Evansville primed to build upon new foundation
Though his homecoming was not an overwhelming on-court success last season, Evansville head coach Walter McCarty sees plenty of signs that his program is blossoming.
Entering his second season, McCarty’s goal for the Purple Aces is simple: to have a winning team to match the program’s widespread support.
“I love our versatility. We can play a lot of different ways. The biggest thing is we have some depth now, a full roster, and can get guys rested and recovered,” McCarty said.
“We have a lot of guys that people will have trouble dealing with.”
McCarty was a star player at Harrison High School in Evansville, Ind. He also played for 10 seasons in the NBA, mostly with the Boston Celtics. The community expressed plenty of excitement over McCarty’s decision to leave his assistant coaching job with the Celtics to return home.
Evansville averaged a record 5,299 fans per game at Ford Center last season, which included a school-record 6,419 against Indiana State. The Aces went 9-7 at home, and 5-13 overall in the Missouri Valley Conference. They were picked eighth in the preseason MVC poll.
In the State Farm MVC Tournament in St. Louis, Evansville lost to Illinois State, 65-60, in the first round.
“Our motivation is to prove everyone wrong. Seeing where we are picked at again will add fuel to the fire and provide extra motivation,” McCarty said.
McCarty’s fast-tempo philosophy promises to bring some highly entertaining games. He aims for 90 possessions per game. However, it was the Aces opponents that took advantage much of last season as Evansville allowed an MVC-high 72.4 points per game.
McCarty will experience another homecoming when the Aces play at Kentucky on Nov. 12. He was a key piece on Kentucky’s memorable 1996 national championship team that went 34-2, and produced nine NBA players.
It will mark the first time the schools have met.
Central to Evansville’s success is senior guard K.J. Riley, last season’s leading scorer at 13.6 points per game. Though the 3-point shot is key to the Aces’ offensive scheme, it’s not integral to Riley’s game. He made just nine 3s last season, but went to the free-throw line 244 times (72 percent), which was 16th nationally.
Riley is the Aces’ only senior.
“We just weren’t as deep last season. We have a bunch of talent this year,” said Riley. “I feel like we are going to be very good; we are building a good foundation.”
Also among the returning players is junior forward John Hall. He averaged 9 points and 6.6 rebounds last season and had 40 made 3-pointers. Evan Kuhlman, a 6-8 junior, averaged 6.2 points with 34 made 3s. Junior guard Noah Frederking averaged 6.3 points and shot 38 percent from 3.
But, it is the newcomers, along with the redshirt players that are now eligible, igniting the excitement for Aces fans.
“We have 11, 12 guys that can play meaningful minutes and can impact the game,” McCarty said.
Sam Cunliffe, Artur Labinowicz and 6-9 forward DeAndre Williams each redshirted, and will see minutes right away. Cunliffe previously played at Arizona State and Kansas.
“It’s nice when you’re scouting and you’re playing guys (in practice) who are at their level instead of playing guys who are a lower level,” Frederking said about the redshirt players. “It helped a ton last year.”
Kuhlman agreed: “They are all phenomenal players, so I’m just glad to be on the court with them this year. Dre is super athletic, same with Sam and Art, and all the other guys.”
Evansville’s new roster had a chance to coalesce during the team’s summer European trip where they played games in London, Antwerp and Paris.
Williams is expected to be an impact scorer, as evidenced by his 24 points per game on the team’s Euro trip.
“DeAndre practiced all last season, so he’s not new to the system,” McCarty said. “Our guys understand his talent.
“We’re a lot more advanced because guys now are pretty familiar with our actions, our schemes, and if we change up a play they understand what the lingo is, our terminology and so they can adapt more easily.”
Freshman Thomasi Gilgeous-Alexander is the brother of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who plays for the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder. He’s a 6-7 point guard who eventually will be a major contributor.
The Aces begin their regular season on Nov. 9 when they’ll host Ball State. They start Valley action on Dec. 31 at Missouri State.
(Writer and MVC Contributor Brian Doolittle can be reached at briandoolittle1973@gmail.com)