Da'Sean's Determination
November 04, 2006 09:38 AM | General
November 4, 2006
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Life can be difficult for any college freshman. There is an adjustment period that comes with being away from home for the first time, meeting new people, keeping up with your studies and gaining the self-confidence to be on your own.
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| Da'Sean Butler is one of eight promising freshmen on West Virginia's roster this year.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks |
Now consider the case of Mountaineer forward Da’Sean Butler. One of eight true freshmen on the team this season, the athletic swingman has spent the summer and his first semester at WVU tackling those very same challenges while also trying to learn two forward positions in Coach John Beilein’s complex offensive and defensive systems.
The Newark, N.J., native, who figures to be a key player in the Mountaineers’ rotation this season, admits that trying to learn both forward spots has been quite a challenge.
“It is always harder to learn two spots rather than just one,” he said. “You have to know each position both on offense and defense and you have to know where you are at on the court at all times. It is hard but I am determined and sticking it out.”
Butler, who averaged 15.1 points and 11 rebounds per game as a senior at Bloomfield Tech last season, comes to West Virginia with heady credentials. The 6-foot-7-inch, 185-pounder was the nation’s 15th-rated forward according to Scout.com, and he turned down several other offers to sign with West Virginia. Early indications are that Butler could be a star in the making, fitting nicely out at the top in the 1-3-1 zone with his long arms and tremendous athletic ability.
Butler says the intensity and strain of a college practice is tougher than he anticipated.
“Coach Beilein always says practices are way harder than the games and I didn’t believe him at first but when we got to the scrimmage game, I realized his practices are really harder,” Butler said.
Butler says more than the physical aspect of the game, practice provides him with a tough mental challenge as he tries to absorb the offensive system and understand the value of each Mountaineer possession.
“It is tough on you mentally because they averaged seven turnovers in the Big East last season and sometimes you catch yourself having more than seven turnovers just that day in practice,” Butler said.
With the season opener against Mount St. Mary’s quickly approaching, Butler says he has made significant strides in understanding the West Virginia offense.
“I know a good bit of the offense. Coach tells me to be prepared because he wants me to know both sides of the floor and be able to play either forward spot,” Butler said. “He wants me to be ready because it is always important to know more than one spot. I am just doing what he says and stepping up to the challenge.”
The challenge of experiencing the speed of a live college basketball game is something Butler has been looking forward to.
“I am very excited because I have been looking forward to it for a while. After all the practices and all the workouts and being here for the summer, I am looking forward to seeing how college basketball is really played and stepping it up to a different level,” Butler said.
Beilein has always said that he believes team chemistry is one of the most underrated factors in building a successful program. One of the tools he uses to forge that bond is having all the freshmen live together their first year. While that has worked well in the past, there have never been this many Mountaineers living side by side.
“We’ve done that in the past but we have never had eight people at one time. The fact that they are all living together in Lincoln Hall and it is made to be a community atmosphere is good for them,” Beilein said.
Of all the challenges Butler has faced thus far, team chemistry has not been a factor. The players have gotten along since day one.
“We’re like brothers -- all eight of us. Dennis (Gagai) wasn’t here with us in the summer but as soon as school started he fit in with the crew very well,” Butler said. “We’re all very close and the older guys are leading us. The eight of us by our junior year should be a very good team.”
Fans can get an early peak at Butler and the rest of the Mountaineers Sunday evening at the WVU Coliseum when West Virginia takes on Fairmont State in an exhibition game at 6 pm.
Tickets are priced at $5.
