:Matt Howard

{{College athlete recruit start|40=no|collapse=no|year=2007}}

{{College athlete recruit entry

| recruit = Matt Howard

| position = PF

| hometown = Connersville, Indiana

| highschool = Connersville High School (IN)

| feet = 6

| inches = 7

| weight = 205

| 40 =

| commitdate = August 17, 2006

| scout stars = 3

| rivals stars = 4

| espn grade = NA

}}

{{College athlete recruit end

| 40 =

| year = 2007

| rivals ref title = Butler 2007 Basketball Commitments

| scout ref title = 2007 Butler Basketball Commits

| espn ref title = ESPN

| rivals school = butler

| scout s =

| espn schoolid = 2086

| scout overall =

| rivals overall = 91, 26 (PF), 7 (IN)

| espn overall =

| accessdate = March 26, 2011

| bball = yes

}}

The 6-8 Howard finished his high school career as the leading scorer and rebounder in Connersville history. As a senior in 2006-07, he averaged 23.6 points and 14.4 rebounds per game after averaging 19.1 points and 10.6 rebounds as a junior. He led the state of Indiana in rebounding as a high school senior in 2006–07 while playing for Connersville High School. Howard ranked second in the state in blocked shots as a junior.{{cite web|url=http://butlersports.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/howard_matt00.html|title=54 Matt Howard|access-date=March 24, 2011|publisher=CBS Interactive}} Howard is regarded as the first top-100 recruit in the history of Butler.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/23/sports/ncaabasketball/23butler.html|title=No Matter the Opponent, Stubborn Butler Plays at Its Own Speed. Today 28th of July 2011 he signed for Olympiacos |access-date=March 24, 2011|date=March 23, 2008|work=The New York Times|author=Glier, Ray}}

As a freshman, Howard was the Horizon League newcomer of the year. That year, he was prominent in the 2007–08 Bulldogs's first round victory in the 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament over South Alabama.{{cite web|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B01E0D6153BF931A15750C0A96E9C8B63|title=EAST REGION; First-Half Run Lifts Butler|access-date=March 24, 2011|date=March 22, 2008|work=The New York Times}} As a junior, he helped the 2009–10 Bulldogs make it to the championship game of the 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/05/sports/ncaabasketball/05ncaa.html|title=Butler Star Has a Changed Role|access-date=March 24, 2011|date=April 5, 2010|author=Evans, Thayer|work=The New York Times}} In February of the 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, Howard was hit by an elbow that caused extensive bleeding on his face.{{cite web|url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2011/02/butler-matt-howard-blood-elbow/1|title=Elbow leaves Butler forward Matt Howard bloodied|access-date=March 24, 2011|date=February 8, 2011|work=USAToday|author=Smith, Erick}}{{cite web|url=http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/Butler-s-Matt-Howard-suffers-this-season-s-blood?urn=ncaab-318241|title=Butler's Matt Howard suffers this season's bloodiest injury|access-date=March 24, 2011|date=February 8, 2011|work=Yahoo! Sports|author=Greene, Ryan}} In the 2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, he scored a tipin as time expired to give Butler a 60–58 victory over Old Dominion in their second-round game.{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=310762086|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110319132630/http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=310762086|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 19, 2011|title=Butler advances just before time expires|access-date=March 24, 2011|date=March 17, 2011|publisher=ESPN}} Then in the third round, he made the winning free throw with 0.8 seconds left to clinch a 71–70 victory over the number-one seeded Pittsburgh Panthers.{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=310780221|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110323102438/http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=310780221|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 23, 2011|title=Butler stuns No. 1 Pitt after foul-filled finish|access-date=March 24, 2011|date=March 19, 2011|publisher=ESPN}} Although Howard made only 5 three point shots in his first three seasons, as a senior he developed an outside shot, making over 40% on over 100 attempts.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/36445|title=Matt Howard #54 F|access-date=March 24, 2011|publisher=ESPN}}

