Butler opens practice heading into uncharted coaching waters

The news Thursday that Butler head coach Brandon Miller will be taking a medical leave of absence for an indefinite period of time came with both a great amount of concern for the well-being of the 35-year-old father of two as well as a great amount of concern for the well-being of a team that struggled last year in the inaugural season of the new Big East. As Butler begins practice on Saturday, one of the main themes coming from the university has been privacy for Miller. Athletic director Barry Collier said in a statement that the university granted the leave of absence. "We are not in a position to further elaborate, and we ask that everyone respect Brandon's privacy," Collier said. Assistant head coach Chris Holtmann was named the interim coach. When I spoke with him Friday morning, Holtmann told me pretty much the same thing: "I'm really limited in what I'm allowed to say," he said. "Some of it I know but can't say, and others I just don't know." People I've spoken with have said they don't believe the