Butler Falls 100-81 to Boise State in First Game Under Ronald Nored

Butler struggles defensively in Boise State loss

The Butler men’s basketball team suffered its first major setback under new head coach Ronald Nored, falling 100-81 to Boise State in a road game on Sunday.

According to IndyStar, the Bulldogs struggled to contain the Broncos at ExtraMile Arena, failing to secure a lead after Boise State’s Spencer Ahrens hit a three-pointer early in the contest. While Butler opened the scoring with a Treyson Anderson layup, Boise State responded with 16 more three-pointers to pull away.

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The defensive lapse proved costly for a program looking to establish a new identity. Boise State’s 100 points represented more than Butler allowed in any regulation game during the 2025-26 season, according to IndyStar. The scoring total also tied the highest number of points the team has allowed in regulation during the four-year tenure of Thad Matta.

Coach Nored emphasized that the team’s inability to disrupt Boise State’s rhythm was the deciding factor in the defeat.

Butler basketball allowed 17 three pointers in a 100-81 loss to Boise State, giving the Bulldogs their first loss under Ronald Nored. https://t.co/FEPgxMJWRk

— Post by @indystar on X

“We didn’t make them feel us,” Nored told IndyStar postgame. “And so they got really comfortable to start the game. And then really for the rest of the game, we were playing catch-up.”

The statistical gap on the perimeter

The disparity between the two teams was most visible from beyond the arc. While Butler had recently tied a program record by making 20 three-pointers against Fairleigh Dickinson, they were unable to replicate that efficiency against the Broncos.

IndyStar reported that Boise State shot 49% from three-point range, converting 17-for-35 attempts. In contrast, Butler managed only 8-for-36 from deep, a 22% success rate. Boise State’s offensive surge was fueled by Aginaldo Neto, who scored 25 points, and Ahrens, who added 24.

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Nored noted that despite the offensive output, the lack of defensive pressure made the outcome predictable.

“I think 81 points is enough to win a game. It goes back to our defense and how we made them feel in that game,” Nored said.

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The loss leaves Butler with a 2-1 record. Despite a 13-0 run during the game, the Bulldogs never managed to trim the deficit to under 11 points during the second half.

Challenges for the Nored era

This performance tests Nored, who is returning to a head coaching role for the first time since leading the G League's Long Island Nets in 2018. The gap in competitiveness against Boise State suggests Nored is struggling to implement his defensive transition.

Boise State coach Leon Rice talks with the media after a 100-81 win over Butler on Sunday

Nored has identified defensive presence as the cornerstone of his coaching philosophy. He suggested that the team lacked the necessary physical presence to keep opponents off-balance.

“I thought just our presence on the ball was lacking all night – just being there, being in their space, making them feel uncomfortable, putting them on their heels,” Nored said. “We allowed them to kind of get comfortable and be able to take easy, rhythm shots.”

Salt lake city ronald nored of the butler bulldogs celebrates after a call against andy rautins

The Bulldogs now turn their attention to a home game this Friday against Pittsburgh. To avoid a downward trend, the coaching staff intends to use the Boise State loss as a teaching tool during upcoming practice sessions.

“We’ve got to have some really sound practices,” Nored said. “I think it’s important for our guys to be able to feel that and see, when you don’t play at the level defensively that you need to, what’s possible. And it needs to be a wake-up call for our guys.”