Butler Basketball Freshman’s Mysterious Absence Leaves Coach Thad Matta Speechless

You don’t see many things new to say after three decades coaching, but Thad Matta found himself in unfamiliar territory Wednesday night. The Butler basketball sideline veteran witnessed a twist no one wanted when freshman Efeosa Oliogu-Elabor rolled his ankle during warmups and had to sit out the exhibition showdown with Indiana State. It was a curveball, but young guns Jackson Keith and Jack McCaffery stepped up with some serious hustle — Keith pulling down boards and scoring, McCaffery nailing clutch threes and dishing assists without turning the ball over. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs also navigated the absence of junior center Kevin Ndzie, battling back injuries that have yet to clear. On the bright side, Jalen Jackson’s comeback continues to shine as he played without any minutes cap, solid as ever. It’s these moments — the unpredictability, the grit, the unexpected stars rising — that make early season exhibitions a glimpse into what might be . . . and honestly, it’s got me hooked already. LEARN MORE

INDIANAPOLIS — In more than 30 years on the sidelines, Butler basketball coach Thad Matta experienced something for the first time Wednesday during the Bulldogs exhibition game against Indiana State.

Freshman Efeosa Oliogu-Elabor rolled his ankle during pregame warmups and did not play against the Sycamores. Oliogu-Elabor is not expected to be out long-term, and the injury isn’t a high ankle sprain.

“He turned his ankle in warmups, I never had that happen,” Matta said. “It was probably 50/50 if he could go. So, we decided let’s not chance it.”

Freshmen Jackson Keith and Jack McCaffery saw increased playing time in Oliogu-Elabor’s absence. Keith earned time with the starters against Indiana State, playing the 4.

The 6-foot-5, 225-pound forward showcased his energy and strength pulling down four rebounds, two offensive, scoring 10 points on 4-for-7 shooting. McCaffery did his damage from long-range scoring six points on two 3-pointers. He added a team-high four assists and did not commit a single turnover.

In addition to Oliogu-Elabor, Butler played without junior center Kevin Ndzie. Ndzie injured his back in practice and was held out against the Sycamores. His timetable to return is unclear.

In a positive injury note, point guard Jalen Jackson played Wednesday’s game without a minutes restriction as he works back from an offseason ankle dislocation. He finished with seven points, a team-high eight rebounds, four assists and one block in 25 minutes.