Aces Europe road trip

[ValleyFAN]

I see the annual "No way Evansville is a Thursday team" and "Evansville has the best player in the league" claims after a couple of close victories against non-D1 teams got a head start this season. Usually have to wait for the D3 extravaganza week in November for that action.

Always fun reading.

My thoughts exactly. I looked at the London teams roster. They do have a couple former DI guys from the states that played at lower levels SWAC type teams. Other than that I cant vouch for the level of competition. I do think that the ACES will be more talented than usual but to say they definitely wont be a Thursday team is a bit of a stretch I think. Which four teams will they be better than? SIU? Valpo?

[BigMacAttack]

My thoughts exactly. I looked at the London teams roster. They do have a couple former DI guys from the states that played at lower levels SWAC type teams. Other than that I cant vouch for the level of competition. I do think that the ACES will be more talented than usual but to say they definitely wont be a Thursday team is a bit of a stretch I think. Which four teams will they be better than? SIU? Valpo?

Ok that two guesses. Another two to go!

[ACECARD]

My thoughts exactly. I looked at the London teams roster. They do have a couple former DI guys from the states that played at lower levels SWAC type teams. Other than that I cant vouch for the level of competition. I do think that the ACES will be more talented than usual but to say they definitely wont be a Thursday team is a bit of a stretch I think. Which four teams will they be better than? SIU? Valpo?

Ok that two guesses. Another two to go!

I'll go with Ind. St., and UNI. Might just throw in Drake also.

[BuBrave2006]

DeAndre Williams is a "dude." I can't wait to watch him play. That being said, if Noah Frederking is still getting minutes, I can't give Evansville that much of a ceiling. That being said, I still have them 5th over SIU, Valpo, Drake, and both ISUs.

[ACECARD]

DeAndre Williams is a "dude." I can't wait to watch him play. That being said, if Noah Frederking is still getting minutes, I can't give Evansville that much of a ceiling. That being said, I still have them 5th over SIU, Valpo, Drake, and both ISUs.

Right on brother. I take it you have seen DeAndre play, and are not just posting out of ignorance. Noah won't be All-Conference, but he will be improved this year. He had 19 points in the game against the Belgium team.

[BEARZ77]

I think Evansville has some nice pieces, always hard to tell how quickly teams start to ascend once there's an upgrade in talent. I do think that some of you forecasting a lower order finish for Drake must have missed last season.

[tribecalledquest]

Ahh...my favorite time of the year. Every teams newcomers are awesome and no way will their team play on Thursday.

[BCPanther]

UNI just completed an Italian trip where they went 3-0 and won every game by at least 30.

Cancel the season, deliver the trophy.

Seriously though, improvement is not linear. I hope for the league that everybody gets better but every rebuild and every established program runs into unforeseen bumps.

[ACECARD]

It's possible that I will have to lower my expectations after we see what happens in the pre-conference games, but nice to talk about now especially after winning all three games in Europe. I will agree that we really don't know the level of competition, and it was somewhat worrisome that the Aces lost nearly 20 point leads in the second half of two of those games, but as Walter said the scores weren't primarily the reason for the trip, but to see the team bond together, and be able to overcome tough circumstances. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it's nice to be able to dream.

[Bball Junkie]

Well two of the newcomers are DeAndre Williams and Sam Cunliffe.

Cunliffe was a Top 40 recruit coming out of HS who played at Arizona State and Kansas. At 6'7", he will bring some unique abilities to the court.

Williams was a composite Top 150 player coming out of high school with a high of #82. He is a legit 6'9" scorer and athlete unlike any UE has had since Richie Johnson back in the 1980's.

So they will be much better as the season progresses than they were last year.