Matt Howard Interview

                       By: Aaron Fischman

 

An Interview with Matt Howard (Freshman, Butler)

Matt Howard is a 6'8" freshman forward for the Butler Bulldogs of the Horizon League. He has done big things for a freshman and is honest about how good it feels for him. Despite his success, he maintains a humble attitude, readily admitting that his problem with fouls needs to be corrected. Howard's Butler Bulldogs are ranked as one of the top teams in the nation and look to make a lot of noise come Tournament time.

Aaron Fischman: What makes Butler such a good team this season?

Matt Howard: The team camraderie and the supreme ability to play defense [have] been our keys to success.

AF: Your team is perceived by the "experts" to play a weak schedule. Do you agree or disagree with this assessment and why?

MH: Well, I can't tell you exactly what goes through the minds of these individuals but we have fared pretty well against some of the higher valued teams we have played so far. So I suppose at the end of the day you still have to win games and we have been able to play at a high enough level to do that.

AF: The Bulldogs have only lost once at home. What makes it so difficult for opponents to win in Hinkle Fieldhouse?

MH: When Blue runs off the court, everyone knows it's game time and the Dawg Pound gets it going.

AF: How does it feel to be making such a huge impact in only your first year?

MH: Well, I can't lie, it feels pretty good. My dad told me hard work pays off and so I guess I just gotta keep working hard.

AF: Besides the shots not falling, what went wrong for you guys against Wright St.? (Wright St. won early in the season, when beating Butler 43-42). How frustrating was that game for your team?

MH: We [were] dealing [with] the loss of Pete Campbell during that game and our offense had suffered. It also appeared we were not mentally prepared, especially on the offensive end.

AF: Of the six players who lead Butler in minutes played, you are the only non-senior. Talk about what these seniors have meant to you, on and off the court. How will this team be impacted when the seniors graduate?

MH: The seniors have been great at incorporating me into the system and as friends, just making me feel a part. Losing our best defender, shooters, leader and MVP of the Horizon League is going to be real hard to replace.

AF: How do you anticipate your individual role changing next season?

MH: I'm going to have to move towards more of a leadership role with the seniors and extending my game outside, because it will not be enough to just be an inside guy next year.

AF: You're shooting an impressive 60% from the field. How important is smart shot selection?

MH: Well, most or all of my shots are within 5 feet and many are off of dump-downs coming from penetration. It makes it easy to shoot that percentage.

AF: If there are any weaknesses in your game, foul trouble would probably be one. What can you actively do to cut back on your fouls?

MH: Move my feet better, release guys instead of continuous body contact. I have had many of these bad fouls this year.

AF: Butler is still relatively unknown, despite being ranked 13th in the nation. Who do many people not know about your school/team?

MH: The tremendous academic success the teams have. Overall, a great academic university.

AF: What are your individual and team goals for the season?

MH: Be the best teammate I can be in order for our team to be able to win championships.

AF: How much damage can your team do in the NCAA Tournament?

MH: We are too laid back as a group to do too much damage and not enough money to pay for it, but I think if shots are falling, we could go deep in the tournament.

AF: What are your long-term goals (basketball and otherwise)?

MH: After basketball competitions have been completed, I would like to settle down and raise a happy family.

This concludes our interview with Matt Howard. Keep an eye on Howard's Bulldogs as they make a run at the NCAA title. Also, be sure to check out our exclusive interview with Howard's teammate Mike Green.

For more player interviews, check out our Archives.