Here is a feature story that I wrote on Howard's first year, for the Connersville News-Examiner.
Butler freshman Matt Howard of Connersville is surrounded by the five seniors on the Bulldogs' roster Saturday late in the victory over the University of Detroit Mercy at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Left to right: A.J. Graves, Drew Streicher, Julian Betko, Howard, Mike Green and Pete Campbell.
Howard doing just fine in transition to college
Butler freshman Matt Howard of Connersville is surrounded by the five seniors on the Bulldogs' roster Saturday late in the victory over the University of Detroit Mercy at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Left to right: A.J. Graves, Drew Streicher, Julian Betko, Howard, Mike Green and Pete Campbell.
INDIANAPOLIS - Making the transition from high school to college can be hard on some.
Add in the pressure of playing for a highly-ranked national basketball team, and that pressure can be daunting.
But for one of Connersville's own products, this is the life he lives.
Former Spartan basketball player Matt Howard has made his life around the Butler University campus a little tougher than most people can say.
He can be found, almost on a daily basis, roaming the sidelines of BU's famous Hinkle Fieldhouse during the season.
According to Howard, the pressure has not been as high as many people might expect.
"You can say there was pressure, but I never felt like there was," Howard said.
Handed a big dose of confidence from his Bulldog teammates has made things a lot easier for the 6-8 post player.
"The guys all incorperated me in and told me that they were going to pass me the ball, which has made it pretty easy," Howard said
Butler head coach Brad Stevens says that Howard has probably had some butterflies since coming onto the scene but he has not showed it.
"I'm sure he has gotten some (jitters) but he hasn't acted that way," Stevens said.
Even playing on the road with the opponents fans booing, Howard has never felt a lot of pressure on him or the team.
In fact, there's been a much bigger emphasis on winning at home.
"Usually as a player, that gets you ready to go even more when the people talk to you and taunt you," Howard said. "For me, it's never been pressure on the road, sometimes it's even more pressure here to win because people expect you to win."
And when Howard found out that 800 Spartan fans were coming to see him play, there was more excitement than anything.
"It's exciting to know everyone came up here to support me," Howard said after the Matt Howard Day game at Butler on Saturday. "It wasn't like there was any pressure on me, I never feel that way. But, it was disappointing to get two fouls right away."
Howard's presence on the court has played a big part of Butler's success.
"He is a great asset to the team," senior guard A.J. Graves said. "He scores in the post and opens things up for us on the outside."
Starting the season, Howard was the sixth-man for the 14th-ranked Butler squad.
But on Dec. 6 against Detroit, Howard got the call after senior teammate Pete Campbell went down with a knee injury against Ohio State.
Howard took full advantage of the starting opportunity, scoring 20 points while grabbing a dozen rebounds.
Those 12 caroms are a career high this season for the freshman.
Since Campbell went down, Howard has been the starter in every game, even when Campbell returned from the injury.
"We were probably at our peak offensively when Pete went down," Howard said of Campbell going down to injury. "Then, we had a few rough patches. It made me play a lot more and got me more used to the game."
As a freshman, Howard has completed or is in the process of claiming many records in the Butler record book such as, all-time single season scoring for a freshman.
He was also the first freshman to record a double-double since 1998-99.
Howard sits atop the Horizon League as the leading freshman scorer (12.9 PPG) and rebounder (5.8 RPG).
He was chosen as the Horizon League Player of the Week twice on Dec. 3 and Jan. 14 after leading Butler to wins against Ohio State, Loyola, Green Bay and Milwaukee.
In the game against Ohio State, Howard recorded a career-high 23 points after battling the Buckeye's 7-0 Kosta Koufos.
Howard says that his favorite moment since donning the Butler uniform was Thursday night when the Bulldogs captured their second straight Horizon League crown.
"I think cutting the nets down in front of a big crown at Wright State would rank at the top of the list," Howard said.
Howard says that the quickness of the game is one of the biggest things that he has had to become accustomed to in college.
"The game is a lot quicker," Howard said. "I have to play defense a lot more now, and have to get out to guard on people."
With all the national exposure, going to class has been a little different for Howard.
"You really don't think about the national exposure, but its a lot different having a different schedule with not going to a class from eight to three," Howard said.
Howard feels that traveling for the basketball team is a great bonus because you get to go places that you would never be able to go.
"Its great going to different places," Howard said of his road experiences. "I would have never made it to Alaska if I had not been playing on the team. And while on the road you get the experience of playing in all kinds of different gyms."
Just as there are so many positive things, there is often a negative or two.
As a college student-athlete, Howard lists missing class the only negative of the travel life.
"The minus would be missing class and having to make up the work," he said.
As a kid, Howard like others, watched the NCAA tournament on television in March every year. But this year, Howard gets to live a dream and play in the tournament.
