
Purdue Fort Wayne, Butler meet in NIT
Butler Bulldogs (16-17, 5-14 Big East) at Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons (26-8, 20-3 Horizon)
Fort Wayne, Indiana; Friday, 7 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Purdue Fort Wayne and Butler play in the National Invitation Tournament.
The Mastodons have gone 20-3 against Horizon teams, with a 6-5 record in non-conference play. Purdue Fort Wayne is fourth in the Horizon in rebounding with 31.8 rebounds. Amellia Bromenschenkel paces the Mastodons with 5.2 boards.
The Bulldogs are 5-14 against Big East opponents. Butler ranks fourth in the Big East shooting 33.3% from 3-point range.
Purdue Fort Wayne averages 76.0 points, 13.1 more per game than the 62.9 Butler gives up. Butler has shot at a 42.6% rate from the field this season, 4.8 percentage points higher than the 37.8% shooting opponents of Purdue Fort Wayne have averaged.
TOP PERFORMERS: Lauren Ross is averaging 15.4 points for the Mastodons. Bromenschenkel is averaging 11.6 points over the last 10 games.
Karsyn Norman is averaging 3.5 points for the Bulldogs. Kilyn McGuff is averaging 14.3 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Mastodons: 7-3, averaging 72.8 points, 30.3 rebounds, 14.9 assists, 8.2 steals and 2.8 blocks per game while shooting 46.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 59.8 points per game.
Bulldogs: 4-6, averaging 57.4 points, 26.1 rebounds, 15.7 assists, 5.2 steals and 2.0 blocks per game while shooting 43.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 68.0 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
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USA Today
12 hours ago
- USA Today
New Jersey duo hoping to make impact at U.S. Open in neighboring Pennsylvania
New Jersey duo hoping to make impact at U.S. Open in neighboring Pennsylvania There are 156 golfers in this week's U.S. Open, but only two of them understand the beauty of the Navesink River and the aggravation of Route 35 traffic. A pair of New Jersey lifers. Chris Gotterup hails from Little Silver and attended Christian Brothers Academy. Ryan McCormick was raised in Middletown and went to Mater Dei High School. They aren't the sole New Jerseyans in the field this week at Oakmont Country Club in the Pittsburgh suburbs, but they are the only ones who didn't split at the first opportunity. Gotterup earned All-America honors at Rutgers, while McCormick became the Big East individual champion at St. John's. 'I know he takes great pride in that, and I take great pride in it,' Gotterup said of their local bona fides. 'There are good players who grow up in Jersey and go away to college. We're two of the only guys who have toughed it out and climbed through the ranks in a place where you wouldn't think you could do it.' Gotterup, 25, is making his second appearance at the U.S. Open after also qualifying in 2022. This is the first U.S. Open for McCormick, 33. More: 'It better not be easier when you're done': 5 things I learned from Gil Hanse on Oakmont 'It speaks to how quality the golf is in New Jersey and especially in Monmouth County,' McCormick said. 'It's awesome that we're both out here playing still.' Oakmont is an iconic venue, one of the most demanding in the country. When they tee off Thursday, however, don't expect guys who have played through tough conditions for much of their lives to be intimidated. 'I like to describe myself as someone who is gritty, and I know Ryan would say the same thing,' Gotterup said. 'That's just part of our New Jersey roots.' More: What would an 18 handicap shoot at Oakmont? Pros weigh in, and their answers are hilarious Chris Gotterup: 'Still earning my place' Golf is a funny game. In 2024, Gotterup was in good position to qualify for the U.S. Open, but he three-putted the final hole and missed the cutoff by one stroke. This year, at Canoe Brook Country Club in Summit, he rallied with a six-under final round to punch a ticket. 'It was looking like for a long time that I wasn't going to be here,' he said. 'I turned on the jets at the end, and it ended up being enough.' He'll need those jets at Oakmont, where he's grouped with Joakim Langergren and Mason Howell. They tee off at 8:46 a.m. Thursday and 2:31 p.m. Friday. 