He earned Academic All-American selection in 2009, 2010 and 2011 and was named the 2011 Men's Basketball Academic All-America of the Year as well as the 2009 Horizon League Men's Basketball Player of the Year.{{cite web|url=http://cosida.com/news.aspx?id=3101|title=Matt Howard of Butler, Austin Meier of MSOE lead Capital One Academic All-America® Men's Basketball Teams|access-date=March 23, 2011|date=February 22, 2011|publisher=College Sports Information Directors of America|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110304202458/http://cosida.com/news.aspx?id=3101|archive-date=March 4, 2011|url-status=dead}} He was a 2009 All-American honorable mention by the Associated Press.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/11569784 |title=2009 AP All-America teams |access-date=March 24, 2011 |date=March 30, 2009 |publisher=CBS Interactive |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010062208/http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/11569784 |archive-date=October 10, 2012 }} By helping Butler earn consecutive trips to the final four, Howard earned consecutive Elite 88 Awards in 2010 and 2011.{{cite web|url=http://butlersports.com/sports/m-baskbl/2010-11/releases/040111aaa|title=Butler Meets VCU In National Semifinals|access-date=April 4, 2011|date=April 1, 2011|publisher=Butler University|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725180626/http://butlersports.com/sports/m-baskbl/2010-11/releases/040111aaa|archive-date=July 25, 2011|df=mdy-all}} He was also one of ten finalists for the 2011 men's basketball Lowe's Senior CLASS Award.{{cite web|url=http://www.purduesports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/012611aaa.html|title=Moore Named Lowe's Senior CLASS Finalist: East Chicago native is one of 10 finalists from across the country.|access-date=February 3, 2011|date=January 26, 2011|publisher=CBS Interactive|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311102443/http://www.purduesports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/012611aaa.html|archive-date=March 11, 2012|url-status=dead}}

In 2010, he was chosen as "honorable mention" in a list of the smartest athletes in sports by Sporting News.{{Cite news|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/feed/2010-09/smart-athletes/story/sporting-news-names-the-20-smartest-athletes-in-sports |title=SN names the 20 smartest athletes in sports |work=Sporting News |date=September 27, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523023358/http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/feed/2010-09/smart-athletes/story/sporting-news-names-the-20-smartest-athletes-in-sports |archive-date=May 23, 2013 }}

During the 2010 Horizon League Men's Basketball Tournament he earned the MVP Award.{{cite web|url=http://www.horizonleague.org/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/030910aac.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904145207/http://www.horizonleague.org/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/030910aac.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 4, 2012 |title=Butler defeats Wright State for Horizon League Title |date=March 9, 2010 |access-date=March 24, 2011 |publisher=Horizon League }} Then, during the 2011 Horizon League Men's Basketball Tournament he repeated as MVP and became the first person to become a four-time Horizon League Men's Basketball Tournament All-Tournament selection.{{cite web|url=http://www.horizonleague.org/blog/butler-snares-ncaa-tournament-bid-with-59-44-win-over-milwaukee.html|title=Butler Snares NCAA Tournament Bid With 59–44 Win Over Milwaukee|access-date=March 24, 2011|date=March 9, 2011|publisher=Horizon League|archive-date=March 20, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110320075620/http://www.horizonleague.org/blog/butler-snares-ncaa-tournament-bid-with-59-44-win-over-milwaukee.html|url-status=dead}} He won the 2011 Lou Henson Award as the mid-major player of the year.{{cite web|url=http://butlersports.com/sports/m-baskbl/2010-11/releases/040311aaa|title=Butler To Face UConn For National Title|access-date=April 3, 2011|date=April 3, 2011|publisher=Butler University|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501072607/http://www.butlersports.com/sports/m-baskbl/2010-11/releases/040311aaa|archive-date=May 1, 2011|url-status=dead}} Howard was the 2007–8 Horizon League Newcomer of the Year.{{cite web|url=http://s3.amazonaws.com/hln/sports/recordbooks/2/recordbook.pdf?1318986979|title=2010–11 Horizon League All-Sports Record Book|page=73|publisher=Horizon League}} He was a second team All-Horizon League selection that year and first team selection the following three seasons.{{cite web|url=http://s3.amazonaws.com/hln/sports/recordbooks/2/recordbook.pdf?1318986979|title=2010–11 Horizon League All-Sports Record Book|page=84|publisher=Horizon League}} He was a Horizon League All-Defensive Team selection as a sophomore and a senior.{{cite web|url=http://s3.amazonaws.com/hln/sports/recordbooks/2/recordbook.pdf?1318986979|title=2010–11 Horizon League All-Sports Record Book|page=85|publisher=Horizon League}} He holds the Horizon League records for most free throws made and attempted (both league only and all games).{{cite web|url=http://s3.amazonaws.com/hln/sports/recordbooks/2/recordbook.pdf?1318986979|title=2010–11 Horizon League All-Sports Record Book|page=91|publisher=Horizon League}} He led the Horizon League in field goal percentage as a sophomore with a 55.0 average.{{cite web|url=http://s3.amazonaws.com/hln/sports/recordbooks/2/recordbook.pdf?1318986979|title=2010–11 Horizon League All-Sports Record Book|page=93|publisher=Horizon League}}

