Evansville vs Mercer, Ford Center

[sect.3purple]

I agree that it is early in the season, and I agree with Ace Dad's theory that a basketball program builds step-by-step, but, ACE DAD, UE has been "baby-stepping" long enough! This year, we show exciting signs that we are actually GOING somewhere...and that somewhere is UP! Have you been to the FC to see this team play? It is so evident that, regardless of their youth, this team has skill, confidence, and they have energy and a fighting mentality that you just can't teach. Add that natural competitiveness to practiced skills (for example, Marty made the comment that these kids are practicing every day on the free-throw shooting, trying to raise an already-high percentage) and you have a young team playing good basketball, but in an exciting, energetic way.

I know we won't win them all....with competition like IU, Xavier, Butler, Murray State, and the tough Valley teams that we will face, we will be challenged. This fan feels like we have a fighting chance with these young Aces to compete, and to win games this year against tough competition.

I keep thinking back to the years of Aces basketball glory, when we won national championships...I just can't see a coach, or fans, settling for "baby steps".... or for conserving enthusiasm....it's the dreamers, the coaches, players, and fans that can SEE their team as a winner,as competing for top honors, who put in the time, effort, and energy to actually make things happen .....we've taken the baby steps, walked the long walks. This team seems ready to run.....and a lot of us fans are ready for the race!!

[Ace Dad]

Couteau, calm down. No offense meant.

Section, you do realize we have no seniors on this team? Right?

Are we at the point where our talent level will compensate for experience? The next 7-9 games will tell.

[sixth ace]

Couteau, calm down. No offense meant.

Section, you do realize we have no seniors on this team? Right?

Are we at the point where our talent level will compensate for experience? The next 7-9 games will tell.

Aces Dad ....we have no seniors....have you seen the Aces game this year? I have seen Aces basketball for long time and know some men who have watched these Aces team over the years. Most recent comment heard from these men Best team since Jim Crew was coach. Not Colt Ryan was greatest no Dan Godfreid Not Clint Hopf not PVT.... This team is the key. A group of freshman sophomores and juniors collided at the new Aces Facility and came out a team. DJ has got 29 points a game hope he gets his number31 tonight the host of this board tweeted write it down Gibson best point guard in the Valley. Enough BIGS with ability and agility to keep the middle full and a team that runs the motion offense seamlessly. not to mention that two of the Soph's were MVC first team last year and Sawvell was the year before that. Not just one player in double figure but 3 so far each game. plenty of shooters and cutters

[Wufan]

If I were an Aces fan I would be excited for this year and the future. I have not yet seen the Aces play, but I look forward to it. My common sense tells me that the Aces will finish the regular season with about 18-19 wins, but they'll obviously be better next year. I picked the Aces for fourth this and I stand by that, but if I was doing power rankings, I'd put them at 3rd as of right now.

Good luck Evansville!

[sixth ace]

If I were an Aces fan I would be excited for this year and the future. I have not yet seen the Aces play, but I look forward to it. My common sense tells me that the Aces will finish the regular season with about 18-19 wins, but they'll obviously be better next year. I picked the Aces for fourth this and I stand by that, but if I was doing power rankings, I'd put them at 3rd as of right now.

Good luck Evansville!

Thanks I think what most Aces see is that the team loses nothing by subbing. It is an equal 8-9 men rotation.
They don't have a second team they have similar /equals on the bench to sub in. Aces Have been shooting in the 80's at the free throw and are getting to the stripe. the shooting percentage is mid to high 50's and they have been outrebounding the opposition Lots to like with this team.

[Ace Dad]

Couteau, calm down. No offense meant.

Section, you do realize we have no seniors on this team? Right?

Are we at the point where our talent level will compensate for experience? The next 7-9 games will tell.

Aces Dad ....we have no seniors....have you seen the Aces game this year? I have seen Aces basketball for long time and know some men who have watched these Aces team over the years. Most recent comment heard from these men Best team since Jim Crew was coach. Not Colt Ryan was greatest no Dan Godfreid Not Clint Hopf not PVT.... This team is the key. A group of freshman sophomores and juniors collided at the new Aces Facility and came out a team. DJ has got 29 points a game hope he gets his number31 tonight the host of this board tweeted write it down Gibson best point guard in the Valley. Enough BIGS with ability and agility to keep the middle full and a team that runs the motion offense seamlessly. not to mention that two of the Soph's were MVC first team last year and Sawvell was the year before that. Not just one player in double figure but 3 so far each game. plenty of shooters and cutters

Yes, I watched the Valpo game. Again, too early. Give me several more games to include 3-4 Valley games. I hope you are right and our talent now eclipses the need for seniors and juniors. This good early start bodes well from 2014-2015.

http://realtimerpi.com/rpi_297_Men.html

[Ace Dad]

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.

Yup.

[ACECARD]

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.

You would have more success asking the sun not to rise.

[ACECARD]

If I were an Aces fan I would be excited for this year and the future. I have not yet seen the Aces play, but I look forward to it. My common sense tells me that the Aces will finish the regular season with about 18-19 wins, but they'll obviously be better next year. I picked the Aces for fourth this and I stand by that, but if I was doing power rankings, I'd put them at 3rd as of right now.

Good luck Evansville!

Wufan, you are way too nice, considerate, intelligent, logical, and polite to be a WSU fan on this forum. Too me you are in a raft sailing on a sea of %*$@.

[ACECARD]

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.

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