Like His Father, Nored Is Butler's Inspirational Leader

INDIANAPOLIS – By most accounts, Butler sophomore point guard Ronald Nored is a natural leader, someone who knows exactly the right thing to say at the right time and is never at a loss for words.

But for a moment Sunday afternoon, the usually unflappable Nored began stumbling through his words while attempting to find parallels between his leadership abilities and those of his late father Ronald, Sr. who was a pastor and community leader in their native Birmingham, Ala.

"I can't even compare them. My leadership abilities don't even compare to him one bit," said Nored (right), whose father died at the age of 43 in Oct., 2003 after a bout with pancreatic cancer . "He was such a great guy, the things that he did. The thing that I try to follow the most is to be a servant for other people.

"I'm just trying to be half of what of he did."

Such a lofty goal is what has already propelled Nored to do great things in life and in some small way it's influencing him now as the inspirational leader of the No. 5 seeded Butler Bulldogs during their magical run through this NCAA tournament. Nored and his teammates have a chance to make history Monday night if they can pull off one more improbable win, this time against No. 1 Duke in the national championship game, to give Butler and the first real little guys in college basketball their first Final Four title.
"This is it right here. This is what we've been playing for all year."
- Butler's Ronald Nored
"This is it right here," Nored said. "This is what we've been playing for all year."

Nored doesn't lead the Bulldogs in scoring. He sets up Gordon Hayward and Shelvin Mack for that.

Nored's contributions are less tangible than points, but every bit as essential in landing the Bulldogs of the Horizon League onto one of the biggest stages in sports, which this year happens to be six miles from their campus to Lucas Oil Stadium. The 6-foot sophomore leads Butler with leadership and defense that have left a string of high-scoring guards frustrated in this tournament.

"He's just that guy that every team needs," said Hayward, who is Nored's roommate on the road and during the Final Four. "You turn to him, he's the one that is saying stuff in the huddles. He's the one who gets us together. He's really the vocal guy for us.

"His defense has just been phenomenal for us. That's contagious."

His defense was huge during Saturday night's 52-50 win over Michigan State in the national semifinals. Nored primarily guarded Spartans shooting guard Durrell Summers, who finished with 14 points but had just seven points on 3-of-6 shooting in the critical second half. Meanwhile, Nored also took a few successful swipes at point guard Korie Lucious, who had five costly turnovers while Nored came up with three steals.

But for those who have been following Butler throughout this tournament, Nored's smothering defense was really no big surprise. Players like Syracuse's Andy Rautins and Kansas State's Jacob Pullen also had off-nights due to Nored's suffocating on-ball defense during the Bulldogs' upset of the West Regional's No. 1 and No. 2 teams, respectively.

The best guess is Blue Devils hot-shooting combo guard Nolan Smith might be Nored's next assignment in Monday night's national championship game. But it wouldn't bother Nored if he is asked by head coach Brad Stevens to slow 6-foot-5 point guard Jon Scheyer or 6-foot-8 forward Kyle Singler, for that matter.

Just as his father had with his followers, Nored has a selfless attitude when it comes to doing what is necessary to help his team be successful. Whatever it takes, he will get it done.



Share "Defensively, I need to do my job as hard as I can for everyone else, for the other 14 guys on the team, for the five coaches that have worked so hard to get me to this point," said Nored, who was co-Defensive Player of the Year in the Horizon League. "I'm not the reason that we are here individually so I can't take credit for anything. It's everyone here, everyone before us, my friends at home and my family at home that's given me this opportunity."

Nored appreciates the fact he is viewed by his teammates as a leader. But most important to him is the way in which he leads his teammates.

"My role on this team is to be positive," said Nored, who served as the freshman class president last year. "I don't know how many times I'm negative whether it's a team huddle or whether somebody has done something that's lost us the game – that never happens. I was just exaggerating. But my job is to be positive.

"I think attitude affects a lot so if I am positive and spreading positives to others I think that is real important. My role in basketball and in life as well is to influence others in a positive way. Hopefully, I am spreading joy and cheer to others that I am serving and that people see I am there for them no matter what. I think that translates right to the basketball court."

He can thank his father for that gift although Nored, an elementary education major, is likely destined to serve on a stage even bigger than the Final Four.

"He was just an unbelievable guy," Nored said of his father. "I'm just trying to be half of what he did and he did it in only 43 years. Some people don't reach that in a lifetime. I'm just happy to say that I'm his son and I hope he's proud of what I've done.

"I get texted all the time from his brothers and sisters saying he's smiling down and enjoying this, as well."