Coach Chris Holtmann talks about what Tyler Lewis' absence means for Butler.
It has been clear from the start that Butler’s basketball defense would be impaired without 2015 graduates Alex Barlow and Kameron Woods. Less obvious is that the Bulldogs would decline on offense, too.
Although the Bulldogs have made incremental improvement, they are eighth in the Big East in defensive efficiency during conference play and 10th in defensive rebounding. The offense — so efficient during an 11-1 nonleague season — is fifth in the Big East, compared to third last year.