Sports Poets Society

Height:                 6-4 Weight:               225 Year:     RS Senior Hometown:       O'Fallon, Ill. High School:       O'Fallon Position:              G/F *Named Second Team All-BIG EAST in 2014-15. Quick Hits: •Named one of 15 finalists for the Julius Erving Award, given to the nation’s best small forward. •Honorable mention preseason All-BIG EAST. •Named to the 2014-15 BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Dec. 8, Jan. 19 and Jan. 26. •Sat out the 2013-14 season as a medical red-shirt (wrist injury suffered during team’s summer trip to Australia). •Lone Butler player to start all 36 games in 2012-13. •Named to the 2012-13 Atlantic 10 Conference All-Defensive Team. •Picked to the 2012-...

The famous Smokey mascot was introduced in 1953 by the late Rev. Bill Brooks who entered his prize-winning blue tick coon hound, "Brooks' Blue Smokey," in a contest at halftime of the Mississippi State game that season. The dogs were lined up on the old cheerleaders' ramp at Shields-Watkins Field and each dog was introduced over the loudspeaker and the student body cheered for their favorite, with "Blue Smokey" being the last hound introduced. When his name was called, he barked. The students cheered and Smokey threw his head back and barked again. This kept going until the stadium was in an uproar and UT had found its mascot, Smokey . The widely known and unique tradition of running through the 'T' on game days began in 1965 when Doug Dickey moved the teams' bench to the east side and had the team enter and simply turning around back to their sideline through a giant 'T' performed by the Pride of the Southland Band . Changes came in 1...

What’s a Volunteer?  Not your run of the mill school nickname, the proud legacy of the Volunteer calls Tennessee student-athletes to compete at an elevated standard when the stakes are highest. A Volunteer is the bravest breed of human from the boldest nation on Earth , fiercely proud to call Tennessee home whether the battle lies within its borders or in a land far away. THE FIRST VOLUNTEERS  In the aftermath of the Declaration of Independence, Americans were determined to create a nation that was free of the evils that had required them to resort to revolution . Among these was the fear of a large standing army . Such a force could be used to impose the will of an evil monarch and was therefore a threat to individual liberties. Instead, they would rely upon a volunteer army, citizen soldiers who would be called into service at times of crisis to serve their country.  When the people who would later be known as Tennesseans were first asked to volunteer...

Armani Moore Class: Senior Hometown: Kennesaw, Ga. High School: Mount Paran Christian School Height / Weight: 6-4 / 217 Position: F Experience: 3L Follow @Moe_Money42 PERSONAL Born March 25, 1994, in Swainsboro, Ga. Full name is Armani T'Bori Moore Parents are Claudette Moore and Elvin Clark Academic major: Communication Studies Recipient of The C&C Millwright Athletic Scholarship and The Richard & Melba Jackson Athletic Scholarship Endowment CAREER HIGHS Points: 29 // vs. Army, 11/24/15* Rebounds: 16 // vs. Gardner-Webb, 11/22/15 Assists: 7 // vs. ETSU, 12/31/14 Steals: 4 twice // last at Georgia Tech, 11/16/15 Blocks: 5 // vs. Kansas State, 12/6/14 Field Goals: 11 // last vs. Army, 11/24/15* 3-Pointers: 3 // vs. Army, 11/24/15* Free Throws: 10 // vs. Santa Clara, 11/27/14 Minutes: 38 // vs. Arkansas, 3/13/15 * Indicates most recent high HONORS 2016 NABC Good Works Team Nominee SEC Player of the Week (Jan. 19, 2015...

Class: Sophomore Hometown: Decatur, Ala. High School: La Lumiere School (Ind). Height / Weight: 6-1 / 175 Position: G Experience: 1L Prep School: Notre Dame Prep (Mass.) Follow @Teek3015 PERSONAL      Full name is Detrick Samon Mostella     Name pronounced: DEE-trick moss-TELL-uh     Born: Oct. 12, 1993, in Decatur, Ala.     Son of Dyra and Ricky Mostella     Academic major: Sport Management     Recipient of The Estep Athletic Scholarship CAREER HIGHS     Points: 17 // vs. VCU, 11/14/14     Rebounds: 6 // at Georgia Tech, 11/16/15     Assists: 4 // vs. Nebraska, 11/28/15*     Steals: 2 (2x) // last vs. LSU, 2/14/15     Blocks: 1 // vs. Mercer, 12/22/14     Field Goals: 5 // vs. VCU, 11/14/14     3-Pointers: 4 // vs. Kansas, 11/28/14     Free Throws: ...