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2007–08

| style="text-align:left;"| Butler

| 34 || 25 || 24.5 || .583 || .000 ||.780 || 5.50 || 0.85 || 0.71 || 1.09 || 12.26

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2008–09

| style="text-align:left;"| Butler

| 32 || 32 || 28.2 || .550 || .222 || .773 || 6.75 || 1.12 || 0.78 || 1.50 || 14.84

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2009–10

| style="text-align:left;"| Butler

| 38 || 38 || 25.2 || .479 || .273 || .784 || 5.16 || 0.79 || 0.58 || 0.61 || 11.50

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2010–11

| style="text-align:left;"| Butler

| 37 || 37 || 31.0 || .471 || .398 || .792 || 7.76 || 1.43 || 1.14 || 0.62 || 16.43

{{S-end}}

Source: [https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Matt-Howard/Summary/15393]

On July 28, 2011, Howard signed with Olympiacos of the Greek League.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/33373/matt-howard-takes-talents-to-greece|title=Matt Howard takes talents to Greece|access-date=July 29, 2011|date=July 28, 2011|publisher=ESPN|author=Brennan, Eamonn}}{{cite web|url=http://www.euroleague.net/euroleaguenews/transactions/2011-12-signings/i/86944/5611/olympiacos-signs-howard|title=OLYMPIACOS signs rookie forward Howard |access-date=July 29, 2011|date=July 28, 2011|publisher=Euroleague Basketball}} In February 2012, Howard was released by Olympiacos and signed with EnBW Ludwigsburg of the Basketball Bundesliga.{{cite web|url=http://www.indystar.com/article/20120213/SPORTS0605/202140305/Matt-Howard-signs-team-Germany|title=Matt Howard signs with team in Germany|access-date=February 17, 2012|date=February 13, 2012|work=The Indianapolis Star}}

In July 2012, Howard was named to the Phoenix Suns roster for the 2012 Las Vegas Summer League, and joined Chorale Roanne Basket for the 2012–13 Pro A season. The team is based out of Roanne, France.{{cite web|url=http://arizona.sbnation.com/phoenix-suns/2012/7/6/3141461/phoenix-suns-summer-league-roster-and-schedule|title=Phoenix Suns Summer League Roster And Schedule|access-date=July 7, 2012|date=July 7, 2012|work=SB Nation|author=Habbas, Kristofer}}{{cite news|title=Roanne land Matt Howard|url=https://www.eurobasket.com/France/basketball.aspx?NewsID=281158&showcomments=1&Women=0#c|access-date=July 30, 2012|newspaper=Eurobasket News|date=July 28, 2012}}

In June 2013, Howard signed with ratiopharm Ulm of the German Basketball Bundesliga.{{cite news|title=Matt Howard kommt zu ratiopharm ulm|url=http://www.ratiopharm-ulm.com/news-archiv/879-matt-howard-kommt-zu-ratiopharm-ulm|access-date=June 22, 2013|work=ratiopharm Ulm Official site|language=de|date=June 21, 2013|archive-date=June 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627022906/http://www.ratiopharm-ulm.com/news-archiv/879-matt-howard-kommt-zu-ratiopharm-ulm|url-status=dead}}

On July 7, 2014, he signed with Strasbourg IG of the French LNB Pro A for the 2014–15 season.{{cite web|title=Matt Howard première recrue de la SIG|url=http://sigbasket.fr/2014/07/matt-howard-premiere-recrue-de-la-sig/|language=fr|publisher=sigbasket.fr|access-date=July 7, 2014}} On July 9, 2015, he signed a two-year contract extension with Strasbourg.{{cite news|title=SIG Strabourg officially extends with Matt Howard until 2017|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/france/167830/sig-strabourg-officially-extends-with-matt-howard-until-2017.html|access-date=July 9, 2015|work=Sportando.com|date=July 9, 2015}}

