2015-16 nonconference schedule analysis: Butler Bulldogs

2014-15 saw Butler have an absolutely loaded nonconference schedule: Battle 4 Atlantis (North Carolina, Oklahoma, Georgetown), Indiana, Tennessee, and others. While 2015-16's schedule isn't quite that good, there are still a lot of games to be excited for on this schedule.

One of the things that sticks out on Butler's nonconference schedule is that they don't play a true road game until they head to Cincinnati on December 2. They play in Puerto Rico the week before Thanksgiving, but those are neutral site games (against Missouri State Nov. 19, Temple or Minnesota Nov. 20).

In fact, that game against Cincinnati is Butler's only true road nonconference contest. Aside from the games in Puerto Rico and Cincinnati, Butler's only game in the nonconference slate not at Hinkle Fieldhouse is the Crossroads Classic on Dec. 19, in which they'll face Purdue. That game is at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, which is 6.4 miles from Butler's campus. Yes, Butler plays a "neutral site" game closer to their campus than DePaul's home games are to DePaul's campus.

What do all these home games in the nonconference slate mean for the Bulldogs? It means they better take care of business. In their two seasons in the Big East, Butler is 13-0 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in home nonconference games. I don't see that changing this year. Tennessee has the best shot at coming in to Hinkle and knocking off the Bulldogs, but Tennessee's leading scorer from last year, Josh Richardson, who scored 20 in the Vols' win over Butler, is now in the NBA.

So there you have it. Butler's nonconference schedule should be highlighted by the Tennessee and Purdue games, as our Mike Murtaugh discusses here.

Below is a schedule featuring start times and TV information for Butler's 2015-16 nonconference games.