What Makes Butler Different From the Rest

By BEN COHEN

The guy who drilled the biggest shot so far this college-basketball season wasn't a coveted recruit, nor does he have a scholarship now.

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Associated Press

Butler guard Alex Barlow dealt Indiana its first loss of the season Saturday.

Like his teammates, Alex Barlow chose Butler because of Bulldogs coach Brad Stevens. The only difference: Barlow sought an education in coaching. Barlow, the walk-on whose overtime floater dealt No. 1 Indiana its first loss Saturday, plays for Butler because he wants one day to coach college basketball.

He doesn't fit the prototype of a standout in other ways, either. The 5-foot-11 sophomore, more decorated in baseball than basketball in high school, had just six career field goals before Saturday. His mother sends him a text message before every game.

But Barlow also represents the incredibly shallow pool of players already planning their coaching careers. Barlow said the crash course from Stevens, the 36-year-old, stunningly successful coach with two national-title appearances in the last three years, was the reason why Butler appealed to him.

The actual playing part was harder to imagine. "You grow up in the backyard with your hoop, just dreaming of playing against the No. 1 team, last-second shot," Barlow said. "But not in my wildest dreams did I really think that'd be a reality."

Write to Ben Cohen at ben.cohen@wsj.com