Posted by:
gwoelfel on
February 12, 2008 at
4:52PM CST
BY GERY WOELFEL
Two years ago, it was Steve Novak.
Last year, it was Carl Landry.
This year, will it be Brian Butch?
Neither Novak nor Landry were given much of a chance of playing in the NBA following their fine collegiate careers at Marquette and Purdue, respectively.
But both Wisconsin products – Novak attended Brown Deer High School and Landry attended Milwaukee Vincent High School – were given an opportunity to showcase their skills before a horde of NBA general managers and scouts by playing in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament at Portsmouth, Va.
And they seized the moment.
Novak and Landry each turned in impressive showings at the PIT and eventually wound up being second-round selections in the NBA draft: Novak was the 32nd overall pick in the 2006 draft and Landry was the 31st choice in the 2007 draft.
Both Landry and Novak are now collecting nice paychecks from the Houston Rockets.
Like Landry and Novak before him, Butch will now get the chance to prove to NBA personnel that he is worthy of playing in their league.
Mahlon Parker, chairman of the PIT, told me Tuesday that Butch will be one of 64 players in the tournament, which will be held April 9-12.
“We extended an invitation to Brian Butch and he confirmed today that he has accepted it,’’ Parker said. “Brian is a big guy who is fundamentally sound and has played for a good coach (Bo Ryan).
“We’re very happy to have him in our tournament.’’
The 6-foot-11, 235-pound Butch is having a quality season, averaging 12.7 points – second-best on the team – and a team-high 7 rebounds.
Butch, a graduate of Appleton West High School, is shooting .445 from the field and .703 from the free throw line.
Butch’s strong season is one of the major reasons why the Badgers have a 19-4 overall record and 9-2 Big Ten Conference mark.
While Butch is the only player from Wisconsin that has been extended an invitation to the PIT, Parker acknowledged two other players from the state are on a “reserve list’’ in the event other players would decline invitations.
Those players are Marquette center Ousmane Barro who, in 22 games for the Golden Eagles, is averaging 5.3 points and 5.5 rebounds, and Wisconsin guard Michael Flowers who, in 23 games, is averaging 9.3 points.
Butch is one of the first players to accept a PIT invitation. Some others who have committed to playing are Patrick Ewing and Jonathan Wallace, both of Georgetown, and Mike Green and A.J. Graves, both of Butler.
Last year’s PIT attracted more than 200 NBA officials and another 60 scouts from foreign countries.
Said Parker: “The kids who play here realize there’ll be a lot of eyes watching them and that they can help themselves.’’
Landry and Novak would undoubtedly attest to that.
Did you see that the Carolina Panthers are going to cut Mike Wahle? How can this be, he's a Pro Bowl guard isn't he? Man TT blew that one didn't he? Oh and did you see that the Broncos are going to cut Javon Walker? Man another mistake...I can't believe TT didn't throw as much money as he could at those guys when they were in GreenBay:-)
I can't believe Butch could actually make it into the league. That guy is such a stiff. But any 7-footer with 2 arms can at least get a shot in the pro's. Seriously though, how can a 7 footer in college only get 7 boards a game!? That should say something right there about his NBA potential
Posted by: Brett Favre on February 13, 2008 7:50AM CST
Hey raytown,do you follow basketball? There are only 4 guys total in the Big Ten who average more rebounds then Butch. I guess that makes him a stiff, huh? With two other players in the top 15 in rebounds for Wisconsin did you ever consider that he wouldn't get all the rebounds?
info, nicely done. I was thinking the exact same thing.
just cos other guys get boards, doesn't mean he can't get more. That makes no sense. He's 7 feet tall, he should be gettin over 7 boards a game. And my point was that Butch is not NBA quality. PERIOD.
Posted by: Brett Favre on February 14, 2008 7:45AM CST
Did you happen to see that "stiff" make a 3 pointer to win the game last night? My point was he is the 5th leading rebounder in the Big Ten. Two of his teammates are in the top 15. The rebounds are distributed between several players. Just because he is 7 feet doens't mean he will get every one. It's still a team sport, if you understand that, and rebounding in no different then scoring. It takes a team effort. I do agree that he might not be NBA quality, but maybe he is Bucks quality since they stink.
Butch works well within Wisconsin's structured offensive system. The NBA seems to now put a premium on athleticism, jumping ability, speed, quickness, etc. Those attributes do not seem to be descriptive of Butch. The last guy who could not run or jump yet was successful was Larry Bird. Butch is no Bird. Good luck to him, but the NBA will be a stretch for him.
Posted by: K2K-Man on February 14, 2008 1:33PM CST
With all that's been said, do any of you really know what this kid can do? "hey der how bout dem Packers!" put it very well. Butch plays within a system that is very structured. As a great player he needs to play within that system. I say; what does he look like when you set him loose? Does he have a different gear? The PIT will be a way to find out.
OK, I understand what you're saying Brett. My whole point was just that he's not good enough to play in the NBA. Not athletic enough. Not skilled enough. Not quick enough. Not strong enough. Not dynamic enough. Just not GOOD enough. Yeah, he's a decent college player and that game winner he hit the other day was great but "decent' college players don't make the pro's. The end.
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