Butler Continues to Lead McCafferty Trophy Standings

INDIANAPOLIS – Butler University took just one winter sports title, but continues to pace the Horizon League field in the McCafferty Trophy standings after the conclusion of the winter sports season over a surging Milwaukee athletics program.

Butler totaled 18 points in the winter, giving the Bulldogs 51 points through the two seasons, enough to hold off second-place Milwaukee, who has 48.5 points.

After picking up a regular season or tournament title in all five fall sports, the Bulldogs did so in just one winter sport - earning seven points after earning a share of the men’s basketball regular season title and recording the tournament championship in March.  Success in women’s basketball and both men’s and women’s indoor track helped Butler hold off a charging Milwaukee program that claimed four winter sports championships.

Earning 31.5 points in the winter, Milwaukee picked up a share of the men’s basketball regular season title, adding to its points haul with men’s and women’s indoor track and field titles along with the men’s swimming and diving championship.

Butler leads Milwaukee, 24-21, for the top spot in the men’s sports tally, while the Panthers have overtaken the Bulldogs, 27.5-27, on the women’s ledger.

Last season, Butler held off Milwaukee by .5 point, 51.5-51, to claim its record-tying seventh McCafferty Trophy.  An eighth McCafferty Trophy would set a new Horizon League record.

With titles in both women’s basketball and women’s swimming, Green Bay jumped to third with 21 points.  Picking up six points on both the men’s and women’s side, Cleveland State moved into fourth place with 18.5 points, while Loyola sits in fifth with 15.5 points.  UIC and Wright State are deadlocked for sixth with 10.5 points each.  Youngstown State moved up to after picking up points in both track championships and in swimming, while Detroit is a half-point back with 8.5.  Valparaiso earned two points for men’s basketball, pushing its total to 5.

Named in honor of James J. McCafferty, who served as the conference’s first commissioner from 1979-80, the McCafferty Trophy is awarded annually by the Horizon League to a member institution compiling the greatest number of performance points, based on their finish in the League’s 19 championship sports.  For the sports of men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, softball and baseball, points are awarded based on combined regular-season (60 percent) and championship (40 percent) finishes.  For all other sports, points are based on performance in the League championships.

McCafferty Trophy Standings (Winter points)
1. Butler 51 (18)
2. Milwaukee 48.5 (31.5)
3. Green Bay 21 (15)
4. Cleveland State 18.5 (12)
5. Loyola 15.5 (3)
6. Wright State 10.5 (6.5)
    UIC 10.5 (7.5)
8. Youngstown State 9 (7)
9. Detroit 8.5 (5.5)
10. Valparaiso 5 (2)

Men’s Sports Totals (Winter)
1. Butler 24 (10)
2. Milwaukee 21 (19)
3. Loyola 8.5 (1)
    Cleveland State 8.5 (6)
5. UIC 8 (5)
6. Detroit 7.5 (5.5)
7. Green Bay 6 (1)
8. Wright State 2.5 (2.5)
9. Youngstown State 2 (2)
    Valparaiso 2 (2)

Women’s Sports Totals (Winter)
1. Milwaukee 27.5 (12.5)
2. Butler 27 (8)
3. Green Bay 15 (14)
4. Cleveland State 10 (6)
5. Wright State 8 (4)
6. Loyola 7 (2)
    Youngstown State 7 (5)
8. Valparaiso 3 (0)
9. UIC 2.5 (2.5)
10. Detroit 1 (0)