spurs
and was on assignment in the NBA D-League for the Austin Toros
. In November 2011 he joined for trial period to Latvian Basketball League club Rīgas VEF. Butler was drafted 42nd overall by the Miami Heat
in the 2010 NBA Draft
.
, Butler had 15 points and nine rebounds off the bench, then had eight points against Arkansas
. He had 9 points against North Carolina State, then 10 points and six rebounds against Duquesne
. Butler scored 14 points against The Citadel
, 16 points against UConn, 7 points against Villanova
, and then six points against St. John's. He then scored 9 points and a season-high 10 rebounds against Notre Dame
, followed by 12 points and six rebounds against South Florida
. Butler then had 14 points and 8 rebounds against Cincinnati
, 17 points against Rutgers, and a team-high 14 points against Pittsburgh
in the Backyard Brawl
. In the huge upset win over UCLA, Butler had 13 points, while scoring 17 points against Louisville
in the Big East
Tournament. The Mountaineers eventually made it in the NIT
Tournament, and all the way to the finals. In the finals win against Clemson
, Butler had 20 points, as the Mountaineers were named NIT champions.
Butler was named to the all-Big East freshman team, while leading the Mountaineers to an NIT Championship. Butler averaged 10.1 points per game, averaging 23.3 minutes per game off the bench, while also averaging 3.5 rebounds per game.
announced he would be leaving West Virginia University
to take the head coaching position at the University of Michigan
. Soon after, former head coach of Kansas State
's basketball team and former West Virginia alumnus, Bob Huggins
announced he accepted an offer to coach at West Virginia.
In the season-opening exhibition game against Mountain State
, Butler earned his first career start as the Mountaineers won 88–65. Butler scored 16 points and added 8 rebounds and three assists as he and fellow guard Darris Nichols both went into double-digits in points. In the season-opener against Arkansas-Monticello
, Butler scored 14 points while also grabbing a season-high 9 rebounds. In the 72–74 loss to Tennessee
, Butler happened to score 16 points and grab 7 rebounds, while he scored 13 in the victories over New Mexico State and Auburn
. Butler scored a season-high 18 points against Duquesne
, while also grabbing 8 rebounds. He then scored 14 points against Maryland County, grabbing 9 rebounds, and Radford University
, and then scored 10 against Canisius
.
In the 88–82 loss to Oklahoma
, Butler scored 15 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. In the loss to Notre Dame
, Butler only scored 8 points but did grab 5 rebounds. Then in the victory over Marquette
, Butler scored 13 points with 5 rebounds, but in the loss to Louisville
he only scored 8 again. In the victory over Syracuse, Butler grabbed 6 rebounds to go along with his 13 points. Butler was key in the St. John's victory with 19 points and 9 rebounds. Butler recorded his first double-double of the season in the loss to USF
, with 15 points and 12 rebounds. In the 66–64 victory over Marshall
, Butler scored 18 points – including the game-winning shot in the lane with 6 seconds left.
Then in the 58–57 loss to #9 Georgetown
, Butler attempted to score the game-winning points again. However, his layup attempt was blocked by Patrick Ewing, Jr.
. The call was questionable however, as many believe it was actually a goaltending
which would result in the points being rewarded and the Mountaineer-victory. However, Butler finished with 12 points and 4 rebounds. In an 81–63 victory over Rutgers, Butler scored 12 points. He then followed that game with 15 points and 8 rebounds against Seton Hall. In the 78–56 loss to Villanova
, Butler scored 10 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. In the 80–53 victory over Providence
, Butler scored 13 points and grabbed 4 rebounds.
In the 85–73 victory over DePaul
to gain the 20th win of the season, Butler scored 14 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. In the 79–71 loss to the Connecticut Huskies
, Butler scored 9 points and added 7 rebounds. In the home finale victory over the Pittsburgh Panthers, 76–62, Butler scored 10 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. In the regular season finale, a 83–74 overtime victory over Providence, Butler scored 18 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and dished 5 assists to finish the regular season. He finished the season with 12.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.
In the 58–53 victory over Providence to open the Big East Tournament, Butler scored 17 points and added 9 rebounds. In the second round of the tourney, the Mountaineers upset #15-ranked Connecticut, 78–72. Butler contributed with 17 points and a team-high 9 rebounds. However, as the Mountaineers lost 55–72 in the semifinal matchup against the #8 Georgetown Hoyas
, Butler scored 16 points with 3 rebounds and assists.
