stevens is a proponent of statistical analysis to enhance his coaching decisions, spending almost as much time looking at statistics as watching game film. "i think it's a unique way of looking at the game that may be able to help best communicate to your players", he explains. for example, when butler was slumping in late 2010, stevens challenged his team: "this [46% defensive field goal percentage] is where we are. this isn't acceptable to get to where we want to go. but what does that really mean? it's not just get better defensively, it is, if we give up 3 less baskets a game, then we will be at 40 percent field goal percentage defense which will be top 20 in the country". the team got the message, improved throughout the season, and ultimately went on a march run fueled by defense. in 2012, stevens became the first college coach to hire someone solely for statistical research when he added drew cannon to the staff. if he had the resources, stevens says he would hire a team of statisticians to analyze the team's play.