Basketball Revival in Evansville

Biggest Buzz Since the Days of Roseanne

(St. Louis, MO) – During the late 1980s and into the mid 1990s ‘Roseanne’ ruled the television ratings and college basketball in Evansville was king. Now there is a basketball revival in Evansville. The house of Dan and Roseanne Conner is found just blocks from the University of Evansville campus and UE alum Matt Williams was the creator and director of the hit sit-com.

UE’s Purple Aces were routinely playing Division 1 post season basketball and Southern Indiana’s Screaming Eagles were Division 2 basketball powers. Each team was routinely winning 20 games and playing in their respective NCAA Tournaments. All-Conference players abounded and Evansville was alive with hoop dreams.

Now, there is a new basketball revival in Evansville.

USI is moving up to Division 1 and joining the Ohio Valley Conference and a new energetic coaching staff is creating a stir at UE.

USI & UE Sharing a Golden Past

The Conner home (629 South Runnymeade Aveneue) is just blocks from the UE campus and the schools are a nine-mile drive from one another. Most of that commute is on W Lloyd Expressway, but the similarities are striking.

During the nine year ‘Roseanne’ run, the Screaming Eagles won at least 20 games six times and participated in six, D2 NCAA Tournaments. During five of those seasons Bruce Pearl was the head coach. Prior to joining the Missouri Valley Conference (1994), the Purple Aces played in three NCAA Tournaments and enjoyed one NIT appearance.

Evansville was rocking with basketball success.

Jim Crews was the Evansville head coach and the Purple Aces won at least 20 games during their six, pre-Valley promotion.

Current and first-year UE head coach David Ragland played at USI, leading the Screaming Eagles in assists during the 2002 and 2003 seasons. His USI counterpart, Stan Gouard was the team’s leading scorer for two NCAA Tournament teams.

Ragland assistant coach, Marcus Wilson led the Aces in scoring four straight seasons beginning in 1995-96. He led the Aces in scoring while Gouard was leading USI. Wilson says Gouard could have easily been a D1 player.

During the 1992-93 season, both UE and USI participated in their respective national tournaments.

Revival in Evansville – Purple Aces

Ragland has quickly enlivened the Aces’ fan base and quickly rebuilt the roster. He, Wilson, former UE player Craig Snow and George Swanson are producing an interest in the team not seen since Wilson’s playing days.

Three Division 1 transfers, one junior college transfer and five highly regarded freshman are a part of the new look Purple Aces roster. Two 6’10 players and a wave of point guards and wings will give Ragland plenty of flexibility to rejuvenate a roster that still contains several players with significant experience playing in the Purple and Orange.

Even the UE social media output has increased. Twitter is on fire with UE hoops’ posts. During Ragland’s nearly 20-year coaching career, he has only known success. Ragland is a winner. Snow and Wilson each enjoyed extensive professional playing careers and have enjoyed great success as assistants in other programs.

The Aces are bigger and more athletic than a year ago. Grad transfer Marvin Coleman, a three-star recruit and UNLV transfer is one of the headliners. He is a former Runnin Rebels’ starter. Transfer Kenny Strawbridge was a double-digit scorer at Alabama State.

Five freshmen guards are all 6’3 or better and come from outstanding programs. Several of these recruits signed when Todd Lickliter was the head coach.

Revival in Evansville – Screaming Eagles

Gouard’s staff is attempting the leap from D2 to D1 by hitting the transfer portal with the same zeal Roseanne had making fun of her children. Transfers from Michigan State, Indiana State, Nebraska and Eastern Illinois promise to give the Screaming Eagles the experience needed to compete in the OVC.

With Belmont and Murray State moving the Valley, the OVC is more wide-open than ever before. With Morehead State losing Johni Broome to Auburn, even the Eagles are diminished. USI should be able to compete right away.

Nebraska grad transfer Trevor Lakes is a Lebanon, Indiana native and played 22 games with the Cornhuskers over the past two seasons. The 6’7 forward also played two seasons at D2 UIndy under Gouard. Gary Solomon and Ryan Hall are each bigger guards and were outstanding at the junior college level.

Grabbing A.J. Smith from Southern Illinois Edwardsville’s backyard was a huge statement for Gouard’s staff. Smith’s older brother Mark played at Missouri. Nick Hittle (Indiana State) showed flashes of being a solid ‘stretch four’ in the MVC and the 6’10 lefty should be and effective weapon. Michigan State transfer Peter Nwoke (6’7, 215) could provide toughness and rebounding.

Nine new players overall, are bringing a much deeper roster to USI’s first D1 season.

Gouard carries a .665 D2 winning percentage into this higher level. Nine times during twelve seasons at UIndy, Gouard’s team won 19 or more games. During his first two seasons at his alma mater Gouard’s team is 30-13.

What’s Ahead?

The ‘Roseanne’ revival in 2018 didn’t work, nor did it last but this basketball revival in Evansville has solid building blocks. Ragland and Gouard are rising stars in the coaching business and both have put together coaching staffs that can recruit and connect with young players.

The energy surrounding these two programs is palpable. Gouard and Ragland are both in their dream jobs by coming home. Both played in Evansville, experienced great success and are finally coaching Division 1 programs with a sense of calling and purpose.

The two programs won’t play against one another this season, but look for that to become a regular game on their schedule in years to come. An ‘Evansville City Championship Game’ is a must for these two programs as they lead a basketball revival in Evansville.

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