On August 1, 2017, Howard signed with the Israeli team Hapoel Tel Aviv for the 2017–18 season.{{cite news|title=Matt Howard inks with Hapoel Tel Aviv|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/israel/243092/matt-howard-inks-with-hapoel-tel-aviv.html|access-date=August 1, 2017|work=Sportando.com|date=August 1, 2017}} On April 2, 2018, Howard recorded a season-high 20 points, shooting 8-of-12 from the field, along with six rebounds in 85–80 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv.{{cite news|title=Winner League, Game 22: Hapoel TA Vs M. Tel-Aviv|url=http://basket.co.il/game-zone.asp?GameId=23279&lang=en|access-date=July 28, 2018|work=basket.co.il|date=April 2, 2018}} Howard helped Hapoel to reach the 2018 Israeli League Final Four.

{{Euroleague player statistics legend}}

{{Euroleague player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;background:#AFE6BA;"| 2011–12†

| style="text-align:left;"| Olympiacos

| 3 || 0 || 6.3 || .000 || .000 || 1.000 || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || 0.7 || -1.0

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2015–16

| style="text-align:left;"| Strasbourg

| 4 || 1 || 20.8 || .421 || 1.000 || .667 || 4.8 || .5 || 1.8 || {{sort|-|—}} || 6.3 || 9.0

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan=2|Career

| 7 || 1 || 14.7 || .333 || .200 || .714 || 2.7 || .3 || 1.0 || {{sort|-|—}} || 3.9 || 4.7

{{S-end}}

In a story immediately before the 2011 Final Four, Rick Reilly noted that Howard "looks more like a geeky band-camp RA than a possible NBA first rounder", but added:

{{quote|The Bulldogs wouldn't be anywhere near Houston without Howard. He's the designated floor diver, the insatiable rebounder, the guy who sets the kind of picks that would stop an Amtrak train.... He's the thing you love most in a college basketball player — a guy who just wants to win and doesn't care who gets the credit. A guy who hits class by day and glass by night. A scabbed-knee grinder who finishes every game with his tank on E.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/news/story?id=6266899 |title=Howard, Butler just keep on winning |first=Rick |last=Reilly |work=ESPN.com |date=March 29, 2011 |access-date=March 31, 2011}}}}He is also known for eccentricities both on and off the court. Howard's teammate Shelvin Mack told Reilly that Howard had six pairs of new shoes in his locker, but refused to wear them, preferring to stay with what Mack described as "ratty old ones". Howard also habitually rode a rusted-out bicycle to Butler's 6:00 am practices, regardless of the weather; during one 2011 ice storm, the handlebars bent under him while he was riding, causing him to fall onto the ice. He would say about this incident, "I fixed it. Just poured some WD-40 in there and bent them back. It's a little risky to ride, I guess, but I can't see buying a new one." He also has a habit of spoonerism with people's names; for example, he routinely calls Mack "Melvin Shack".

{{notelist}}

{{reflist|2}}

• [http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?pcode=003416&clubcode=OLY&seasoncode=e2011 Euroleague.net Profile]
• [http://www.lnb.fr/fr/Pro-A/200006/Joueurs/A55632/Matt-Howard French League profile]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20160404041940/http://esake.gr/main/index.php?pl=12&lng=en&pfpar=cGxheWVyaWQ9MTk5OA== Greek Basket League Profile]
• [http://www.eurobasket.com/player.asp?Cntry=GRE&PlayerID=135391 Eurobasket.com Profile]
• [http://butlersports.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/howard_matt00.html Howard's Official Bio] from Butler University

{{Horizon League Men's Basketball Player of the Year navbox}}

{{Men's Basketball Academic All-America of the Year}}

{{Lou Henson Award}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Howard, Matt}}

Category:1989 births

Category:Living people

Category:American expatriate basketball people in France

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Germany

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Greece

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Israel

Category:American men's basketball players

Category:Butler Bulldogs men's basketball players

Category:Chorale Roanne Basket players

Category:Hapoel Tel Aviv B.C. players

Category:Riesen Ludwigsburg players

Category:Olympiacos B.C. players

Category:Sportspeople from Carmel, Indiana

Category:Basketball players from Hamilton County, Indiana

Category:People from Connersville, Indiana

Category:Power forwards

Category:Ratiopharm Ulm players

Category:SIG Strasbourg players