Facing a swarming Ohio State defense Sunday, Emily Butler had the unlucky task of bringing the ball into the frontcourt.
Butler, the starting point guard for the Northwestern women’s basketball team, needed several sharp cuts and through-the-leg dribbles simply to advance the ball. Then, once she crossed the center stripe, Butler found an offense completely reliant on her drives and dishes to create scoring opportunities.
As tough as it sounds, NU’s sophomore court general has gotten used to it.
“I’m a point guard, and my job is to handle the ball,” Butler said. “I don’t mind doing it, and until we have other players to go to, I’ll keep doing it.”
Butler, who started 24 of 28 games last season, was thrown into a leadership role after backcourt mate Dana Leonard sat out this season’s first few contests with mononucleosis. With Leonard’s invaluable experience and 9.9 points per game bumped from the starting lineup, Butler was charged with both running the offense and being the offense.
Thus far, she’s risen to the occasion.
Although NU has struggled to a 4-9 (0-3 Big Ten) start, Butler leads the team in scoring (14.1 points per game), assists (4.5) and minutes (31.8).
“Scoring was never my role on this team,” Butler said. “Getting at the basket has been pretty easy for me, though. I’ve been surprised I can do it so well at the college level.”
Butler’s numbers are even more surprising considering she missed spring and summer practices with a nagging stress fracture in her left tibia. Redshirting was a viable option as Butler remained inactive one week into fall practice.
But watching Butler play through the pain, NU coach June Olkowski slowly worked her back into action. Now Butler is one of two Cats players to suit up for every contest this season.
“I was worn down after my first year,” said Butler, who averaged 6.8 points and 3.4 assists per game last season. “I needed the time to regroup. Last year was a learning opportunity, and I hadn’t had time to process it all. The break was really good for me.”
Added Olkowski: “For not being able to condition and work on her game, she’s playing really well. The pressure has been on because Dana has been out.”
While her offensive statistics would indicate a successful start, Butler’s tendency to turn over the ball – 82 giveaways in 13 games – has Olkowski worried.
Ten to 15 seconds often run off the clock before NU sets up its offense, allowing defenders to home in on Butler and clog the passing lanes.
“I’d like to see her making better decisions,” Olkowski said. “She sometimes thinks too quickly before her body can react to it. I’m just trying to get her to make the easiest play. With more experience and composure on her side, we’ll be a better team.”
Butler has heard her coach’s concerns and works on her ball handling against speedy defenders in practices.
“I’ve sometimes been holding onto the ball too long,” Butler said. “I have to get into the mindset that everyone needs to get involved.”
Heading into the heart of the Big Ten schedule with today’s home game against Illinois, NU boasts a squad close to full-strength, perhaps a boon for Butler. Leonard made her first start of the season in Sunday’s 66-61 loss to Ohio State, scoring 19 points and allowing Butler to spread the ball around. And with Tami Sears hoping to recapture her scoring touch, Butler may soon return to her primary role of directing traffic on the floor.
And that suits her just fine.
“I’ll have to adapt to having them back,” Butler said of Sears and Leonard. “We’re so much better when we have them in the game.”
