Extreme Makeover: Breaking down Butler basketball 2023-24 roster, how pieces fit
The NCAA transfer portal has turned college basketball rosters into an ever-changing merry-go-round of players going from one school to the next.
The 2023-24 Butler basketball team is the perfect encapsulation of today's college basketball landscape with seven transfers on the roster to go along with three freshmen, two walk-ons and just three returning players.
This Butler roster has undergone a complete makeover, and that's probably for the better after the Dawgs struggled to a 14-18 record last season, including a 6-14 record in the Big East.
Butler needed leaders: Thad Matta thinks he's found them in two transfers.
Butler practice takeaways: Posh at the point, a lot of capable shooters
Here's an introduction to the 2023-24 Butler Bulldogs.
NEWCOMERS
Augusto Cassia
Class: Fr.
Position: F
Height/Weight: 6-8/220
Cassia is a true wildcard for the Bulldogs in the best way possible. He's an older freshman with years of experience playing internationally with Brazil and in the NBA Academy, first in Mexico and then in Australia.
He has the size and athleticism to guard positions 1 through 5 with a high motor and the willingness to play defense. Offensively, he can use some polish, but he's a willing shooter from the outside, and his high energy level allows him to convert loose balls and offensive rebounds into points without having to have a play called for him.
Look for Cassia to factor into the forward rotation, likely off the bench, at least early on in the season.
∎Strength: Defense
"When you have a body type like mine, you've got to be able to guard every position on the court," Cassia said. "I have the agility, I have the length; so, I've just got to do my best. Defense was always part of my game, and I can do a lot of different things (defensively)."
∎Area of improvement: Feel for the game
"I believe I need to work on my offensive game, specifically dribbling, making the right reads and playing at the right pace. Sometimes I play too fast, you cannot let the defense speed you up. So, you've got to play with the right timing at the right pace."
D.J. Davis
Class: Sr.
Position: G
Height/Weight: 6-1/175
Davis is a lights-out shooter with deep 3-point range. His pure shooting ability is an element the Bulldogs did not possess last season. Davis can be a high-volume shooter while maintaining his efficiency. He shot 40% from 3 each of his last two seasons at UC-Irvine while shooting 6.4 3s per game.
Davis has the ability to put the ball on the floor as well. He uses pump fakes to get his defender in the air and blow by him. Once he's in the paint, he can finish with a floater or at the rim.
Davis will work well in the starting lineup or off the bench as an instant-offense sixth man.
∎Strength: Shooting with range
"I trap the defense," Davis said. "You can't leave me open, and the fact that I can be five feet behind the line and still be a threat, I think that plays a big factor in the spacing on the floor."
∎Area of improvement: Adjusting to new role
I'm curious to see how Davis adjusts to his role with the Bulldogs. Davis developed into the Anteaters go-to scorer. Will he continue to be a high-volume shooter with the Bulldogs? Will he showcase more playmaking and distributing ability? At 6-1, how does he pair with 6-foot guard Posh Alexander? Can the two play extended minutes together on the floor?
Posh Alexander
Class: Sr.
Position: G
Height/Weight: 6-0/205
Alexander is no stranger to the Big East. The St. John's transfer started 77 games during his three years with the Red Storm. He's a proven defender, ball handler and distributor. Alexander will be tasked with running the point and guarding the opposing team's best perimeter player.
Offensively, Alexander can get to the rim or pull-up from mid-range. Turning steals into transition opportunities is another way the Brooklyn native can create offense. I expect Alexander to have the ball in his hand a lot for Butler as its starting point guard.
∎Strength(s): Leadership, defense
Alexander will be the connective tissue of this team. How he runs the offense, controls the pace and plays defensively will greatly impact how the Dawgs play on a nightly basis. Surrounded by talented shooters, Alexander should be in position to improve on his 4.7 assists per game career average.
∎Areas of improvement: Finishing at rim/3-point shot
Alexander is an explosive athlete, but his size will always make finishing at the rim a challenge. As a shooter, Alexander failed to improve on his 29% 3-point shooting mark as a freshman, falling to 21.7% as a sophomore before bouncing back slightly at 23.2% last season. Alexander doesn't need to be a marksman from deep, but he does need to sink jumpers well enough to keep teams from sagging off too far defensively.
Jahmyl Telfort
Class: Sr.
Position: F
Height/Weight: 6-7/225
Telfort is a versatile forward with the skill to play on the perimeter and the strength to match up against bigger players. Telfort started 62 games over three years at Northeastern and averaged 16 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game as a junior.