In the first round of the NCAA Tournament
, Butler scored 19 points with 7 rebounds as the #7-seed Mountaineers defeated the #10-seed Arizona Wildcats
. In the second round, the Mountaineers upset the #2-seed Duke Blue Devils
73–67, with Butler scoring 8 points and grabbing 5 rebounds. Then, in the Sweet 16 loss in overtime to #3-seed Xavier
, Butler scored 16 points and grabbed 7 rebounds.
Butler finished his sophomore season by averaging 12.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. During the Mountaineers Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament run, Butler averaged 14.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.
in the 98–78 exhibition win over Mountain State
. In the victory, Butler led the Mountaineers with 38 points and 11 rebounds. In the regular season opener against Elon
, Butler scored 19 points and totaled 6 rebounds and steals. Against Longwood
, he then totaled 12 points and 4 rebounds. Opening the Las Vegas Invitational Tournament, the Mountaineers defeated Delaware State, with Butler scoring 12 points and grabbing 7 rebounds. He then scored 12 against Iowa
, and before scoring 7 points with 9 boards in the loss to Kentucky
. However, the Mountaineers then defeated Mississippi, with Butler scoring 22 points and grabbing 10 rebounds – his first double-double of the season. As the Mountaineers then beat Cleveland State, Butler led the team with 18 points. In the 68–65 last-second loss to #22 Davidson and Stephen Curry
in Madison Square Garden
, Butler led the Mountaineers with 24 points and 14 rebounds – his second double-double in three games. Butler reached his 1,000 career points during the Miami University victory, in which he scored a career-high 28 points out of the team's 82–46 victory and also had 5 rebounds. Most Rebounds in his Career.
Butler then had 11 points against Radford
, followed by 16 points and 6 rebounds in the 76–48 victory over #13 Ohio State
. In the 92–66 win over Seton Hall, Butler had 18 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. In the next loss to #5 UConn
, 61–55, Butler scored 13 points and had 5 steals. As the Mountaineers then lost to #15 Marquette
, Butler scored 16 points and had 5 rebounds. Butler then had 17 points and 7 rebounds in the victory over Marshall
. Against South Florida
, Butler scored 27 points with 4 rebounds, and then he totaled 27 points and 8 rebounds in the win over #14 Georgetown
. In the following loss to #4 Pittsburgh, Butler scored 21 points and had 6 rebounds. In the win over St. John's, Butler scored 21 points and had 7 rebounds. Butler recorded his fifth-consecutive 20-point game with 23 points against #7 Louisville
to go with 8 rebounds. Butler followed the Louisville loss with 23 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals against Syracuse. Butler's consecutive 20-point game streak ended at six games against Providence
with his 17 points and 9 rebounds in the 86–59 victory. In the Backyard Brawl
loss to #4 Pittsburgh, Butler only scored 4 points in limited playing time due to foul trouble.
On February 13, the Mountaineers defeated #13 Villanova
93–72. In the victory, Butler scored a career-high 43 points; 24 points coming in the first-half. Butler's point total was the second-highest individual scoring performance in a Big East conference game since the 2002–03 season, only one-point shy of Marcus Hatten's
44 point performance in 2003. His 43 points were the third-most ever scored in the WVU Coliseum
, the most by a WVU player in conference play ever and the first 40-point performance since Lowes Moore in 1978. In the following 79–68 win over Notre Dame
, Butler had 19 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists. He followed with 12 points and 4 assists in the win over Rutgers
. In the 65–61 loss to Cincinnati
, Butler had 8 points and 4 assists. He then had 9 points and 12 rebounds in a win over USF
. Butler then had a double-double in the win over DePaul
with 16 points and 10 rebounds. In the regular season finale against #6 Louisville
, Butler scored 10 points with 10 rebounds for a second-straight double-double. Following the 62–59 loss, he was named to the All-Big East second team.
