butler ended the regular season with a 27–3 record, taking first place in the horizon league with a 16–2 in conference mark. the team beat illinois-chicago 66–50 and cleveland state 70–55 to claim the league's tournament title and an automatic bid to the 2008 ncaa tournament. butler was awarded the seven seed in the east regional. they beat tenth-seeded south alabama 81–61 in the first round, before falling to second-seeded tennessee 76–71 in overtime.