The 2017–18 Evansville Purple Aces men's basketball team represented the University of Evansville during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Purple Aces, led by 11th-year head coach Marty Simmons, played their home games at the Ford Center as members of the Missouri Valley Conference. They finished the season 17–15, 7–11 in MVC play to finish in a three-way tie for seventh place. As the No. 8 seed in the MVC tournament, they lost to Northern Iowa in the first round.
2017–18 Evansville Purple Aces men's basketball | |
---|---|
Conference | Missouri Valley Conference |
Record | 17–15 (7–11 MVC) |
Head coach |
|
Assistant coaches |
|
Home arena | Ford Center |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | PCT | W | L | PCT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Loyola Chicago † | 15 | – | 3 | .833 | 32 | – | 6 | .842 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Southern Illinois | 11 | – | 7 | .611 | 20 | – | 13 | .606 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Illinois State | 10 | – | 8 | .556 | 18 | – | 15 | .545 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Drake | 10 | – | 8 | .556 | 17 | – | 17 | .500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bradley | 9 | – | 9 | .500 | 20 | – | 13 | .606 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Indiana State | 8 | – | 10 | .444 | 13 | – | 18 | .419 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Missouri State | 7 | – | 11 | .389 | 18 | – | 15 | .545 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Evansville | 7 | – | 11 | .389 | 17 | – | 15 | .531 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Northern Iowa | 7 | – | 11 | .389 | 16 | – | 16 | .500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Valparaiso | 6 | – | 12 | .333 | 15 | – | 17 | .469 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
† 2018 MVC tournament winner |
On March 13, 2018, Evansville fired head coach Marty Simmons.[1] He finished at Evansville with an 11-year record of 184–175. On March 22, the school hired Boston Celtics assistant coach, former Kentucky player and Evansville native Walter McCarty as head coach.[2]
Previous season
editThe Purple Aces finished the 2016–17 season 16–17, 6–12 to finish in eighth place in MVC play. They defeated Indiana State[3] in the MVC tournament before losing to Illinois State in the quarterfinals.[4]
Offseason
editDepartures
editName | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Reason for departure |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Christian Benzon | 2 | G | 6'4" | 195 | Senior | Copenhagen, Denmark | Graduated |
Jaylon Brown | 3 | G | 6'0" | 185 | Senior | Fishers, IN | Graduated |
Jaiveon Eaves | 4 | G | 6'2" | 200 | Freshman | Madisonville, KY | Transferred to John A. Logan College |
Sergej Vucetic | 14 | C | 7'1" | 238 | RS Senior | Vrbas, Serbia | Graduated |
Willie Wiley | 23 | F | 6'7" | 215 | Senior | Springfield, IL | Graduated |
David Howard | 44 | F | 6'8" | 225 | RS Senior | Nashville, TN | Graduated |
Incoming transfers
editName | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Marty Hill | 1 | G | 6'5" | 170 | Junior | Champlin, MN | Junior college transferred from Northeast CC |
2017 recruiting class
editName | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Evan Kuhlman PF |
Liberty Township, OH | Lakota High School | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | N/A | Sep 12, 2016 | |
Star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: NR | ||||||
Noah Frederking SG |
Okawville, IL | Okawville High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | Oct 22, 2016 | |
Star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: NR | ||||||
Overall recruiting rankings: | ||||||
Sources:
|
Preseason
editIn the conference's preseason poll, the Aces were picked to finish in ninth place in the MVC.[5] Junior guard Ryan Taylor was named to the preseason All-MVC second team.[5]
Roster
edit2017–18 Evansville Purple Aces men's basketball team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Schedule and results
editDate time, TV |
Rank# | Opponent# | Result | Record | Site (attendance) city, state | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Non-conference regular season | |||||||||||
Nov 10, 2017* 7:00 pm, ESPN3 |
Arkansas State | W 77–63 | 1–0 |
Ford Center (3,622) Evansville, IN | |||||||
Nov 13, 2017* 11:00 am, ESPN3 |
North Carolina Central | W 68–55 | 2–0 |
Ford Center (6,048) Evansville, IN | |||||||
Nov 16, 2017* 7:00 pm, ESPN3 |
Southeast Missouri State Cancún Challenge campus game |
W 66–50 | 3–0 |