In the second round of the Big East Tournament against Notre Dame, Butler scored 20 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. In the quarterfinals' 74–60 win over #2 Pittsburgh Panthers, Butler scored 16 points with 4 assists and 3 rebounds despite sitting out due to 4 personal fouls. In the semifinal round, a 74–69 loss to #20 Syracuse, Butler scored 21 points and had 6 rebounds. In the Big East Tournament, Butler averaged 19 points and 4.6 rebounds. However, the Mountaineers were upset in the first round of the NCAA Tournament
by Dayton
, 68–60, with Butler scoring 12 points and grabbing 5 rebounds.
Butler finished his junior season with an average of 19.1 points per game and 5.9 rebounds per game. Butler had a season-high 43 points against Villanova and a season-high 14 rebounds against Davidson. Butler scored 20 or more points 12 times in the campaign.
After losing three games in early to mid-January, Butler and the Mountaineers bounced back with a win over #25 Ohio State and then a win over Louisville in which Butler scored 27 points. In a following win over St. John's, Butler scored 33 points, then he added 32 points in a triple overtime loss to #23 Pittsburgh. The Mountaineers ended their regular season with a 68–66 victory over #6 Villanova in which Butler had a double-double: 21 points and 10 rebounds.
In the Mountaineers' opening game of the Big East Tournament, West Virginia defeated Cincinnati with help from Butler, who banked in the game-winning three-pointer with no time left to win 54–51. In the following 53–51 victory over Notre Dame
in the semifinals, Butler scored 24 points. In the championship game, Butler again led the Mountaineers to victory with the game-winning bucket over #22 Georgetown. The victory was the first ever Big East title for the Mountaineers.
Entering the NCAA Tournament as a two-seed, the Mountaineers handled Morgan State in the opening round. Butler scored 28 points and added 8 rebounds in the second round victory over Missouri. After defeating Washington in the Sweet 16, the Mountaineers upset the 1-seed and tourney favorite Kentucky Wildcats 73–66, to advance to the school's second Final Four appearance. Butler had 18 points in the Elite Eight victory, including finishing 4-8 from the 3-point line.
Butler and Duke's Jon Scheyer
were the only finalists in 2010's Final Four
for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award for Men's Basketball
, which on April 3, 2010, was awarded to Butler. Later that day, in the second half of the Final Four loss to the Duke Blue Devils
, Butler injured his left knee. Butler tore his ACL, sprained his MCL and sustained two bone bruises. He was driving hard to the basket and the knee appeared to give way as he planted on it, while Coach Huggins initially seemed convinced Butler was fouled on the play- that does not seem to be the cause of the injury.
Butler was one of 10 finalists for the 2010 John R. Wooden Award
. It is given to the National Player of the Year in college basketball by The Los Angeles Athletic Club
.
42nd overall in the 2010 NBA Draft
. Butler signed with the Heat on August 30, 2010. However on October 25, Butler was waived by the Heat at the end of training camp. Butler signed a contract with the San Antonio Spurs on March 25, 2011. He has been working out this off season with former teamates Joe Mazzulla and John Flowers along with Superstar Chris Paul
. In November 2011 he joined for trial period to Latvian Basketball League club Rīgas VEF.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player for the San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
and was on assignment in the NBA D-League for the Austin Toros
Austin Toros
The Austin Toros are a NBA Development League minor league basketball team based in Cedar Park, Texas, United States.The team plays home games at Cedar Park Center.Their logo is the design of a bull and basketball with the state of Texas in the background...
. In November 2011 he joined for trial period to Latvian Basketball League club Rīgas VEF. Butler was drafted 42nd overall by the Miami Heat
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
in the 2010 NBA Draft
2010 NBA Draft
The 2010 NBA Draft was held on June 24, 2010 at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The draft, which started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time , was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur...
.
Freshman season
Butler scored a career high 21 points in a game against Seton Hall. Against Slippery RockSlippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is a public, master's-level university that offers some doctoral programs in cooperation with Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Both institutions are members of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education...
, Butler had 15 points and nine rebounds off the bench, then had eight points against Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
. He had 9 points against North Carolina State, then 10 points and six rebounds against Duquesne
Duquesne University
Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of...
. Butler scored 14 points against The Citadel
The Citadel (military college)
The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, also known simply as The Citadel, is a state-supported, comprehensive college located in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. It is one of the six senior military colleges in the United States...
, 16 points against UConn, 7 points against Villanova
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
, and then six points against St. John's. He then scored 9 points and a season-high 10 rebounds against Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, followed by 12 points and six rebounds against South Florida
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA...
