Ronald Nored, a 6-foot, 175 pound guard at Butler, was named Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the league's first two-time winner.

"I've faced some tough defenders in the SEC, but I've never been defended by a guy off the ball the way he can trail screens," said teammate Rotnei Clarke, who transferred from Arkansas. "The way he can guard off the ball is unbelievable. I've never seen anything like it.

"In my opinion, he's the best defender in the country.”

Butler has climbed to 41st in points allowed per 100 possessions -- better than every other Butler team in the past decade except for the 2009-10 national runners-up who were 33-5.