The Quebec native is at his best when he's attacking the basket. He has the quickness to get into the paint and the physicality to finish through contact. When attacking off the dribble, Telfort can finish in numerous ways including with a thunderous dunk.
Telfort figures to factor into the forward rotation, likely in the starting lineup. Who he plays with will be interesting. Will he play the 3 (small forward) next to Connor Turnbull at the 4 (power forward) and Jalen Thomas the 5 (center)? Will Butler go smaller with Telfort at the 4 and Thomas at the 5? Telfort's versatility gives Butler many lineup possibilities.
∎Strength(s): Leadership, physicality, slashing
"I think the Big East is a physical conference and as far as being physical, I've always been a physical kind of guy," Telfort said.
∎Area of improvement: Outside shooting
Telfort is a career 30.5% shooter from 3, but his percentages were inconsistent during his time at Northeastern. He shot 36% from 3 as a freshman. That number dropped to 24.8% as a sophomore, before bouncing back to 32.1% as a junior. If Telfort shoots at 32% and above from 3, the Dawgs will have a dangerous inside-outside offensive threat.
Finley Bizjack
Class: Fr.
Position: G
Height/Weight: 6-4/195
Getting Bizjack was a big recruiting win for Thad Matta, beating out local Texas programs SMU and TCU to secure his services. As a freshman, Bizjack is already one of the better shooters on the team, but he's more than just a shooter.
Bizjack has a great feel for the game with the way he utilizes screens, handles the ball and processes the game. He can put the ball on the floor, and the added muscle he's gained since arriving on campus will allow him to finish at the rim through contact.
Bizjack can be a secondary ball handler as a starter or primary ball handler with the second unit. I think it'll be hard to keep a player with Bizjack's potential out of the lineup.
∎Strength: Shooting
"I definitely buckled down over the summer in the weight room and put on the necessary pounds for the Big East," Bizjack said. "I still feel like I'm very quick and light on my feet. I put on the right muscle for sure, and I'm very confident in that. I think my game will translate well and I'll bring a lot of shooting to the team."
∎Area of improvement: Rebounding
"Right now, I'm working on rebounding. Rebounding is tough, especially for a guy like me, a guard. But I'm working on rebounding and defense, just (improving on) the other end of the floor."
Landon Moore
Class: So.
Position: G
Height/Weight: 6-3/200
Moore is a versatile guard who can fill multiple roles for the Bulldogs. He's a proven scorer, averaging 13 points per game as a true freshman at Saint Francis (Pa.) last season. Moore scored 15 points at Hinkle Fieldhouse against Butler last season, and had a breakout 25-point performance against Miami in December.
Moore is also comfortable with the ball in his hands playmaking for his teammates. With Alexander is the primary point guard, Moore should see a lot of time running the show when the senior is out of the game. Moore is a three-level scorer with strength and feel for the game. His experience could earn him the starting two guard spot, or he could be groomed as Butler's point guard of the future. Regardless of his role, expect consistent production from the rising sophomore.
∎Strength: Versatility
"There might be games where they need me to play a lot of point," Moore said. "There might be games where they need me off the ball and to score. There may be teams where I've got to guard the 3, because I'm a bigger guard I think can guard multiple positions. Whatever they need me to do, I'll do that."
∎Area of improvement: Adjusting to playing point guard in the Big East
There will be a learning curve in Moore's ability to man the point guard while transitioning from a smaller Division I school to the Big East. Moore has all the tools to be a successful point guard, but for now, Alexander is the proven veteran with Big East experience.
Pierre Brooks II
Class: Jr.
Position: G/F
Height/Weight: 6-6/240
On a team filled with versatile players, Brooks II may be the Bulldogs most multi-faceted chess piece. Brooks has the length and strength to guard positions 1 through 4. He has guard skills with a quick first step and a willingness to get his teammates involved. When he gets going downhill, few guards will have the strength to keep him out of the paint. He pairs his slashing ability with a strong outside shot.
Brooks, a Michigan State transfer and former Michigan Mr. Basketball, is the most decorated of all the incoming Butler players. He had experience playing Power 5 basketball, and now he's in a system that should let him showcase all of his talents. Where he fits into the rotation will be very interesting to monitor. He'd be a great power two guard if the Dawgs want to go big. He'd be a prototypical 3 and could even play the 4 if the Dawgs want to go smaller.
I think his role could vary depending on the opponent early on. Come Big East play, I'd expect him to be a key contributor to the team.
∎Strength(s): Attacking the basket/versatility/playmaking
"Getting downhill, getting to the basket is my best attribute," Brooks said. "I can also shoot the ball, shoot it from deeper range as well. Getting my teammates involved is one of the underrated aspects of my game."