. Butler then had 14 points and 8 rebounds against Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
, 17 points against Rutgers, and a team-high 14 points against Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
in the Backyard Brawl
Backyard Brawl
The Backyard Brawl is an annual football game between the University of Pittsburgh Panthers and the West Virginia University Mountaineers. The term "Backyard Brawl" has also been used to refer to college basketball games played annually or semi-iannually and may also be used to refer to other...
. In the huge upset win over UCLA, Butler had 13 points, while scoring 17 points against Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
in the Big East
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
Tournament. The Mountaineers eventually made it in the NIT
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
Tournament, and all the way to the finals. In the finals win against Clemson
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
, Butler had 20 points, as the Mountaineers were named NIT champions.
Butler was named to the all-Big East freshman team, while leading the Mountaineers to an NIT Championship. Butler averaged 10.1 points per game, averaging 23.3 minutes per game off the bench, while also averaging 3.5 rebounds per game.
Sophomore season
After the 2007 NIT Championship win, Mountaineers head coach John BeileinJohn Beilein
John Beilein is an American college basketball coach and current men's basketball head coach at the University of Michigan. He is the 16th head coach of the Michigan Wolverines. The 2010–11 season was his fourth at Michigan, with whom he has a six-year contract...
announced he would be leaving West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
to take the head coaching position at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. Soon after, former head coach of Kansas State
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
's basketball team and former West Virginia alumnus, Bob Huggins
Bob Huggins
Bob Huggins, nicknamed "Huggy Bear", is the head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team. Huggins previously held the head coaching positions at the University of Cincinnati and Kansas State University...
announced he accepted an offer to coach at West Virginia.
In the season-opening exhibition game against Mountain State
Mountain State University
Mountain State University is a private nonsectarian university based in Beckley, West Virginia, United States. The university offers undergraduate and master's degree programs, as well as a doctoral degree program. Most of the university's programs focus on the professions in business,...
, Butler earned his first career start as the Mountaineers won 88–65. Butler scored 16 points and added 8 rebounds and three assists as he and fellow guard Darris Nichols both went into double-digits in points. In the season-opener against Arkansas-Monticello
University of Arkansas at Monticello
The University of Arkansas at Monticello is a public university and college for vocational and technical education located in Monticello, Arkansas, United States....
, Butler scored 14 points while also grabbing a season-high 9 rebounds. In the 72–74 loss to Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
, Butler happened to score 16 points and grab 7 rebounds, while he scored 13 in the victories over New Mexico State and Auburn
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
. Butler scored a season-high 18 points against Duquesne
Duquesne University
Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of...
, while also grabbing 8 rebounds. He then scored 14 points against Maryland County, grabbing 9 rebounds, and Radford University
Radford University
Radford University is one of Virginia's eight doctoral-degree granting public universities. Originally founded in 1910, Radford offers comprehensive curricula for undergraduates in more than 100 fields, and graduate programs including the M.F.A., M.B.A...
, and then scored 10 against Canisius
Canisius College
Canisius College is a private Roman Catholic college in Buffalo, New York, United States. The college was founded in 1870 by members of the Society of Jesus from Germany and is named after St. Peter Canisius. The college is one of 28 institutions in the Association of Jesuit Colleges and...
.
In the 88–82 loss to Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
, Butler scored 15 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. In the loss to Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, Butler only scored 8 points but did grab 5 rebounds. Then in the victory over Marquette
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
, Butler scored 13 points with 5 rebounds, but in the loss to Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
he only scored 8 again. In the victory over Syracuse, Butler grabbed 6 rebounds to go along with his 13 points. Butler was key in the St. John's victory with 19 points and 9 rebounds. Butler recorded his first double-double of the season in the loss to USF
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA...
, with 15 points and 12 rebounds. In the 66–64 victory over Marshall
Marshall University
Marshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States founded in 1837, and named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States....
, Butler scored 18 points – including the game-winning shot in the lane with 6 seconds left.
Then in the 58–57 loss to #9 Georgetown
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
, Butler attempted to score the game-winning points again. However, his layup attempt was blocked by Patrick Ewing, Jr.
Patrick Ewing, Jr.
Patrick Aloysius Ewing, Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the NBA's New Orleans Hornets. He is the oldest son of retired NBA Hall of Famer and New York Knicks legend Patrick Ewing and Sharon Campbell...
