When Thad Matta returned to coaching last year as head coach at Butler, many believed that he would quickly lead the Bulldogs back to glory. But today’s performance has some people very concerned.
On Sunday, Matta and the Bulldogs suffered a shocking home loss to Big East cellar dweller Georgetown. Going into the game, the Hoyas had lost 16 of their last 17 games with Butler themselves beating them at Capital One Arena by 30 points earlier this year.
Instead, the Bulldogs were held to 62 points – the second-fewest allowed by Georgetown all season. Butler are now 13-15 with a 5-12 record in the Big East.
Judging by the reactions, Butler fans are ready to call an end to the Thad Matta era of Butler basketball. Losing at home to Georgetown is too terrible in their eyes to let it continue:
Georgetown just beat Butler in Hinkle. Thad Matta should be ashamed of himself 🤦🏻♂️
— Gill Boldberg (@Gill_Boldberg) February 19, 2023
Georgetown beats Thad Matta’s Butler squad.. the Hoyas are on fire winning two of their last eight games
— ᗩᑎT ᗯᖇIGᕼT (@itsAntWright) February 19, 2023
Thad Matta turned Ohio State into a national powerhouse during his 13 years in Columbus and several wildly successful years at Xavier as well as a trip to the Elite Eight in 2004.
So when Matta expressed an interest in returning to his alma mater and first head coaching job in 2022, everyone believed it would be a perfect fit.
But the fact of the matter is, the turnaround hasn’t come as quickly as they were expecting and there’s now legitimate fear that it may not come at all.
Can Thad Matta turn it around at Butler?