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Former Butler standout Cornette dies at age 35

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The Butler basketball community has suffered another terrible loss.

Joel Cornette, who played with the Bulldogs from 1999-2003, died Tuesday morning at the age of 35.

“This morning, we spoke with the Cornette Family, who has confirmed that their beloved son and brother, Joel, passed away early this morning due to natural causes,” the school said in a statement. “They are shocked and devastated by this news. The Butler Family also mourns the loss of one of our favorite Bulldogs.”

Cornette played on three NCAA tournament teams, including a Sweet 16 berth in 2003, while at Butler. He was a 1,000-point career scorer and led the Bulldogs in rebounding in three seasons. After his playing career, he went on to stints coaching at Butler and Iowa before becoming an agent to NBA players.

His passing comes just months after Butler lost 25-year-old Andrew Smith to cancer in January. Smith was at Butler from 2009-13 and played in both of the school’s Final Four appearances.