. The call was questionable however, as many believe it was actually a goaltending
Goaltending
In basketball, goaltending is the violation of interfering with the ball when it is on its way to the basket and it is in its downward flight, entirely above the rim and has the possibility of entering the basket, and not touching the rim...
which would result in the points being rewarded and the Mountaineer-victory. However, Butler finished with 12 points and 4 rebounds. In an 81–63 victory over Rutgers, Butler scored 12 points. He then followed that game with 15 points and 8 rebounds against Seton Hall. In the 78–56 loss to Villanova
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
, Butler scored 10 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. In the 80–53 victory over Providence
Providence College
Providence College is a private, coeducational, Catholic university located about two miles west of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, United States, the state's capital city. With a 2010–2011 enrollment of 3,850 undergraduate students and 735 graduate students, the College specializes in academic...
, Butler scored 13 points and grabbed 4 rebounds.
In the 85–73 victory over DePaul
Depaul
Depaul, de Paul or DePaul may refer to:* DePaul University, is the largest Catholic university in North America located within and around Chicago, IL* Vincent de Paul* DePaul Catholic High School...
to gain the 20th win of the season, Butler scored 14 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. In the 79–71 loss to the Connecticut Huskies
Connecticut Huskies men's basketball
The Connecticut Huskies is the name of the men's college basketball team representing the University of Connecticut, in Storrs, Connecticut, USA. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big East Conference...
, Butler scored 9 points and added 7 rebounds. In the home finale victory over the Pittsburgh Panthers, 76–62, Butler scored 10 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. In the regular season finale, a 83–74 overtime victory over Providence, Butler scored 18 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and dished 5 assists to finish the regular season. He finished the season with 12.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.
In the 58–53 victory over Providence to open the Big East Tournament, Butler scored 17 points and added 9 rebounds. In the second round of the tourney, the Mountaineers upset #15-ranked Connecticut, 78–72. Butler contributed with 17 points and a team-high 9 rebounds. However, as the Mountaineers lost 55–72 in the semifinal matchup against the #8 Georgetown Hoyas
Georgetown Hoyas
Georgetown's nickname is The Hoyas, but its mascot is "Jack the Bulldog." Various breeds of dogs have been used by the sports teams as mascots since the early 1900s. Several notable bull terriers like Sergeant Stubby and "Hoya" were used at football games in the 1920s, as was a Great Dane in the...
, Butler scored 16 points with 3 rebounds and assists.
In the first round of the NCAA Tournament
2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2007–08 basketball season...
, Butler scored 19 points with 7 rebounds as the #7-seed Mountaineers defeated the #10-seed Arizona Wildcats
Arizona Wildcats
-Athletic program:The University of Arizona participates in the NCAA's Division I-A in the Pacific-12 Conference Arizona participates in the conference's South Division, along with Arizona State, Colorado, UCLA, USC, and Utah...
. In the second round, the Mountaineers upset the #2-seed Duke Blue Devils
Duke Blue Devils
Duke University's 26 varsity sports teams, known as the Blue Devils, compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The name comes from the French "les Diables Bleus" or "the Blue Devils," which was the nickname given during World War I to the Chasseurs Alpins, the French Alpine light infantry...
73–67, with Butler scoring 8 points and grabbing 5 rebounds. Then, in the Sweet 16 loss in overtime to #3-seed Xavier
Xavier Musketeers men's basketball
The Xavier Musketeers team is the basketball team that represents Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. The school's team currently competes in the Atlantic 10 Conference...
, Butler scored 16 points and grabbed 7 rebounds.
Butler finished his sophomore season by averaging 12.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. During the Mountaineers Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament run, Butler averaged 14.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.
Junior season
Butler began his junior season under returning head coach Bob HugginsBob Huggins
Bob Huggins, nicknamed "Huggy Bear", is the head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team. Huggins previously held the head coaching positions at the University of Cincinnati and Kansas State University...
in the 98–78 exhibition win over Mountain State
Mountain State University
Mountain State University is a private nonsectarian university based in Beckley, West Virginia, United States. The university offers undergraduate and master's degree programs, as well as a doctoral degree program. Most of the university's programs focus on the professions in business,...
