ST. LOUIS — Evansville coach David Ragland subbed his seniors out with 1:41 remaining in opposition to Drake. He hugged every of them — Kenny Strawbridge Jr., Gage Bobe and Antonio Thomas — as they exited to the applause of those that made the almost three-hour journey from southwest Indiana.
There are many cliche phrases that go along with seniors and what they imply to a program. Ragland was adamant about this group, although. These had been the gamers, together with Marvin Coleman II final season, who helped body the inspiration Ragland is attempting to construct with the Purple Aces.
The 79-58 loss to the second-seeded Bulldogs was predictable, as was Evansville’s Tenth-place end. However for individuals who noticed the Aces this season, the steps in Ragland’s second season had been tangible.
“(Ragland) and his employees have finished an unimaginable job as they’re persevering with to construct that roster out,” Drake coach Darian DeVries stated. “He’s bought it entering into the fitting route they usually’re a superb crew, so congrats to them on a very good season.”
Evansville employed Ragland in late Might of 2022. After going 5-27 in 12 months one, the Aces completed 16-17 with their first Missouri Valley Convention Match win since 2017 coming in opposition to Illinois State on Thursday. After ending final season at No. 352 in KenPom, Evansville rose as excessive as 161 and can doubtless end within the high-200s.
The Aces tripled their win complete from final season and had six extra league wins. The recruiting has improved.
A 12 months in the past, Evansville misplaced by 39 factors in Arch Insanity’ opening spherical, a event file.
“As a way to know the way it’s to succeed, you must know the way it’s to fail,” Ragland stated after being eradicated final season. “Clearly we wished to win extra video games than we did, however the character of our group is as excessive as I’ve seen a gaggle.”
This season, there’s a tangible hope for what the way forward for the Aces program holds. Earlier than this season, Evansville hadn’t gained greater than 9 video games since going 11-21 in 2019.
“We made progress,” Ragland stated Friday. “It’s constructing blocks for long-term success with the fitting strategy, high quality individuals displaying up day by day working (and) dedicated to 1 one other. If you wish to make progress and you must go from one step to the following step so as to attain the total potential. We’re transferring in the fitting route.”
Strawbridge was Evansville’s lone all-conference honoree final season. This 12 months, the Aces had Ben Humrichous on the newcomer crew with Tanner Cuff and Chuck Bailey III being named to the all-bench crew. Bailey was additionally named to the all-freshman crew.
Yacine Toumi, one of many returners from final season, began on the 5 and didn’t rule out returning for a fifth 12 months.
“It was a distinct crew,” Toumi stated. “Everyone was locked in, and I knew from the start that we may do one thing particular.”
Ragland has typically coined the phrase “reviving a storied program” when speaking in regards to the Aces’ rebuilding efforts. There’s nonetheless an extended technique to go. Nobody is pretending in any other case. However there was tangible progress in 12 months two, with a possible CBI bid nonetheless within the air.
Whether or not they partake in a postseason event or not, the journey for 12 months three is now underway.
“Stick with a number of the issues that we’ve constructed and had been doing properly, persevering with to have high quality individuals,” Ragland stated. “We wish to proceed to maintain the work ethic that we have now, the tradition that these guys have finished a fantastic job of constructing. … While you preserve that at your focus, outcomes deal with themselves.”