Class: Freshman Hometown: Atlanta, Ga. High School: Wheeler HS     Height / Weight: 6-2 / 190 Position: G Experience: HS Follow @IDunkOnU23 PERSONAL     Full name is Shembari Anthony Phillips     First name pronounced: shem-BAR-ee     Born: March 21, 1997, in Atlanta, Ga.     Son of Loxola Phillips     Academic major: Journalism & Electronic Media     Recipient of The Holland Family Athletic Scholarship CAREER HIGHS     Points: 5 // vs. Army West Point, 11/24/15     Rebounds: 1 (2x) // last vs. Gardner-Webb, 11/22/15     Assists: 1 // vs. Marshall, 11/19/15     Steals: 1 (2x) // last vs. Army, 11/24/15     Blocks: 1 // vs. UNC Asheville, 11/13/15     Field Goals: 2 // vs. Army, 11/24/15*     3-Pointers:1 // vs. Army West Point, 11/24/15- ...

Class: Freshman Hometown: Milton, Ontario, Canada High School: Orangeville Prep Height / Weight: 6-9 / 215 Position: F Experience: HS Follow @KyleJamal4 PERSONAL     Full name is Kyle John Solomon Alexander     Born: Oct. 21, 1996, in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada     Son of Joseph and Audrey Alexander     His father, Joseph, played college basketball at Niagara and scored more than 1,200 points from 1982-86.     Has two older sisters, Kayla and Kesia.    His oldest sister, 6-4 center Kayla Alexander, played collegiately at Syracuse from 2009-13 and is the school's all-time leading scorer (2,024) and shot-blocker (350); she now plays for the WNBA's San Antonio Stars, who selected her with the eighth overall pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft.     Kesia Alexander graduated from Ottawa University with a double major in Political Science and Communications.   ...

Class: Junior Hometown: Newbern, Tenn. High School: Dyer County HS Height / Weight: 6-4 / 207 Position: G Experience: 1L Follow @datkiddRobert PERSONAL     Full name is Robert Lee Hubbs III     Academic major: Communications     Born Aug. 19, 1995, in Union City, Tenn.     Parents are Robert Jr. and Lesia Hubbs     Recipient of The Larry Pratt Athletic Scholarship Endowment CAREER HIGHS     Points: 19 // vs. Marshall, 11/19/15     Rebounds: 8 // at Missouri, 1/17/15     Assists: 4 (2x) // last vs. Gardner-Webb, 11/22/15*     Steals: 3 // vs. LSU, 2/14/15     Blocks: 2 // vs. NC State, 12/18/13     Field Goals: 8 (2x) // last vs. Gardner-Webb, 11/22/15*     3-Pointers: 3 (3x) // last vs. UNC Asheville, 11/13/15     Free Throws: 4 // vs. Marshall, 11/19/15  ...

Height:                 6-8 Weight:               246 Year:     Sophomore Hometown:       Schererville, Ind. High School:       Lake Central Position:              F Quick Hits: • First recruit signed by Butler head coach Brandon Miller. •Member of the 2014 Indiana All-Star Team. •Northwest Indiana Times Player of the Year •2014 First Team All-State. 2014-15 Highlights:  Played in all 34 games, including five as a starter...scored eight points in 14 minutes against Maine in his first collegiate game...had four rebounds and career-highs of two blocked shots and two steals against Loyola Maryland...came off the bench with six points and three rebounds in seven minutes against Georgetow...

Height:                 6-3 Weight:               195 Year:     Graduate Hometown:       Los Angeles, Calif. High School:       William Howard Taft Previous College:            St. Bonaventure Position:              G ** Gathers completed his degree at St. Bonaventure and will be immediately eligible to play for the Bulldogs in 2015-16 as a graduate transfer.  He has one season of eligibility remaining. Gathers missed all of the 2014-15 season at St. Bonaventure after undergoing hip surgery in the summer of 2014.  Personal:  The nephew of late Loyola Marymount star Hank Gathers ... son of Leah Harden and Derrick G...

Height:                 6-6 Weight:               220 Year:     Graduate Hometown:       Cicero, Ind. High School:       Hamilton Heights Previous College:            Indiana Position:              F *Transfer from Indiana University. *Son of former Butler player Brett Etherington (1987-91) 2014-15 Highlights: Played in 32 games...scored a career-high 11 points in 13 minutes in his first regular season game with the Bulldogs...came off the bench with three points and three rebounds against Chattanooga...scored nine points in a career-high 25 minutes against Loyola Maryland...came off the bench with six points, three rebounds and...