'In a perfect world, you'd be out here for two straight weeks trying to learn every little nuance that you could,' Gotterup said after a couple of practice rounds on the course. 'There are some holes where it breaks your brain; if you're in the rough and you hit it 40 yards short of the green, it's going to get there. It's a mental challenge more than anything.' It doesn't hurt that he won a PGA Tour event last year, shooting 22 under par at the Myrtle Beach Classic in South Carolina. 'That honestly feels like a long time ago,' Gotterup said. 'I feel like I'm still earning my place out here.' He's done that since graduating CBA. At Rutgers, he developed from an average college golfer into a star, and as a postgraduate at the University of Oklahoma he won the Fred Haskins Award as the most outstanding Division I golfer in 2022. At a time when the professionalization of college football and basketball is casting a cloud over the future of other intercollegiate sports, Gotterup can attest to the virtues of his time on campus. 'There were so many stepping stones for me that, even if I was good enough at Rutgers to turn pro, I would not be in the same position I am now,' he said. 'I needed those years of getting the crap beat out of me and coach yelling at me and teachers telling me, that I wasn't trying hard enough in school. There are all these pieces that built up to get my feet underneath me to the point where I can finally kick some (butt).' His biggest piece of advice for the current crop of high school golf standouts? 'Go somewhere where you're going to be comfortable and you're going to play -- for me, that was Rutgers,' he said. 'And it's important to not get burnt out. Do other stuff, play basketball. You don't need to act like a tour pro at 17.' Ryan McCormick: 'You're in the right spot' It's been a roller-coaster couple of years for McCormick, who lives in Florida now but spends his summers in Jersey. He earned his PGA Tour card in 2023 but took his lumps. 'It was difficult and I learned a lot and I got my butt kicked – and I played well a few weeks out of the year,' he said of the PGA Tour. 'But in our business, there is really no long-term security unless you win.' He ended up on the Korn Ferry Tour this year. 'Every time you advance in anything, but especially in golf, you play against better competition and better courses, you find out about yourself and how good your game is really, and what you need to do to get better,' he said. 'As frustrating as last year was, I learned a lot, and I'm a lot better for it now. I'm probably the best version of myself with my golf game that I've been in my life.' It all came together June 2, when McCormick punched his ticket to Oakmont by winning his U.S. Open qualifier by a whopping five strokes. McCormick is a huge Seton Hall basketball fan – his family has owned season tickets since the 1990s – and he drew an analogy that hardwood aficionados will appreciate. 'It was like Darius Lane or Jeremy Hazell,' he said, referencing former Pirate sharpshooters. 'When they get hot, you just keep feeding them. I hit it really well.' In Oakmont, he's grouped with Trevor Cone and amateur Zachary Pollo. Their tee times are 2:20 Thursday and 8:35 a.m. Friday. 'I've been trying to qualify for the U.S. Open since I was 15,' McCormick said. 'I've always watched every day. It's my favorite golf event.' Part of his typical pre-event preparation is playing a video-game version of the course on PGA Tour 2K. Anything to gain a little extra insight. 'I always try to do my research on the golf course that I'm playing,' McCormick said. 'I've been spending time looking at the past US Opens there, watching the final rounds of the last three of them. You never know what you might pick up on that might help you out there. 'I know they've changed the course, But as far as venues go, this is probably one of the top U.S. Opens you'd want play – you think of Winged Foot, Pebble Beach and Oakmont. So to qualify in a year when it's at such a historic venue is exciting.' If he does something notable this week, you may see replays of a strange clip from April, when he played a round in Georgia with tape over his mouth to control frustrated outbursts. 'It really went all over the world through all different types of news outlets,' McCormick said. 'It was an unbelievable thing that I had no idea was going to get so much attention.' McCormick said the idea was to enhance his focus. 