. In the victory, Butler led the Mountaineers with 38 points and 11 rebounds. In the regular season opener against Elon
Elon University
Elon University is a private liberal arts university in Elon, North Carolina, United States. Formerly known as Elon College, it became Elon University on June 1, 2001. The campus is a botanical garden and features oak trees, brick sidewalks, fountains, and lakes...
, Butler scored 19 points and totaled 6 rebounds and steals. Against Longwood
Longwood University
Longwood University is a four-year public, liberal-arts university located in Farmville, Virginia, United States. It was founded in 1839 and became a university on July 1, 2002...
, he then totaled 12 points and 4 rebounds. Opening the Las Vegas Invitational Tournament, the Mountaineers defeated Delaware State, with Butler scoring 12 points and grabbing 7 rebounds. He then scored 12 against Iowa
Iowa Hawkeyes
The Iowa Hawkeyes are the athletics teams that represent the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. The Hawkeyes have varsity teams in 24 sports, 11 for men and 13 for women. The teams participate in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and are members of the...
, and before scoring 7 points with 9 boards in the loss to Kentucky
Kentucky Wildcats
The Kentucky Wildcats are the men's and women's intercollegiate athletic squads of the University of Kentucky , a founding member of the Southeastern Conference...
. However, the Mountaineers then defeated Mississippi, with Butler scoring 22 points and grabbing 10 rebounds – his first double-double of the season. As the Mountaineers then beat Cleveland State, Butler led the team with 18 points. In the 68–65 last-second loss to #22 Davidson and Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry (basketball)
-Freshman season:Before Stephen Curry played even one college game, head coach, Bob McKillop, said at a Davidson Alumni event, "Wait till you see Steph Curry...
in Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
, Butler led the Mountaineers with 24 points and 14 rebounds – his second double-double in three games. Butler reached his 1,000 career points during the Miami University victory, in which he scored a career-high 28 points out of the team's 82–46 victory and also had 5 rebounds. Most Rebounds in his Career.
Butler then had 11 points against Radford
Radford University
Radford University is one of Virginia's eight doctoral-degree granting public universities. Originally founded in 1910, Radford offers comprehensive curricula for undergraduates in more than 100 fields, and graduate programs including the M.F.A., M.B.A...
, followed by 16 points and 6 rebounds in the 76–48 victory over #13 Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes
The Ohio State Buckeyes are the intercollegiate sports teams and players of The Ohio State University, named after the state tree, the Buckeye. The Buckeyes participate in the NCAA's Division I in all sports and the Big Ten Conference in most sports...
. In the 92–66 win over Seton Hall, Butler had 18 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. In the next loss to #5 UConn
Connecticut Huskies
The Connecticut Huskies, also known as the UConn Huskies, are the athletic teams of the University of Connecticut in the United States. The school is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Big East Conference for all sports except Men's Ice Hockey and Women's Ice...
, 61–55, Butler scored 13 points and had 5 steals. As the Mountaineers then lost to #15 Marquette
Marquette Golden Eagles
The Marquette Golden Eagles are the intercollegiate athletic teams of Marquette University....
, Butler scored 16 points and had 5 rebounds. Butler then had 17 points and 7 rebounds in the victory over Marshall
Marshall University
Marshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States founded in 1837, and named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States....
. Against South Florida
South Florida Bulls
The South Florida Bulls are the athletic teams for the University of South Florida. The university competes in NCAA Division I, USF is a member of the Big East Conference, and has been since 2005...
, Butler scored 27 points with 4 rebounds, and then he totaled 27 points and 8 rebounds in the win over #14 Georgetown
Georgetown Hoyas
Georgetown's nickname is The Hoyas, but its mascot is "Jack the Bulldog." Various breeds of dogs have been used by the sports teams as mascots since the early 1900s. Several notable bull terriers like Sergeant Stubby and "Hoya" were used at football games in the 1920s, as was a Great Dane in the...