Height:                 6-4 Weight:               198 Year:     Junior Hometown:       St. Louis, Mo. High School:       MICDS - Mary Institute Country Day School Position:              G Quick Hits: •Earned a spot on the 2014-15 Butler roster during walk-on tryouts. •Competed as a member of Butler’s club basketball team as a freshman. 2014-15 Highlights:  Played in four games...hit first collegiate three-pointer and scored five points in his debut against Maine...played a career-high five minutes against Loyola Maryland...recorded three assists in four minutes against Kennesaw State. Background:   Leading scorer on Butler’s club basketball team in 2013-14...finished f...

Height:                 6-8 Weight:               233 Year:     Sophomore Hometown:       Lexington, Ky. High School:       Lafayette Position:              F Quick Hits: • Lafayette High School’s all-time leader in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots. •Ranked in the “Top 10” in Kentucky in scoring and rebounding as a senior. •One of seven finalists for Kentucky’s “Mr. Basketball” •Named to the Kentucky All-Star Team • First Team All-State in 2013-14 • Son of former Kentucky basketball letterwinner Johnathon Davis. 2014-15 Highlights:  Played in 17 games...scored first collegiate points with a pair of free throws against Maine...had two points and grabbed a career-high four re...

Height:                 6-6 Weight:               235 Year:     Sophomore Hometown:       Louisville, Ky. High School:       Ballard Position:              F Quick Hits: •Named BIG EAST Rookie of the Week on March 9. •One of three players in Ballard High School history to score 2,000 career points. •Grabbed over 1,000 career rebounds. •Named to the 2014 Kentucky All-Star Team. •First Team All-State in 2013-14. •Finalist for Kentucky “Mr. Basketball” honors. 2014-15 Highlights:  Named BIG EAST Rookie of the Week on March 9...played in all 34 games...scored 12 points in his first collegiate game against Maine...scored a career-high 23 points and grabbed a career-high seven rebounds...

Height:                 6-7 Weight:               236 Year:     Junior Hometown:       Portsmouth, R.I. High School:       Cushing Academy Position:              F *Named to the 2013-14 BIG EAST All-Rookie Team. Quick Hits: •Named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Feb. 2. •Selected to the 2013-14 BIG EAST All-Rookie Team. •Named the top Rhode Island high school player by ESPN in 2013. •Scored 2,268 points during his prep career at Portsmouth High School and Cushing Academy. •Named first team All-NEPSAC as a senior. •Led Portsmouth to the Division II state championship in 2010. •Helped Cushing Academy to the New England Class AA Championship in 2013. 2014-15 Highlights: Named t...

Height:                 6-10 Weight:               240 Year:     Freshman Hometown:       Cincinnati, Ohio High School:       Moeller Position:              C Prior to Butler:  Averaged 12.4 points and 10 rebounds as a junior at Moeller High School in Cincinnati...shot 66 percent from the field and 75 percent from the free throw line...widely-regarded as the top center prospect in Ohio heading into his senior season...honorable mention all-state and a Cincinnati Equirer All-Area selection as a junior...helped Moeller to the Ohio Division I regional finals as a junior...missed his senior season at Moeller due to a foot injury...returned to participate in summer workouts at Butler prior ...

Second Season as Butler Head Coach (23-11 Record) Fifth Season as a Head Coach 2014-15 Naismith National Coach of the Year Finalist 2014-15 Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year Finalist Head Coach, Gardner-Webb (Three Seasons) 2013 Big South Conference Coach of the Year 2014-present – Butler University, Head Coach 2013-14 – Butler University, Assistant Coach 2010-13 – Gardner-Webb, Head Coach 2008-10 – Ohio University, Assistant Coach 2003-08 – Gardner-Webb, Assistant Coach/Associate Head Coach 1999-2003 – Taylor University, Assistant Coach 1998-99 – Geneva College, Assistant Coach 1997-98 – Taylor University, Graduate Assistant To say that Chris Holtmann’s initial season at the helm of the Butler program was a success would be an understatement. He guided a Butler team that was picked to tie for seventh in the BIG EAST to a 23-11 campaign, a tie for second place in the BIG EAST regular season race and a berth in the 2015 Tournament. Along the way, the Bulldogs...