'I've never been afraid to try anything that will help me,' he said. 'It was an exercise that I had in an old book of mine – go play with earplugs in, go play without talking, go hit some shots with a blindfold. Eliminating the senses. I took that to the extreme obviously. The feedback was out of control. But the golfers really understood, and I'm glad for the most part people found it funny.' McCormick's U.S. Open debut marks a full-circle moment for his family. His father Mark McCormick, the longtime head pro at Suburban Golf Club in Union, qualified at age 49 in 2012. It's in the blood, for sure. 'When we moved to Middletown, my dad put this small green in the backyard,' Ryan said. 'My brother (also named Mark) would sometimes practice with me and make up leaderboards for all four majors. I remember us doing the 'U.S. Open' a lot. Now I'll be on the real leaderboard and he won't have to create a fake leaderboard for me to compete on.' Dream big. That's Ryan McCormick's advice anyone growing up in the Garden State who might have a future in golf. 'I always believed in myself, but there were plenty of times as a junior and even in high school when I got my butt kicked, and I just kept working,' he said. 'Just know that between Chris and I and Max Greyserman (a Short Hills native who also qualified), it shows that if your dreams are to play on the PGA Tour, you're in the right spot. Just keep working on it.' Jerry Carino has covered the New Jersey sports scene since 1996. Contact him at jcarino@
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
NBA Trade Idea Gives Warriors' Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler New All-Star Teammate
NBA Trade Idea Gives Warriors' Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler New All-Star Teammate originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Golden State Warriors made a blockbuster trade in February, acquiring six-time NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat. Advertisement The Butler trade saved the Warriors' season. Golden State acquired Butler on Feb. 6. The team lost to the Los Angeles Lakers that night, dropping their record to 25-26. The Warriors went on a major run after Butler made his Dubs debut, going 23-7. Golden State finished the season as the seventh seed in the Western Conference and faced the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 2025 playoffs. Behind Butler and Steph Curry, the Warriors beat the Rockets in seven games. However, the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated Golden State in the second round in five games. Curry suffered a Grade 1 left hamstring strain in Game 1 and missed the rest of the series. Golden State Warriors stars Steph Curry (right) and Jimmy Butler get a new center in this NBA trade idea. Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Many people believe Curry and Butler need another All-Star scorer next to them to compete for the championship next season, which is why Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report proposed that the Warriors trade for Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic this offseason. Advertisement Bailey proposed the Dubs trade Moses Moody and Buddy Hield to the Bulls for Vucevic, the No. 45 pick in this year's draft and a 2028 second-round pick. "For the Warriors, this is a bit of a desperation move, since Vucevic is 34 and on an expiring contract," Bailey wrote. "His long-term value is nowhere near Moody's (hence, Chicago's inclusion of some draft capital). "But they were woefully thin at the 5 in 2024-25. And even at this age, Vuc is a starting center who can pass, space the floor and fit into Golden State's read-and-react system." Vucevic is a two-time All-Star. He averaged 18.5 points and 10.1 rebounds for the Bulls this season while shooting 53.0% from the field, 40.2% from 3 and 80.5% from the foul line. Advertisement The 34-year-old Vucevic will make $21.5 million next season in the final year of his contract. Vucevic has played for the Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic and Bulls. He has career averages of 17.2 points and 10.5 rebounds. Related: NBA Trade Idea Sends Warriors Forward to Bulls This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 8, 2025, where it first appeared.


