Evansville had low expectations coming into the season, after losing their top four scorers off a competitive but far from great team a year ago. They were picked to finish in last place in the MVC, a prediction that almost no one argued with. And yet, somehow, they’ve managed even to meet those low expectations.
Their 12-game losing streak is the longest in almost half a century for the Aces program; the Purple Aces haven’t emerged from a game victorious since December 22. Their upcoming schedule seems to point towards enduring the worst 14-game stretch in the history of the program. They are winless in the MVC after eleven games. They’ve won just one road game all season long, and as their beat writer told WBR’s Patrick Marshall, they “needed two overtimes for that in a setting (at Tennessee Tech with the smallest Division I basketball crowd I’ve ever witnessed).”
Looking purely at their grotesque 0-11 MVC record, you might proclaim that Evansville is worse than Savannah State or Houston Baptist. But believe me, as cliched and coach-speak as it sounds, they’re not as bad as that record indicates. They have one or two solid young players to build around. Their average margin of loss in the 11 conference games is just 11.7, which is actually deceiving because over their last five games, they’ve narrowed the gap some to 8.
In MVC play, they’re getting outrebounded but not horribly; the margin is just 4 a game. In MVC games, they’re essentially even on steals, turnovers, assists, and free-throw percentage. The big deficiency seems to be defense. They shoot 39% as a team, but allow opponents to shoot nearly 46%. They make 33% of their triples, but allow opponents to make 38%. They give up an average of four more blocks a game than they get. And they average 59.3 points a game in MVC play, allowing 71.1.
Those aren’t Houston Baptist or Savannah State numbers. While Evansville has earned their 0-11 scarlet letter thus far, they’re not THAT far from being a competitive team that could be dangerous. Next year they could be formidable. Lets look at their three best players, all of which are freshmen or sophomores.
Colt Ryan is probably the biggest glimmer of hope in what has otherwise been a forgettable season. The freshman is second in the MVC in scoring at almost 15 points a game, and is in the top ten in three pointers, free throw percentage, assists and steals. He’s just 54 points shy of breaking Jason Holsinger’s Evansville record for points as a freshman. He’s on pace to be the first freshman to lead Evansville in scoring since Marcus Wilson in 1996 (remember him?). Oh, and he scored 26 points with six three-pointers in the first matchup with Creighton.
James Haarsma, a sophomore, is another piece coach Marty Simmons hopes to build around. At 6’7″, 230, Haarsma is a big guy, and he plays like one: he’s third in the MVC in rebounding, and has pulled down ten or more rebounds eight times this season. He has four double-doubles this season, including in back to back games on December 17 and 19. Not surprisingly, the Aces won both of those games, perhaps their best stretch all season long. Haarsma has been slowed by nagging injuries during MVC play, but showed signs of coming back around with a season-high 18 points at Drake two weeks ago.
And sophomore Denver Holmes, a 6’4″ guard, has scored in double figures in 12 of the team’s last 13 games, leading the team in scoring in six of those contests.
If you’re hoping — or assuming — the Jays will win by 20+ based purely on Evansville’s record and recent reputation, you might be disappointed in the morning. And it might not have anything to do with the Jays. Evansville has not lost by more than 12 in almost a month, despite not winning a game. They play teams close. Expect nothing less tonight.
One Big Paragraph with Lots O’Dots™: Evansville is 6-15 on the season and 0-11 in Missouri Valley Conference action. The Purple Aces arrive in Omaha in the midst of a 12-game losing streak, last winning Dec. 19 vs. Tennessee-Martin … The Aces are coached by one of the greatest players in Evansville history, Marty Simmons, who’s is in his third year at his alma mater after spending five previous years at SIU-Edwardsville. Simmons averaged 25.9 points per game as a senior in 1987-88, when he placed ninth in the voting for AP Player of the Year. He owns a record of 32-50 at Evansville, which moves his career record to 130-123 in nine seasons overall … This is the sixth consecutive year that NET has televised the Creighton-Evansville game from Omaha. That’s due to NET being last in the picking order for games, and after ESPN, FSN, and KMTV choose games for their packages, all that’s left is usually the Evansville game and one other. This year is no exception. Not coincidentally, the Jays are undefeated in NET televised games, going 10-0 … If you’re watching the game on TV, stick around for halftime. Two of Creighton’s top perimeter shooters, junior Kaleb Korver and freshman Ethan Wragge, recently squared off in a game of H-O-R-S-E. The competition was “officiated” by Nick Bahe, will be aired during halftime of Wednesday’s NET telecast … Evansville’s bench had not contributed more than 23 points in an MVC game until last week, when the Aces got 23 off the pines at Missouri State and 24 on Sunday against Indiana State. Freshman Troy Taylor
led the non-starters with 12 points and two steals at MSU, then added five points, four rebounds and three steals Sunday … Evansville freshman Freshman Ned Cox needs to wear a helmet and pads at practice, or something. He missed two games in January after suffering an eye injury in practice, and missed last Wednesday’s game at Missouri State after suffering a possible concussion in practice. He was cleared to play Sunday, and scored seven points in 12 minutes in the Aces’ seven point loss to Indiana State. Jeez, man … Evansville will host UIC on Saturday, Feb. 20 in their ESPN Bracketbusters game. The Flames are 5-16 overall and 1-10 in the Horizon League. UIC played two MVC teams in November–losing at home to Illinois State 69-65, and at Southern Illinois 74-64. Since the inception of Bracketbusters in 2003, MVC teams are 40-23. UEʼs record in the event is 3-3, with wins in each of the past three years.
The Last Time They Played: The Jays won 72-64 on January 3 in Evansville. Kenny Lawson had 18 points, 11 rebounds and a career-high seven blocked shots to lead the way. After building a double-digit lead, a 17-2 Evansville run midway through the second half gave the Aces the lead. Creighton would hold them scoreless for the final 3:15, though, and hold on for the win.
The Series: Creighton leads the all-time series with Evansville by a 22-9 count, including a 12-2 lead in Omaha. However, they’ve been absolutely dominant the last decade, winning the last 10 home meetings by an average of 18.5 points, with seven of those victories coming by 14 points or more. Additionally, they’ve won nine of the previous 10 overall match-ups and 14 of the past 17 in the series.
Each of Creighton’s last seven losses in the series has been by single-digits, but only one of the 31 all-time meetings has been decided by fewer than four points.
Gratuitous Linkage: The Onion’s AV Club devotes their weekly taste test to military MRE’s. The Vice-President and Principal at the agency I work at was an officer in the military for decades before retiring, and he brought some of these in to me last winter from the base because, well, I’m a curious guy. The most fascinating thing about them is the cooking process. Because of the chemicals in the bag, the slightest bit of water causes them to heat up QUICKLY. I mean, its insane how fast they get hot.
What does this have to do with anything, you ask? (When has anything at the bottom of these Primers ever had anything to do with anything, for all the years I’ve been writing them?)
The MRE’s are made by Ameriqual Foods in Evansville, Indiana. Touche.
The Totally Random Song I’d Play Right Now if I was Still a Radio DJ: Has there ever been a band who made their career off songs from movies more than Survivor? Rhetorical question.
Their classic from The Karate Kid is first up in what I hope becomes a running series (as long the Jays keep winning.)
The Pick: Only the most negative of Jays fans could fathom them losing tonight. Look for a nice, solid 12-point win. But no pizza.
Creighton 71, Evansville 59