EVANSVILLE MENS PREVIEW

EVANSVILLE PREVIEW

The Aces had another good season last year as they went 9-9 in conference play. Coach Marty Simmons is a coach that can get a lot out of his team, but Evansville could have been better. They just didn’t catch many breaks in many close losses. Colt Ryan is back and Evansville is counting on him having another banner season.  Ryan averaged 20.5 points per game with 3.3 assists, 1.9 steals and 4.2 rebounds. Ryan will see very little bench time because he is a great shooter and hit on 43.8 percent of his attempts from long range.

Denver Holmes and Kenny Harris have graduated so keeping an eye on Ryan will be easier. Those two were the other scoring threats behind Ryan. Holmes averaged over 11.3 points per game during his senior season. He was also a great passer and a excellent shooter. Harris added 4.5 rebounds and scored 11.2 points per game. The loss of Matt Peeler is important because he was one of the few big bodies on the team.

The recruiting class did not successfully address the need for post players.  David Howard is the only big man Evansville recruited but he will need some time to develop. The backcourt recruited more guards and wings like D.J. Balentine (Kokomo), Blake Simmons and Adam Wing.  Balentine will be the backup point guard this year but could be moved to the two guard for more scoring options.  Wing may emerge as a scorer . He is an all-around player who should make a big impact either as a starter or coming off the bench.

Evansville’s support surrounding Ryan in the backcourt is impressive. Troy Taylor is a “can do” everything guard except score.  Taylor will run the point after dishing out 3.5 assists per game.  Taylor is a playmaker and a fine creator. For point guard, he is a superb rebounder and led the team with 4.9 rpg . Ned Cox is also a good point guard, but unlike Taylor, Cox can shoot and score. That will likely leave Cox starting at the two guard and he may stay there if Balentine can play both positions. The return of 6-6 forward Jordan Jahr will be important.  Jahr had a solid season mainly towards the end of the year.  Evansville will likely play him at the four. Lewis Jones is only 6-3, but the plays bigger than that because of his jumping ability.  Due to lack of depth, he may spend more time on the floor at the four spot instead of the three.

The lack of a new big man means Evansville will likely have no choice but to play small ball. Ryan Sawvell had a good freshman season starting 22 games and averaging 6.2 ppg and 4.0 rpg. A summer getting much stronger will help him in the paint. Jaylon Moore has more strength as he weighs 230 pounds, but he only played 6.3 minutes per game as a freshman. 6-8 Lithuanian Forward Rokas Cesnulevicius didn’t play much last season so he needs more time on the floor to make a difference.  Cesnulevicius will be very important unless the Aces have an ace up their sleeve.  But even without the frontcourt depth, this is a team that went 9-9 last year and should be better this year. That may not result in an MVC title, but it should result in a trip to the NIT, CBI or CIT.

	#	Full Name	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Academic Year	Hometown / Highschool
	0	Ryan Sawvell	F/C	6-8	200	So.	Mundelein, Ill. / Mundelein
	1	Jordan Nelson	G	6-0	160	So.	Lincoln, Ill. / Lincoln Community
	4	Lewis Jones	G/F	6-3	205	Sr.	Memphis, Tenn. / GW Carver
	5	Troy Taylor	G	6-0	184	Sr.	Anderson, Ind. / Anderson
	10	Jaylon Moore	F/C	6-7	230	So.	Olive Branch, Miss. / Olive Branch
	11	Colt Ryan	G/F	6-5	210	Sr.	Batesville, Ind. / Batesville
	12	Adam Wing	G	6-4	205	Fr.	Morehead, Ky. / Rowan County
	13	Jordan Jahr	G/F	6-6	205	R-So.	Austin, Texas / Lake Travis
	14	Andy Chinn	G	6-0	165	Sr.	Tell City, Indiana / Tell City
	20	Brandon Williams	G	6-0	170	Sr.	Charlotte, Tenn. / Creek Wood
	22	Ned Cox	G	6-1	185	Sr.	San Antonio, Texas / Judson
	23	Mike Leazer	G	6-3	170	Fr.	Mount Prospect, Ill. / Northridge Prep
	25	Rokas Cesnulevicius	F/C	6-8	215	So.	Alytaus, Lithuania / Hawaii Preparatory Academy
	31	D.J. Balentine	G	6-2	210	Fr.	Kokomo, Ind. / Kokomo
	44	David Howard	F	6-8	225	Fr.	Nashville, Tenn. / Montgomery Bell
	55	Egidijus Mockevicius	C	6-10	225	Fr.	Vilnius, Lithuania / Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences