Gordon Hayward and Shelvin Mack played in July using international basketball’s 24-second shot clock. Matt Howard and Zach Hahn used to fast-break regularly as club teammates. Ronald Nored and Shawn Vanzant are quick, athletic guards.

These guys can run.

So should fans look for the Butler Bulldogs to play at a faster tempo this season?

Probably not.

The 11th-ranked Bulldogs will play their first exhibition game at 7 o’clock tonight against DePauw at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Butler coach Brad Stevens played for the NCAA Division III university under DePauw coach Bill Fenlon.

Butler averaged 62.7 offensive possessions per game last season, 298th out of 344 Division I teams, according to statistician Ken Pomeroy. That worked. The Bulldogs were 61st in efficiency (based on points per 100 possessions) and finished 26-6.

The mantra at Butler is that of a pro football team: Take what the defense gives you. The Bulldogs say they will skip taking a good shot and try for a great shot.

“This year we’re just going to keep doing what we’re doing,” Hayward said. “The Butler system, and play defense. And if we have some outlets, we’ll take them.”

Stevens didn’t exactly put the brakes on the Bulldogs last season. They averaged 67.8 points a game, third in the Horizon League, and were 13-1 when scoring 70 or more points. The loss was to LSU 75-71 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Butler opponents often need most of the 35-second clock to attempt a good shot.

“The way we play defense, we try to make sure we don’t gamble and give them great shots,” Howard said. "So our defensive possessions last longer as well. The way we play offense, and the way we play defense, tends to be a lower-possession game.

“We may be able to get those great shots early in possessions because of guys making plays. It could potentially be a more explosive team this year.”

Stevens said the most important component of an elite team is strong half-court defense.

“If we want to compete at the level we want to compete at, that’s going to be a huge deal,” Stevens said. "And you have to be able to score in the half court on the offensive end because some games will be played at those paces. You have to be good at those things, but you also have to take advantage of opportunities.

“I don’t consider us a possession team. I don’t consider us any style of play. I consider us: We’re going to take advantage of opportunities. And we need to create some opportunities for ourselves.”