Anthony KristensenEvansville Courier & Press
EVANSVILLE — Well, here we are.
It's the lull of the summer. Aside from the Evansville Otters, the local sports landscape is slow-moving for another month until fall sports get going. Yet, the University of Evansville and University of Southern Indiana men's basketball programs have been on campus for the past few weeks working out and getting acclimated to new teammates.
So, how about a column?
I've caught up with both programs on a few occasions recently and have plenty of observations and tidbits that haven't made their way into any other coverage yet. Let's get caught up with the Purple Aces and Screaming Eagles, shall we?
(On an unrelated note, both coaching staffs have now seen my jump shot. “Not bad,” UE coach David Ragland said, likely lying so as to not hurt my feelings.)
General observations
Schedules taking shape
I've been submitting public records requests to learn more about each team's schedule for the upcoming season, and I've received a few back already. USI will receive $80,000 for its trip to Saint Louis and $135,000 for its participation in Duke’s multi-team event, which like last year will allow the Eagles to participate in the College Basketball Invitational if they finish .500 or better. Meanwhile, UE will receive $78,000 to travel to Cincinnati this season.
Here's what I know here in mid-July:
USI
- at Saint Louis, Nov. 6 ($80,000 payout)
- Chicago State, Nov. 11
- at La Salle, Nov. 17
- at Bucknell, Nov. 20
- at Duke, Nov. 24 ($135,000 payout)
- Bowling Green State, Dec. 2
- Purdue Fort Wayne, Dec. 6
- at Indiana State, TBA
- at Southern Illinois, TBA
UE
- Miami (Ohio), Nov. 6
- at Las Vegas Holiday Classic, Nov. 24-25
- at BYU, Dec. 6
- at Cincinnati, Dec. 29 or 30 ($78,000 payout)
- Ball State, TBA
- at Southeast Missouri State, TBA
- Tennessee-Martin, TBA
- at Bellarmine, TBA
Who's on campus?
- International newcomers have all arrived at their respective campuses, from USI's Yarin Hasson (Israel) to UE's Gui Tesch (Brazil) and Josh Hughes (Australia). Nolan Causwell will join the Eagles after completing his summer classwork at Tennessee Tech.
How do the teams look?
- USI seems like it will play a similar style to last season. The physical attributes of this team resemble last year’s inaugural D-I squad, and I think that’s a good thing. The Eagles competed well enough at their best to belong at the top of the Ohio Valley Conference, but they didn't always play to their potential. Consistency again will be a big emphasis this season.
- UE, on the other hand, is bigger than before. Ragland has a full roster of guys he brought in for the first time — aside from fifth-year guard Gage Bobe — so this could literally be a big year for the Aces. Improvements are a must following four last-place finishes in five seasons. Should UE make good strides, it will have a stronger platform for what I believe is a rebuild still a couple of years away from completion.
- Twelve Aces are listed as 6-foot-5 or taller compared to eight last season; six are 6-8 or taller now compared to three previously.
USI's Xavier McCord is an athlete
This isn’t exactly a shocking revelation or something that hasn’t been said before. But when you see it, you see it.
McCord has all the tools to be a strong OVC player. He has a good handle and is a strong midrange player. Ideally, you want to see his 3-point numbers improve, especially given how reliant the Eagles were on the perimeter last season. Based on what I’ve seen, I really like McCord and his work ethic.
He comes from a solid junior college at Laramie County, as well. McCord played against the likes of Salt Lake Community College and College of Southern Idaho, both of which regularly produce Division I talent. That, along with former-and-now-current teammate Causwell joining later, gives the Eagles something to look forward to.
“He’s gifted. He’s a big-time athlete,” coach Stan Gouard said. “With our style of play, I think it’s gonna benefit him very well. … HIs ability to score the basketball, his ability to use his athleticism, is going to be beneficial to what we can do.”
Ben Humrichous has the tools UE wants
UE posted a video to its Instagram page asking each Purple Ace which NBA player they likened themselves to. Ben Humrichous, the 6-foot-9 guard-forward combo, said Miami Heat sharpshooter Duncan Robinson. Ragland said the same thing unprovoked when I first asked about the Huntington University (NAIA) transfer after he signed.
That’s not to say Humrichous will be an NBA contributor someday, but he could have that type of impact on this UE team.
UE's pursuit of a four-star recruit Chuck Bailey III has 'potential... through the roof'
Humrichous, from what I’ve seen, has a good handle and shot for someone his size, making the Robinson connection not far-fetched. It looks to me that he will be an important part of the Aces' rotation this season, though it is too early to definitively say that.
“There’s a certain belief that he has, we have and the people around him have for him to be a really good player at this level,” Ragland said. “We’ll share that together, work at it together. … When you have size, skill and shooting, those skills translate wherever you go.”
USI's Luther Smith Jr. has game
Gouard loves an undersized guard, and that isn’t a bad thing. Those kinds of players can have success in the OVC. Look at Isaiah Swope.
Smith is a raw talent and, barring something unforeseen, is expected to redshirt this season. That being said, I was impressed when I watched him a bit. The guy can shoot.
He seems like the perfect redshirt guy. Getting the season to learn from those above him while refining his game and adjusting to the collegiate level will do the world of good. Smith’s teammates have been complimentary. The staff likes him.
In addition to that, he can learn from Ryan Hall’s redshirt experience. I expect Hall to feature this season. Gouard said he was regularly the best player on the scout team last year and I think that will translate to some minutes.
“I feel like we have a great group this year. We have great shooters,” returner AJ Smith said on the first day of practice. “Luther is a freshman. He just hit 76 3s.”
Aces newcomers Antonio Thomas, Tanner Cuff look strong
One of the many issues plaguing UE last season was a lack of depth. Again, it’s far too early to determine if that’s certainly in a better spot, but the early indications are promising with the point guards coming in.
Cuff and Thomas both have decent experience. Thomas came in from Kentucky Wesleyan after his time at Bradley and Cuff comes from Salt Lake Community College, one of the top JUCOs in the country. From what I’ve heard and limitedly seen, Thomas is a vocal presence and someone to look to. Cuff plays at a good pace and gets downhill at a speed Ragland wants.
“He is a leader, he’s not afraid to hear his own voice which is important,” Ragland said when Cuff signed. “He’s just very, very competitive. … He’s long, he’s able to defend and compete on the defensive end but also create for himself and create for others.”
“He’s been in the league. He’s won a championship,” Ragland said of Thomas. “I thought that was important. … There’s a bit of hunger for him to come here and finish the job, per se.”
