Evansville vs Mercer, Ford Center

[shockem]

This team is different in that it has no Colt Ryan, who often was looked to by his teammates to create and bail them out of a lot of late clock situations. This group appears to be like a great pickup game team, sharing the ball and getting looks through the run of play and not deferring to one player as much. It's a young group that can continue to grow and it's still early but it is a group that shows promise.

Impressive showing so far from DJ. Not seeing you all play yet, just looking at the stats, it looks like DJ is the next Colt Ryan (ie, offense runs through one guy). Through 3 games DJ has: 33% of the teams points, 29% of the total shot attempts and 38% of the free throw attempts.

Compared to Colt last season: 29% of the points, 25% of the total attempts and 31% of the FT attempts.

It will be intersting to see if this trend continues or is just an anomolmy due to DJs experience early on.

[COUTEAU]

Notice to The VALLEY and all other naysayers....
be 'fraid, be very 'fraid.
You've been warned...

GO ACES

[Black]

Notice to The VALLEY and all other naysayers....
be 'fraid, be very 'fraid.
You've been warned...

GO ACES

I haven't knocked Evansville with their 3-0 start. But when this stuff starts to get flung around after wins over Mercer and IUPUI....

I'd like to revisit this post in about a month. That will determine the validity of it or the silliness of it.

[Ace Dad]

I love the win.

Great for a young team.

I believe the talent level is improving.

However, it is too early for optimism. Give me the pre-conference games and four Valley games, and then I will know.

Anyway, GO Aces!

[COUTEAU]

............However, it is too early for optimism........Anyway, GO Aces!

Really, Ace Dad?
This IS the part of the season we're SUPPOSED to be ripe with optimism!!!
I've read for, the last four years, about your, "baby steps" formula.
As much as I loved Colt, Ned, Troy, & LewJo, they seemed to, only, crawl and never really even attempted to take any kind of stride at all.
These ACES seem to show no fear of failing, falling, bruised or skinned knees. They left their baby steps behind, the day they all signed that letter.
In five games (two expos), since they've donned an ACES uniform, they've YET to know what losing feels like. I don't think they want that experience and will be quite angry of it, when it will fall upon them.
Seems to me, more than just the last few years, losing became "part of the game", at The University of Evansville.
Well, I think those days are over......Behind them, far in their rear view.

As far as Mr. Black.....
Tell you what.
As far as my, in your words...."stuff flinging", I will retract my optimism, for The ACES, to these boards as well, if you will give The ACES, the "props" they will deserve by then.
At the end of the calendar year, say around Christmas, we'll look at what The ACES have (or) have not accomplished.
The ACES will have played, by then...Butler, Murray State, Xavier, IU, Mercer, VALPO, and Ohio University.
Five schools, that last season, competed in the field of 68, two others, Senior laden teams, and all perennial powers, in the respected conferences.
This is a different group and type player, wearing "EVANSVILLE" across their chest, this season.
There's a really good vibe around this team and these athletes. For those of us that have been to The FC, I think will agree, you can feel it, in the air and see it in their eyes.
So I, without fearing any kind of "stuff flinging" remorse, will say again....

Notice to The VALLEY and all other naysayers....
be 'fraid, be very 'fraid.
You've been warned.....


GO ACES

[2livewu]

Yeah, I remember my first beer.

[Dean Wormer]

I would love nothing more than to see the Aces winning and filling the arena again, but good grief Couteau, take a freaking Xanax. This is a team full of freshmen and sophomores. Exciting, yes, but you're being just plain silly with all this fear talk..and WHAT is with the selective use of caps? Looks like bitter ranting.

A team full of freshmen and sophomore NEED to take BABY STEPS. Quit being a jerk, listen to AceDad and enjoy the promise the team has, it is going to be a tad bumpy.

[Ace Dad]

Couteau, if you follow college basketball, you will find that very few mid-major teams have the ability to flourish with Freshmen and new players after losing a career scorer and several seniors. The Valley teams will have figured out how to defend the Aces before conference play starts, so, again, I love that we are 2-0 against D1 teams, but I want us to play and beat some Valley teams we are not supposed to beat before I reserve a hotel room for a Saturday night stay in St Louis.

Laugh and scoff at my "crawl, walk, run" analogy all you want, but that is exactly what our program is doing (and doing well) and "crawl, walk, and run" is what this team will go through this year. The Freshman are going to hit a wall. The question is how well they respond. Mock must become more of a scorer because we need a versatile Mock. Remember, I want the Aces to do well, I just respect the nine other programs in the Valley and know that they have reloaded, too.

Every year we have several fan bases that over-react to early success. College basketball does not work that way: the Aces need to continue to do well in non-conference and show well before I believe this young, talented team, can hang with the big boys.

[purple&orange]

It's very early and yes I feel optimism about this group, 3 games do not make a season and a lot can change by the time Arch Madness rolls around. A few years back Wichita went to Syracuse and beat them, got ranked up to #8 I believe before not even making the NCAA Tournament. Butler really struggled after losing Hayward in the non-conference, I recall our Aces were sort of the punching bag as to what was wrong with Butler, losing at Hinkle to Evansville, they ended up in the national title game for the 2nd year in a row.

This is a great league with coaches who get the most out of their talent and are very difficult to beat, especially at home. Be proud of this group of Aces and the upcoming stretch (Valpo, @ IU, @ Ohio, @ Murray, Miami (OH), and @ Xavier) will tell a lot about this team. Personally, a 3-3 or 4-2 record over those 6 games would make me quite happy with how the rebuilt and retooled Purple Aces may play out the rest of the season.

[COUTEAU]

Guess I need to clarify myself.
First, not one time have I ever, projected UE to, win The National Championship, go undefeated, win The MVC, or even beat-up on any school, in the Valley.
95% of every "yahoo", in here has degraded the University's program and made The ACES their red-headed step child, over the years. (apologizes to my red headed lady friend, hates it when I use that cliche).

Back in July or August, in the old The Purple Code fan page, I boldly posted 23-6, 14-4, & undefeated at The FC, when even ACES fans were fretting over the coming season. It may have been even sooner, I don't exactly remember when.
I think I posted something similar, in here back then or later, as well.
There's noting wrong with believing in a new group of athletes, coming to the university.
Many UE fans thought the boat had sailed, sunk, burnt...after the graduation of Colt Ryan. Me, I thought of it as more of a relief, that anything else.
Don't get me wrong, I loved watching Colt play.
But, there were four other guys on the court, that were scared to death to play basketball and more interested in doing the same....watch Colt Ryan play.

I didn't bring up Butler, but now that it has...
Wow, how young were they?
In 08-09, the season, before making either one of their tournament runs, they had only two Seniors. Remember their names?
No, you remember Hayward, Howard, Nored, Mack. All underclassmen.
Not making any kind of Butler comparison, for a trip to The Final Four, so don't no need to lambaste me again.
Again, I will say, this is the time of year for optimism. That's what college basketball is all about to the casual fan.
Sorry, to Ace Dad, if I'm not that well of an informed fan, geez, Colonel...get over yourself.
If I wAnt to usE capitol leTTers, at anytIme or on aNY word, I WILL.
Don't drink beer. I actually hate it..... except when off shore and it's 90 degrees.
Prefer Scots Whiskey. Blended, not single barrel. 12 or 18 year old. And, I can remember that, like it was yesterday.
I will continue to post whatever I want.
I'm a dreamer, perhaps an extreme optimist, and hopeful for Evansville basketball.

GO ACES