butler lost four starters after the 2007–08 season, and was picked to finish fifth in the horizon league during the 2008–09 season. the team got off to a 12–1 start that won stevens the hugh durham mid-season coaching award. on february 5, stevens notched his 50th win as butler beat detroit 66–61. in so doing, stevens became the sixth head coach in ncaa history to reach 50 wins in 56 games or fewer. butler finished first in the horizon league with a 15–3 in conference record, defying preseason expectations. butler lost the horizon league tournament final 57–54 to cleveland state, but made the ncaa tournament as an at-large selection. the team received the nine seed in the south regional, and lost to eighth-seeded louisiana state in the first round by a score of 75–71 to finish the year at 26–6 overall.