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by CHRIS IRELAND
Sports Reporter
The saying “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,” is often used in sports.
Appalachian State University men’s basketball center Isaac Butts is trying to finish like he started.
The 6-foot-10-inch Butts started the season with two-consecutive double-doubles, including a 15-point, 17-rebound effort against the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
The performance stamped Butts as Appalachian’s premier post threat.
 Center Isaac Butts has averaged 8.7 points per game this season. Photo by James Fay.
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But since, Butts
has found it difficult to build off his strong start to the season,
averaging 8.7 points and 8.6 rebounds per game this season.
“This
guy’s big crime was coming out against Charlotte like he did,” head
coach Houston Fancher said. “People think because he hasn’t been able
to duplicate and that he’s underachieving.”
Butts, a sophomore, has had to live up to high expectations while still learning on the court.
“This
guy only played in 10 games for us last year,” Fancher said. “People
expect him to save the planet for us, but the truth is he’s not ready
for that.”
Nonetheless, Butts’ presence in the paint has been vital to Appalachian’s success this season.
In nine of ASU’s 12 victories, Butts has recorded double-digit points or rebounds.
“If I play well, we’ve generally won this year,” Butts said. “We need good post play.”
Appalachian was without such a presence in its last outing against Samford University.
In a losing effort, Butts went scoreless and managed only four rebounds in the regular season finale.
“That
affected us a lot,” guard Kellen Brand said. “They didn’t have to
double Ike down low and it limited our offensive attack.”
With a
first round Southern Conference tournament match-up with Georgia
Southern University looming tomorrow, the Mountaineers hope Butts can
re-establish himself in the post.
If he doesn’t, it may mean an early end to Appalachian’s season.
“I don’t
think we can win this tournament without him,” Fancher said. “If he
plays well, we can win. If he doesn’t, we can’t. I think it’s that
simple.”
In the teams’ previous meeting in February, Butts registered 17 points and 19 rebounds in a 95-82 victory Feb. 2.
Butts
will be likely be facing off inside against GSU forward Tyler Troupe,
whose 215-pound frame made performing well a struggle for the
6-foot-7-inch junior.
Troupe scored only 8 points, shot 3-10 from the field and brought in only 7 rebounds.
Butts’ strong performance has bred confidence heading into tomorrow.
“It doesn’t matter who we play,” Butts said. “I know it’s important for me to play well. Nobody’s going to want to play us.”
To instill that kind of fear, Appalachian will need Butts to rekindle his early-season magic throughout the tournament.
“He’s
got all the potential in the world,” Fancher said. “He’s shown flashes
of brilliance. It would be nice for him to assert himself now.”
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