For most of the 2000s, Butler's men's basketball starting lineup was determined in October and rarely deviated. In five seasons, the same players started every game.
Coach Brad Stevens juggled several lineups last season, but nothing like this year's circus act. He has employed seven lineups and started 10 players. Only one -- Andrew Smith -- averages in double figures . . . and just barely, at 10.1.
Butler, which plays Horizon League co-leader Cleveland State tonight at Hinkle Fieldhouse, has become a team needing the whole to be made up of many more parts to contend for a sixth successive conference title.
"It's a little change of pace," senior guard Ronald Nored said of the shifting lineups, "and I kind of like that."
Nored lost his spot in the starting lineup a year ago to Chase Stigall, but it was the only major change the team made. Stevens' move contributed to a 14-game run that sent Butler to the NCAA championship game.
This season, Butler features five players averaging seven or more points, and eight at 4.6 or more. The top rebounders are Smith (5.6) and two freshmen, Roosevelt Jones (5.9) and Kameron Woods (5.4). Balance is so extreme that eight players have led or shared the lead in scoring over the past nine games.
Butler customarily has a go-to player, sometimes two or three. It would be hard to identify someone like that now. Although the Bulldogs would benefit from more consistency, they have developed several players to trust in key situations or late in the shot clock.
"The good news is, we've had multiple guys at different times step up and make big plays," Stevens said. "Certainly, this team is reliant on a number of players to not only be contributing, but playing at their highest level."
Although Stevens never knows what to expect from one game to the next, neither do opponents, which makes Butler difficult to scout. Nored said opponents must "play against a whole team," and not prepare for one or two big scorers.
"They're having to play against a team where a lot of guys are contributing, a lot of guys are rebounding, a lot of guys are scoring, a lot of guys are making plays and a lot of guys are guarding," Nored said.
Publicly, Butler players say they have grown accustomed to the changing lineups and rotations. Substitutions have depended on who is hot in a given game, who is not, and what the matchups are.
"I think guys just roll with it," Smith said. "That's something that Butler's been known for -- just be ready to step up when it's your turn. Some games, your name will be called. Some games, we may not need you.
"Be ready to go with the flow. Whatever coach needs and whatever the team needs, I'm confident the individuals will step up."
Sophomore guard Chrishawn Hopkins started 10 of the first 11 games but has subsequently come off the bench.
After almost never playing in a game for two months last year, Hopkins helped change the momentum against Florida in the NCAA Tournament's Southeast Regional. His cameo contributed to Butler's second Final Four appearance.
"Every team has their own makeup," Hopkins said, "and ours is not the same as everybody else's."
Call Star reporter David Woods at (317) 444-6195.
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