"It's going to be a lot different. It was just last year you're watching these guys play," Howard said. "They say its a whole different experience and it will be very interesting to see how it plays out."
Howard and the Bulldogs head into the Horizon League tournament which begins Tuesday.
Butler recieved a bye until the semifinal round on Saturday as it are the top seed in the bracket.
Friday and Saturday's game are to be played at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Add in the pressure of playing for a highly-ranked national basketball team, and that pressure can be daunting.
But for one of Connersville's own products, this is the life he lives.
Former Spartan basketball player Matt Howard has made his life around the Butler University campus a little tougher than most people can say.
He can be found, almost on a daily basis, roaming the sidelines of BU's famous Hinkle Fieldhouse during the season.
According to Howard, the pressure has not been as high as many people might expect.
"You can say there was pressure, but I never felt like there was," Howard said.
Handed a big dose of confidence from his Bulldog teammates has made things a lot easier for the 6-8 post player.
"The guys all incorperated me in and told me that they were going to pass me the ball, which has made it pretty easy," Howard said
Butler head coach Brad Stevens says that Howard has probably had some butterflies since coming onto the scene but he has not showed it.
"I'm sure he has gotten some (jitters) but he hasn't acted that way," Stevens said.
Even playing on the road with the opponents fans booing, Howard has never felt a lot of pressure on him or the team.
In fact, there's been a much bigger emphasis on winning at home.
"Usually as a player, that gets you ready to go even more when the people talk to you and taunt you," Howard said. "For me, it's never been pressure on the road, sometimes it's even more pressure here to win because people expect you to win."
And when Howard found out that 800 Spartan fans were coming to see him play, there was more excitement than anything.
"It's exciting to know everyone came up here to support me," Howard said after the Matt Howard Day game at Butler on Saturday. "It wasn't like there was any pressure on me, I never feel that way. But, it was disappointing to get two fouls right away."
Howard's presence on the court has played a big part of Butler's success.
"He is a great asset to the team," senior guard A.J. Graves said. "He scores in the post and opens things up for us on the outside."
Starting the season, Howard was the sixth-man for the 14th-ranked Butler squad.
But on Dec. 6 against Detroit, Howard got the call after senior teammate Pete Campbell went down with a knee injury against Ohio State.
Howard took full advantage of the starting opportunity, scoring 20 points while grabbing a dozen rebounds.
Those 12 caroms are a career high this season for the freshman.
Since Campbell went down, Howard has been the starter in every game, even when Campbell returned from the injury.
"We were probably at our peak offensively when Pete went down," Howard said of Campbell going down to injury. "Then, we had a few rough patches. It made me play a lot more and got me more used to the game."
As a freshman, Howard has completed or is in the process of claiming many records in the Butler record book such as, all-time single season scoring for a freshman.
He was also the first freshman to record a double-double since 1998-99.
Howard sits atop the Horizon League as the leading freshman scorer (12.9 PPG) and rebounder (5.8 RPG).
He was chosen as the Horizon League Player of the Week twice on Dec. 3 and Jan. 14 after leading Butler to wins against Ohio State, Loyola, Green Bay and Milwaukee.
In the game against Ohio State, Howard recorded a career-high 23 points after battling the Buckeye's 7-0 Kosta Koufos.
Howard says that his favorite moment since donning the Butler uniform was Thursday night when the Bulldogs captured their second straight Horizon League crown.
"I think cutting the nets down in front of a big crown at Wright State would rank at the top of the list," Howard said.
Howard says that the quickness of the game is one of the biggest things that he has had to become accustomed to in college.
"The game is a lot quicker," Howard said. "I have to play defense a lot more now, and have to get out to guard on people."
With all the national exposure, going to class has been a little different for Howard.
"You really don't think about the national exposure, but its a lot different having a different schedule with not going to a class from eight to three," Howard said.
Howard feels that traveling for the basketball team is a great bonus because you get to go places that you would never be able to go.
"Its great going to different places," Howard said of his road experiences. "I would have never made it to Alaska if I had not been playing on the team. And while on the road you get the experience of playing in all kinds of different gyms."
Just as there are so many positive things, there is often a negative or two.
As a college student-athlete, Howard lists missing class the only negative of the travel life.
"The minus would be missing class and having to make up the work," he said.
As a kid, Howard like others, watched the NCAA tournament on television in March every year. But this year, Howard gets to live a dream and play in the tournament.
"It's going to be a lot different. It was just last year you're watching these guys play," Howard said. "They say its a whole different experience and it will be very interesting to see how it plays out."
Howard and the Bulldogs head into the Horizon League tournament which begins Tuesday.
Butler recieved a bye until the semifinal round on Saturday as it are the top seed in the bracket.
Friday and Saturday's game are to be played at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
.