Butler Opens Season Monday Against Lafayette at Hinkle Fieldhouse

Butler University men’s basketball opens its regular season on Monday, Nov. 2, against Lafayette at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Head coach Ronald Nored spoke with 107.5 The Fan radio hosts Kevin Bowen and James Boyd on Thursday, days before the Bulldogs take the floor for their first official game of the year. The team completed three exhibition contests this week, including a recent loss to Ohio State.

Nored described the upcoming opener as a return to a familiar environment. He said he is eager for his players to experience the atmosphere at Hinkle again. “Every time we get the opportunity to do that, it’s a blessing,” Nored said. He added that he looks forward to the building being full and energetic. “I’m looking forward to Hinkle Fieldhouse being rocking,” he noted.

Reflecting on the exhibition loss to Ohio State, Nored pointed to specific offensive metrics as a positive sign. Butler attempted 19 more shots than the Buckeyes during that game. “To shoot 19 more shots and lose a game is not what you want, but it shows that we are doing what we need to do to create more opportunities,” Nored explained. He also highlighted the return of Jalen Jackson from an injury scare, calling it really important for the team's depth.

The discussion turned to the program’s financial standing after a recent CBS Sports ranking placed Butler in a lower tier than many Big East rivals. Nored acknowledged the report but noted that schools do not publicly share specific budget figures. He expressed confidence in the current setup under athletic director Grant Leiendecker. “If we weren’t in a great place, it would be really difficult for me to leave the NBA and take this job,” he said.

Nored argued that money alone does not ensure a winning team. He compared the current college basketball landscape to college football, where increased spending often leads to more recruiting options. “The only thing that money guarantees, we’re seeing this in college football right now, is more swings at players,” Nored said. “It doesn’t guarantee success.” His primary focus remains on recruiting the right athletes and keeping them on the roster.

“We want retention,” Nored stated. He emphasized that player development and continuity matter more to him than simply having a large budget. The coach also shared a lighthearted memory from his early coaching days, when he led a sixth-grade rec league team as a high school senior. He admitted he did not draft well, as the team lost every game except the final one. When the buzzer sounded on that last win, “our guys ran around the court literally like we won the national championship.”

Butler will host Lafayette at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Monday. The game marks the first regular-season contest for Nored’s squad since his hiring. The team will look to build on the offensive volume seen in its exhibition play as it starts its campaign.