SEASON PREVIEW: Butler Women’s Basketball Enters Season With High Expectations, Comprised of Returning Experience

EL DORADO, Kan. – Butler women's basketball is set for the 2023-24 season and they enter the year with some preseason hype.

The Grizzlies are the preseason No. 7 ranked team in the NJCAA as well as being picked to win the KJCCC by the conference's coaches. Head coach Mike Helmer says there's a balance on how to handle the preseason hype.

"One thing we talk about is obviously it puts a target on your back," said Helmer. "We are big on the fact that there's two reasons we received the preseason praise. One is what came before, the history of what we have done over the last 10-12 years. Two is that we had a great preseason in front of the voters in our scrimmages. We did the work, the people before us did the work, so let's go ahead and accept it and let's take it on our shoulders and earn it.

The Grizzlies are coming off a season last year where they finished 24-7 overall and 18-6 in conference play. Adding to that, they are loaded with experience. The roster is comprised of seven returners, two sophomore transfers and two true freshmen.

"We've never had this many returners," said Helmer. "Its been nice to have that many back. It makes it easy in practice because I can say something, and they automatically know what I'm saying and can take over and execute it."

Two of the returners that Grizzly fans may be the most familiar with are forward Freddie Wallace and guard Maycee James. Wallace led the team with 17.1 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per game on her way to being named an NJCAA third-team All-American and the KJCCC Freshman of the Year. James was a second team All-KJCCC honoree after averaging 6.3 points per game, 6.7 rebounds per game and 2.7 assists per game. Coach Helmer has been pleased with their progress as they enter year two in El Dorado.

"I've seen a lot more consistency from them," said Helmer. "Freddie's desire to be great has improved dramatically from her freshman season. This year she has really pushed herself and wants to take over games. Maycee has one switch and it's on all the time. She doesn't take plays off. She's working on her consistency offensively but she's come along really well and makes a difference in every aspect of the game for us.

Although Butler brings in two transfers, the experience they bring to the table has them ready and capable as leaders.

"We have two sophomore transfers in Tiana Winna (Seward) and Brittanie Brickhouse (Colby) who are new to our program but have experience in the Jayhawk Conference. It's nice for them because they are just trying to figure out our schemes instead of how everything else works like freshmen have to."

"Tiana, we knew her out of high school," said Helmer. "I screwed up and did not offer her, admittedly. I loved what she did at Seward last year and loved coaching against her. When she decided to leave Seward, she wanted to be closer to home so that was a great opportunity for us."

Alba Cunill, another new face for the Grizzlies, hails from Berga, Barcelona, Spain. She is the first international student-athlete Helmer and staff have brought on in his 16-years at Butler.

"Alba is awesome, she's getting better every day," said Helmer. "It's a big adjustment for her culturally. She spent a year at a prep school in New York so she's still getting adjusted to Kansas."

When asked how he wants this team's identity to look, it was simple for Helmer.

"I expect this team to be one of the best I have ever had defensively," said Helmer. "I would love to not have to set up on offense because we are so good rebounding and defensively that we are getting to the outlets and getting easy layups. I think we will be the fastest team in the league."

The Grizzlies are sick of practicing against each other and ready to face other competition. They open things up at the Power Plant for the first two games of the season. Helmer notes that the schedule is tough, but that's normal for the Grizzlies.

"The schedule is difficult," said Helmer. "We don't have many teams that want to come play here because of how successful we are at the Power Plant. Teams traditionally don't come here so we have to schedule home-and-aways in our non-conference schedule. Our scheule goes into another gear when conference play begins. As far as depth top to bottom, I feel our league is the number one league in the nation."

Butler opens the season at home vs. Bethany College JV on Thursday, Nov. 2, and then vs. Tabor JV on Tuesday, Nov. 7, for a doubleheader as the men play Labette later that evening.