Former Butler coach Brad Stevens grew up cheering for Bob Knight’s Indiana Hoosiers, who played man-to-man defense exclusively. There were four-letter words uttered during IU basketball practices, but “zone” was not one of them.
Coach Chris Holtmann has unashamedly borrowed on Butler traditions developed by Stevens, who in turn built on the legacies of Todd Lickliter, Thad Matta and Barry Collier. There has been one deviation: It is OK to use the Z-word.
So when the Tennessee Volunteers visit Hinkle Fieldhouse on Saturday, they know they will bump up against man-to-man defense of the 18th-ranked Bulldogs. The Vols also know to prepare for zone.