∎Area of improvement: Defense
"I've been trying to make an emphasis on getting my defense better," Brooks said. "I've been working really hard on that and trying to evolve my game in that aspect."
Andre Screen
Class: Sr.
Position: C
Height/Weight: 7-1/255
Screen is a true center capable of playing inside against other Big East bigs. He's mobile enough to be a strong interior defender, and he's strong enough to establish position in the paint and score when needed.
I don't think Screen will be a primary option offensively, but he plays with energy and should be able to turn offensive rebounds into points or kick outs to the perimeter for open 3s. Despite coming from a mid-major school in Bucknell, Bison teammates Alex Timmerman, a 6-10, 277-pound center and 7-foot, 244-pound center Noah Williamson gave Screen plenty of experience playing against the types of centers he'll see in the Big East.
∎Strength: Defense
"I definitely want to focus on making an impact defensively," Screen said. "I feel like I always play a little bit better against bigger guys. At Bucknell I had to expand my post game with guys getting under me. There were still bigger guys (in the Patriot League), but now (in the Big East) they'll be even bigger."
∎Areas of improvement: Shooting with confidence, conditioning
"Shooting with more consistency and confidence. Getting in better shape," Screen said. "I want to be able to play longer, more effectively. I think that I've always been able to be productive while I'm in, going longer stretches of time is going to be big for me."
Boden Kapke
Class: Fr.
Position: C
Height/Weight: 6-11/255
While Screen is more of an old-school center, Kapke could be considered a new-school center with face-up skills and perimeter shooting ability to go along with a strong presence on the inside.
Kapke likely falls third in the pecking order at center behind Jalen Thomas and Screen, but after last season's struggle to find enough big bodies to play inside, having Kapke as a depth piece will be a valuable asset for the Dawgs.
Kapke should be Butler's center of the future, allowing Connor Turnbull to play either forward position after spending time at center last season.
∎Strength(s): Versatility, passing
"Being able to play inside and out," Kapke said. "I can get it in the post, or I can come out and set a ball screen. Being able to help my teammates and get opportunities for them is another strength."
Area of improvement: Finishing through contact
"Touch finishes through traffic," Kapke said. "Once I nail that down, I can really improve my game."
RETURNERS
Jalen Thomas
Class: 5th
Position: C
Height/Weight: 6-10/240
With Manny Bates turning pro, Thomas became the most experienced post player on the Butler roster. Thomas appears to be the prime candidate to start at center.
Thomas is up 10 pounds from last season. The added muscle should help him withstand the physical grind of playing center in the Big East full-time. Thomas is a versatile scorer, an underrated passer and one of the emotional leaders of the team. Coach Thad Matta said the Dawgs feed off Thomas' energy. For a team that lacked fight at times last season, having a veteran like Thomas to keep the team amped up and focused will be key.
Connor Turnbull
Class: So.
Position: F
Height/Weight: 6-10/225
Turnbull is my candidate for breakout player on the team. The sophomore showed flashes of his immense potential — skying to throw down a two-handed alley-oop against Cal, or leading the team in 3-point percentage (47.1%) on 17 attempts — and he should take his game to the next level with more playing time.
With several big bodies on the roster, Turnbull will be able to play more on the perimeter, showcasing his ball handling and shooting skills. Turnbull as the starting 4, with Thomas at the 5 would give Butler two skilled bigs with the varied skill sets to fit well together.
Turnbull as the starting 4 paired with Kapke could be a dream scenario for the Dawgs in the future. A lineup featuring Turnbull, Davis, Bizjack, Brooks and Kapke would be one of the best shooting fives in the conference. Turnbull's continued development gives Butler another versatile piece for the present and future.
John-Michael Mulloy
Class: Gr.
Position: C
Height/Weight: 6-10/235
Mulloy is the last holdover from the LaVall Jordan era. He missed all of last season with a foot injury. Mulloy is healthy and back practicing with the team. He'll serve as a depth piece in the frontcourt.
WALK-ONS
With no walk-ons last season, Butler relied on student managers and assistant coaches to conduct practices. Now Butler has two walk-ons. They'll be key to player development during practice.
Artemios Gavalas
Class: R-Jr.
Position: G
Height/Weight: 6-0/180
Gavalas transferred to Butler after spending the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons at St. John's.
Ethan McComb
Class: Fr.
Position: G
Height/Weight: 6-1/185
McComb, a talented shooter, helped Center Grove go 22-3 last season.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Butler Bulldogs basketball 2023-24 roster full of newcomers, transfers