. In the following loss to #4 Pittsburgh, Butler scored 21 points and had 6 rebounds. In the win over St. John's, Butler scored 21 points and had 7 rebounds. Butler recorded his fifth-consecutive 20-point game with 23 points against #7 Louisville
Louisville Cardinals
The Louisville Cardinals are the athletic teams representing the University of Louisville. A member of the Big East Conference since 2005, they are known nationally as traditional powers in men's basketball, women's volleyball, and dance team...
to go with 8 rebounds. Butler followed the Louisville loss with 23 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals against Syracuse. Butler's consecutive 20-point game streak ended at six games against Providence
Providence College
Providence College is a private, coeducational, Catholic university located about two miles west of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, United States, the state's capital city. With a 2010–2011 enrollment of 3,850 undergraduate students and 735 graduate students, the College specializes in academic...
with his 17 points and 9 rebounds in the 86–59 victory. In the Backyard Brawl
Backyard Brawl
The Backyard Brawl is an annual football game between the University of Pittsburgh Panthers and the West Virginia University Mountaineers. The term "Backyard Brawl" has also been used to refer to college basketball games played annually or semi-iannually and may also be used to refer to other...
loss to #4 Pittsburgh, Butler only scored 4 points in limited playing time due to foul trouble.
On February 13, the Mountaineers defeated #13 Villanova
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
93–72. In the victory, Butler scored a career-high 43 points; 24 points coming in the first-half. Butler's point total was the second-highest individual scoring performance in a Big East conference game since the 2002–03 season, only one-point shy of Marcus Hatten's
Marcus Hatten
Marcus Hatten is an American Basketball player currently playing for Dexia Mons-Hainaut, Belgium....
44 point performance in 2003. His 43 points were the third-most ever scored in the WVU Coliseum
WVU Coliseum
The WVU Coliseum is a 14,000-seat multi-purpose arena which is located in the Evansdale campus of West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia. The circular arena features a poured concrete roof....
, the most by a WVU player in conference play ever and the first 40-point performance since Lowes Moore in 1978. In the following 79–68 win over Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame's nickname is inherited from Irish immigrant soldiers who fought in the Civil War with the Union's Irish Brigade, , recollected among other places in the poetry of Joyce Kilmer who served with one of the Irish Brigade regiments during World War I...
, Butler had 19 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists. He followed with 12 points and 4 assists in the win over Rutgers
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are the athletic teams that represent Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey...
. In the 65–61 loss to Cincinnati
Cincinnati Bearcats
The Cincinnati Bearcats are the NCAA athletic teams representing the University of Cincinnati. Since July 1, 2005, the school's athletic teams have been members of the Big East Conference....
, Butler had 8 points and 4 assists. He then had 9 points and 12 rebounds in a win over USF
South Florida Bulls
The South Florida Bulls are the athletic teams for the University of South Florida. The university competes in NCAA Division I, USF is a member of the Big East Conference, and has been since 2005...
. Butler then had a double-double in the win over DePaul
Depaul
Depaul, de Paul or DePaul may refer to:* DePaul University, is the largest Catholic university in North America located within and around Chicago, IL* Vincent de Paul* DePaul Catholic High School...
with 16 points and 10 rebounds. In the regular season finale against #6 Louisville
Louisville Cardinals
The Louisville Cardinals are the athletic teams representing the University of Louisville. A member of the Big East Conference since 2005, they are known nationally as traditional powers in men's basketball, women's volleyball, and dance team...
, Butler scored 10 points with 10 rebounds for a second-straight double-double. Following the 62–59 loss, he was named to the All-Big East second team.
In the second round of the Big East Tournament against Notre Dame, Butler scored 20 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. In the quarterfinals' 74–60 win over #2 Pittsburgh Panthers, Butler scored 16 points with 4 assists and 3 rebounds despite sitting out due to 4 personal fouls. In the semifinal round, a 74–69 loss to #20 Syracuse, Butler scored 21 points and had 6 rebounds. In the Big East Tournament, Butler averaged 19 points and 4.6 rebounds. However, the Mountaineers were upset in the first round of the NCAA Tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
by Dayton
University of Dayton
The University of Dayton is a private Roman Catholic university operated by the Society of Mary located in Dayton, Ohio...
, 68–60, with Butler scoring 12 points and grabbing 5 rebounds.
Butler finished his junior season with an average of 19.1 points per game and 5.9 rebounds per game. Butler had a season-high 43 points against Villanova and a season-high 14 rebounds against Davidson. Butler scored 20 or more points 12 times in the campaign.