Ford Center (3,151) Evansville, IN | |||||||
Nov 18, 2017* 3:00 pm, ESPN3 |
Binghamton Cancún Challenge campus game |
W 66–61 | 4–0 |
Ford Center (3,167) Evansville, IN | |||||||
Nov 21, 2017* 7:30 pm, CBSSN |
vs. Fresno State Cancún Challenge semifinals |
W 59–57 | 5–0 |
Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya (982) Cancún, Mexico | |||||||
Nov 22, 2017* 7:30 pm, CBSSN |
vs. Louisiana Tech Cancún Challenge championship |
L 61–63 | 5–1 |
Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya (982) Cancún, Mexico | |||||||
Nov 29, 2017* 8:00 pm, ATTSNRM |
at New Mexico MW–MVC Challenge |
L 59–78 | 5–2 |
Dreamstyle Arena (8,943) Albuquerque, NM | |||||||
Dec 2, 2017* 1:00 pm, ESPN3 |
Oakland City | W 98–56 | 6–2 |
Ford Center (3,213) Evansville, IN | |||||||
Dec 5, 2017* 6:00 pm, ESPN3 |
at Bowling Green | W 91–76 | 7–2 |
Stroh Center (1,489) Bowling Green, OH | |||||||
Dec 9, 2017* 1:00 pm, ESPN3 |
Canisius | W 65–58 | 8–2 |
Ford Center (3,363) Evansville, IN | |||||||
Dec 16, 2017* 3:00 pm, ESPN3 |
Austin Peay | W 78–74 OT | 9–2 |
Ford Center (3,403) Evansville, IN | |||||||
Dec 17, 2017* 3:00 pm, ESPN3 |
Midway | W 79–52 | 10–2 |
Ford Center (3,010) Evansville, IN | |||||||
Dec 20, 2017* 6:00 pm, ESPN2 |
at No. 4 Duke | L 40–104 | 10–3 |
Cameron Indoor Stadium (9,314) Durham, NC | |||||||
Missouri Valley regular season | |||||||||||
Dec 23, 2017 1:00 pm, NBCSC |
Illinois State | L 66–72 | 10–4 (0–1) |
Ford Center (4,039) Evansville, IN | |||||||
Dec 30, 2017 3:00 pm, FSMW/NBCSC |
at Loyola–Chicago | L 59–66 | 10–5 (0–2) |
Joseph J. Gentile Arena (1,914) Chicago, IL | |||||||
Jan 3, 2018 7:00 pm, ESPN3 |
at Southern Illinois | L 63–65 | 10–6 (0–3) |
SIU Arena (4,622) Carbondale, IL | |||||||
Jan 6, 2018 3:00 pm, ESPN3 |
Bradley | W 68–44 | 11–6 (1–3) |
Ford Center (4,171) Evansville, IN | |||||||
Jan 10, 2018 7:00 pm, ESPN3 |
Missouri State | W 64–55 | 12–6 (2–3) |
Ford Center (3,237) Evansville, IN | |||||||
Jan 13, 2018 2:00 pm, ESPN3 |
at Drake | L 65–81 | 12–7 (2–4) |
Knapp Center (3,313) Des Moines, IA | |||||||
Jan 17, 2018 7:00 pm, ESPN3 |
Indiana State | L 66–71 | 12–8 (2–5) |
Ford Center (3,601) Evansville, IN | |||||||
Jan 20, 2018 7:00 pm, ESPN3 |
at Bradley | L 53–66 | 12–9 (2–6) |
Carver Arena (6,205) Peoria, IL | |||||||
Jan 24, 2018 7:00 pm, ESPN3 |
at Valparaiso | W 75–65 | 13–9 (3–6) |
Athletics–Recreation Center (2,219) Valparaiso, IN | |||||||
Jan 27, 2018 1:00 pm, ESPN3 |
Drake | W 77–73 | 14–9 (4–6) |
Ford Center (4,295) Evansville, IN | |||||||
Jan 31, 2018 7:00 pm, ESPN3 |
at Northern Iowa | W 57–49 | 15–9 (5–6) |
Ford Center (3,352) Evansville, IN | |||||||
Feb 3, 2018 3:00 pm, ESPN3 |
at Illinois State | L 71–75 | 16–9 (5–7) |
Redbird Arena (6,923) Normal, IL | |||||||
Feb 7, 2018 7:00 pm, ESPn3 |
Valparaiso | W 63–59 | 16–10 (6–7) |
Ford Center (3,425) Evansville, IN | |||||||
Feb 10, 2018 2:00 pm |
at Missouri State | L 55–72 | 16–11 (6–8) |
JQH Arena (3,358) Springfield, MO | |||||||
Feb 13, 2018 7:00 pm, ESPN3 |
at Northern Iowa | L 41–47 | 16–12 (6–9) |
McLeod Center (3,346) Cedar Falls, IA | |||||||
Feb 18, 2018 3:00 pm, ESPN3 |
Loyola–Chicago | L 66–76 | 16–13 (6–10) |
Ford Center (4,887) Evansville, IN | |||||||
Feb 21, 2018 6:00 pm, ESPN3 |
at Indiana State | L 53–58 | 16–14 (6–11) |
Hulman Center (4,295) Terre Haute, IN | |||||||
Feb 24, 2018 1:00 pm, ESPN3 |
Southern Illinois | W 75–44 | 17–14 (7–11) |
Ford Center (4,312) Evansville, IN | |||||||
Missouri Valley tournament | |||||||||||
Mar 1, 2018 6:00 pm, ESPN3 |
(8) | vs. (9) Northern Iowa First round |
L 50–60 | 17–15 |
Scottrade Center (4,852) St. Louis, MO | ||||||
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central Time. |
References
edit- ^ Goodman, Jeff; Borzello, Jeff (March 13, 2018). "Sources: Marty Simmons out after 11 seasons at Evansville". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
- ^ "Evansville hires Celtics' McCarty as coach". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
- ^ Lyons, Joe. "Eighth-seeded Evansville cruises past Indiana State in MVC tourney". stltoday.com. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
- ^ "Evansville vs. Illinois State - Game Recap - March 3, 2017 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
- ^ a b "Missouri State Picked to Win MVC Men's Basketball". Retrieved October 27, 2017.
- ^ "Evansville Purple Aces Basketball 2017-18 Schedule - Purple Aces Home and Away - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
- ^ "University of Evansville - 2017-18 Men's Basketball Schedule". gopurpleaces.com. Retrieved October 27, 2017.