Last Season: 26–6, NCAA Second Round

	West gave up NBA millions to have another shot at the Final Four.

It wasn't optional. Every night, 10 p.m., summer ball at the O'Connor Sports Center. Show up or answer to the big guy. No, not second-year coach Thad Matta. We're talking about 6'9", 240-pound David West (18.3 ppg, 9.8 rpg). The chiseled senior post sets the tone for this defensive-minded bunch (62.6 ppg for opponents) with his intimidating, no-bull attitude and play: "I'm gonna overpower the majority of guys I play against." So why'd he pass on the NBA? Because the Musketeers also return gifted junior SG Romain Sato (16.1 ppg) and pesky senior PG Lionel Chalmers (12 ppg, 4.2 apg) from a squad that gave Oklahoma all it could handle in the Tourney. Yes, West wants more. And as Matta says, "If you don't bring it, he's gonna let you know about it."

One Step Ahead: After beating Creighton last December, the X-men congratulated each other not for dunks and treys but for box-outs and helpside collapses. That's when Matta knew his club had bought into the man-to-man, guts-and-grind defensive philosophy that made his Butler squads so tough.

One Step Behind: The starting five is as talented as any team's, but the bench is cellophane-thin. Only one returning sub (soph G/F Keith Jackson) averaged more than 10 mpg. Good thing Matta is making inroads as a recruiter: He adds a top-100 talent this season (combo G Dedrick Finn) and has a verbal from another (wing Justin Cage).

2002-2003 NCAA PREVIEW
MEN
1. Arizona Wildcats	9. Georgia Bulldogs
2. Kansas Jayhawks	10. UCLA Bruins
3. Oklahoma Sooners	11. Alabama Crimson Tide
4. Pittsburgh Panthers	12. Kentucky Wildcats
5. Florida Gators	13. Virginia Cavaliers
6. Texas Longhorns	14. Michigan State Spartans
7. Duke Blue Devils	15. Xavier Musketeers
8. UConn Huskies	16. Indiana Hoosiers

This article will appear in the November 25 issue of ESPN The Magazine.