Senior season
Butler was invited to the 2009 USA Basketball Men's World University Games Team training camp prior to his senior season. Butler and the Top10-ranked Mountaineers opened up the season with a win over Loyola-Maryland, in which Butler recorded 26 points and 7 rebounds. In a later win over Portland, Butler scored 26 points with 6 rebounds. At the end of December, Butler hit a game-winning jumper to defeat Marquette, adding to his 17 total points.After losing three games in early to mid-January, Butler and the Mountaineers bounced back with a win over #25 Ohio State and then a win over Louisville in which Butler scored 27 points. In a following win over St. John's, Butler scored 33 points, then he added 32 points in a triple overtime loss to #23 Pittsburgh. The Mountaineers ended their regular season with a 68–66 victory over #6 Villanova in which Butler had a double-double: 21 points and 10 rebounds.
In the Mountaineers' opening game of the Big East Tournament, West Virginia defeated Cincinnati with help from Butler, who banked in the game-winning three-pointer with no time left to win 54–51. In the following 53–51 victory over Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame's nickname is inherited from Irish immigrant soldiers who fought in the Civil War with the Union's Irish Brigade, , recollected among other places in the poetry of Joyce Kilmer who served with one of the Irish Brigade regiments during World War I...
in the semifinals, Butler scored 24 points. In the championship game, Butler again led the Mountaineers to victory with the game-winning bucket over #22 Georgetown. The victory was the first ever Big East title for the Mountaineers.
Entering the NCAA Tournament as a two-seed, the Mountaineers handled Morgan State in the opening round. Butler scored 28 points and added 8 rebounds in the second round victory over Missouri. After defeating Washington in the Sweet 16, the Mountaineers upset the 1-seed and tourney favorite Kentucky Wildcats 73–66, to advance to the school's second Final Four appearance. Butler had 18 points in the Elite Eight victory, including finishing 4-8 from the 3-point line.
Butler and Duke's Jon Scheyer
Jon Scheyer
Jonathan James "Jon" Scheyer is an American-Israeli professional basketball player. He plays shooting guard for Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Super League in that competition, the Adriatic League, and the Euroleague...
were the only finalists in 2010's Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award for Men's Basketball
Lowe's Senior CLASS Award
The Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award is an annual college athletic award in the NCAA Division I. Qualified competitors must be seniors who have remained within their NCAA Division I college for a four-year commitment and achieved excellence in one of nine sports.....
, which on April 3, 2010, was awarded to Butler. Later that day, in the second half of the Final Four loss to the Duke Blue Devils
2009–10 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team
The 2009–10 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team represented Duke University in the 2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski, the Blue Devils won the 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, claiming the school's fourth national title.Duke led...
, Butler injured his left knee. Butler tore his ACL, sprained his MCL and sustained two bone bruises. He was driving hard to the basket and the knee appeared to give way as he planted on it, while Coach Huggins initially seemed convinced Butler was fouled on the play- that does not seem to be the cause of the injury.
Butler was one of 10 finalists for the 2010 John R. Wooden Award
John R. Wooden Award
The John R. Wooden Award is an award given annually to the most outstanding men's and women's college basketball players. The program consists of the men's and women's Player of the Year awards, the Legends of Coaching award and recognizes the All–America Teams.The awards, given by the Los...
. It is given to the National Player of the Year in college basketball by The Los Angeles Athletic Club
Los Angeles Athletic Club
Los Angeles Athletic Club is an athletic club and private social club in Los Angeles, California, USA. It awards the John R. Wooden Award to the outstanding men's and women's college basketball player of each year....
.
Professional career
Butler was selected by the Miami HeatMiami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
42nd overall in the 2010 NBA Draft
2010 NBA Draft
The 2010 NBA Draft was held on June 24, 2010 at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The draft, which started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time , was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur...
. Butler signed with the Heat on August 30, 2010. However on October 25, Butler was waived by the Heat at the end of training camp. Butler signed a contract with the San Antonio Spurs on March 25, 2011. He has been working out this off season with former teamates Joe Mazzulla and John Flowers along with Superstar Chris Paul
Chris Paul
Christopher Emmanuel Paul is an American professional basketball point guard for the New Orleans Hornets.Paul was born and raised in North Carolina. Despite only playing two varsity basketball seasons in high school, he was a McDonald's All-American and accepted a scholarship with nearby Wake...
. In November 2011 he joined for trial period to Latvian Basketball League club Rīgas VEF.