The clutch factor. It’s something that is debated back and forth across America — in classrooms, work cubicles and on the street. Wherever the conversation of sports happens, a debate about a player’s performance in the clutch is sure to come up.
Regardless of one’s stance on the word clutch in the world of sports, the stats can be hard to argue against, especially when it comes to LSU men’s tennis player Justin Butsch.
The native of Miami, Fla., is undefeated in Southeastern Conference play this season, while the Tigers have struggled thus far in conference play (1-6). He’s won three out of his past five matches, and would’ve won a fourth and a fifth if the matches weren’t stopped prematurely.
An undefeated record in the SEC is impressive considering the level of competition the conference poses — six teams in the top 25 including five players ranked in the top 25 in the nation — but the situations in which Butsch won these matches is even more extraordinary.
Butsch has closed out all three of the Tigers’ most recent wins, including an emotional clincher at Ole Miss on Sunday.
LSU coach Jeff Brown said after Ole Miss, when the match was being determined in Butsch’s game, the crowd bore down on the court. The fans created an atmosphere Brown said he wouldn’t want to put his most seasoned veteran in, but Butsch prevailed.
Brown couldn’t have imagined the freshman performing that way two months ago.
Butsch lost his first three matches, going winless until Feb. 8 when he picked up his first victory against small-time Liberty.
His performance was so shaky, Brown was unsure where to place Butsch in the lineup, constantly moving him between courts four, five and six.
“I don’t know if I was working as hard,” Butsch said. “I was kind of taking shortcuts, not competing as well as I could, not bringing too much energy.”
Butsch hit rock bottom on Feb. 21 against Michigan, losing in straight sets. After the match, Brown sat down with Butsch and talked to him about living up to the team’s expectations in an attempt to reign the talented freshman back in.
“We wanted to let him know what our expectations were,” Brown said. “We felt like he was somebody who could fit into that, but we just wanted to make sure that we got on the same page.”
Since the conversation with Brown, it’s evident Butsch has turned his game around. He found the key to success on the court was bringing the same energy and personality he had off the court into matches.
Brown said he has never seen someone accept responsibility and change the way Butsch has. Once Butsch accepted his role and incorporated his fiery personality onto the court, he’s seen noticeable improvement, Brown said.
Butsch has gone undefeated since Feb. 21, going 6-0 in that span, including three match clinchers in the Tigers’ past three wins.
The real Justin Butsch has been released and as of late is boasting the confidence that his coach had been longing for.
“I think I’m one of the best competitors in the country, if not the best,” Butsch said. “There’s not many people who can compete like me. Sometimes I may sound cocky, but I don’t really care.”