Indianapolis Star
2 days ago
- Indianapolis Star
Butler grad left golf team, became a dentist, qualified for U.S. Open course where he caddied
After three semesters on the Butler golf team, Matt Vogt had a tough decision to make. He could stay on the golf team and continue the mental and physical grind he felt adjusting to college and balancing his studies. He could find somewhere else to continue to play golf, or the suburban Pittsburgh native could stay at Butler and focus on his academics. "I decided to stay at Butler and not play golf," Vogt said. "I think it's a testament to how awesome Butler is as a school. ... I'm a Bulldog through and through, even though my time on the golf team was pretty brief." Staying at Butler shaped Vogt's life, personally and professionally, and set the course for him to qualify as an amateur for the 125th U.S. Open, one of 16 players to do so through local qualifying out of a pool of more than 10,000 golfers. The 2013 Butler graduate will return to the Oakmont Country Club, in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, a place where he caddied as a kid, for the pre-tournament leadup to Thursday's first round. Vogt grew up playing travel baseball. He spent time at his local course at the Connoquenessing Country Club, dabbling in the sport before taking it seriously heading into high school. Vogt credits his parents, especially his father Jim, with supporting him and helping his love for golf grow. Vogt didn't learn the game from his father, but Jim was always willing to offer encouragement. Jim died from colon cancer April 6. Playing in the U.S. Open during Father's Day weekend will make the tournament much more meaningful for Vogt. "I could've told him I wanted to do anything, and he'd support me in that," Vogt said. "He and my mother, they drove me to tournaments. They tried to figure out ways for me to play and practice, even during the hard times around the 2008 recession. "They always put us first as kids. We were always, especially by my dad, so loved. I carry him with me in all this because I know he'd be so pumped to see me at Oakmont. I know he's watching." Vogt arrived at Butler in 2009. During his first two years on campus Gordon Hayward, Shelvin Mack and coach Brad Stevens led the Butler basketball team to consecutive national championship games. He met his wife, Hilary in chemistry class his second week of school. After leaving the golf team, competing in the sport he grew up playing was no longer his focus. It wasn't until he finished dental school and started his own practice in 2018, The Dentists at Gateway Crossing in McCordsville, that he rediscovered his love for the game. "I caught the bug again," Vogt said. "I said I'm going to try and play, try to improve, try to play some tournaments and year over year, as our dental practice grew, my golf game grew and my ability to get out and play in amateur tournaments grew. "Now that we have a very capable team, I'm very blessed. It allows me to say, 'OK, I'd like to play in this tournament this week, this is important to me.' Let's make sure our patients are taken care of. Let's make sure the team is squared away, and I can do that without leaving patients without a dentist for the week." In order to qualify for the U.S. Open as an amateur, Vogt played in an 18-hole local qualifier at Otter Creek in Columbus. Four out of 82 people advanced to the 36-hole event known as "The Longest Day in Golf." Vogt had his choice of 10 final qualifying spots; he chose Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla, Washington. Vogt finished first during qualifying, shooting two 4-under par 68s, and claimed one of the two available spots in the U.S. Open. Earning a chance to return home to play in one of golf's biggest tournaments is a special opportunity for Vogt. The Seneca Valley grad has already heard from numerous former members and caddies, wishing him well ahead of the tournament. Vogt said he's embracing the support he's received and is ready for an awesome week, regardless of how he plays. Having an intimate knowledge of the course will be a benefit for Vogt, but he admitted that the course has changed since the last time he was there. "The bones of the course are still what I remember, but they've tweaked little things," Vogt said. "Where this bunker is. How this slope works. Those little restorations are things that I have to wrap my head around for practice and practice rounds. "Oakmont is an incredibly difficult golf course day to day, but I've never seen it in U.S. Open conditions. The rough is high. The greens are firm and fast. That's going to be the biggest shock to the system. ... I know what Oakmont is. I've walked the course hundreds of times, but how do we prepare to play it under U.S. Open conditions and all the pressure and attention that comes with that? It will be a challenge, but I'm excited for the opportunity." Insider: Hard reset on Butler roster begs question: Can Thad Matta's roster structure work? Win or lose, Vogt's ambitions of becoming a full-time professional golfer have passed. He's fully committed to returning to his dental practice after his time at the U.S. Open is done, but qualifying for the prestigious tournament opens up more opportunities as an amateur golfer. Vogt is automatically qualified for the U.S. Amateur Tournament, the U.S. Mid-Amateur (for golfers 25 and up) and the Western Amateur. Vogt added that he always wants to put his family and career first, a realization he made back at Butler when he decided to leave the golf team. Returning to Oakmont will complete a full-circle moment that began years ago in Indianapolis. Butler is where Vogt grew as a person, battling through the doubt that came with his decision to walk away from the sport. In 2011, he couldn't have been further from a U.S. Open qualifier. Looking back on that time now, Vogt can tell his younger self to stay steadfast in his faith and trust that things will work out.