Rambling Angst of an Aces' fan....

[AcePurple]

My 10-8 dream is looking pretty unrealistic. We'll have to win at least 2 road games, and that's only if we sweep the rest at home. WSU, NIU, SIU, MSU, I just can't see us beating all 4 of them here. Wichita does seem to be struggling on the road, but the same could have been said about Creighton before Saturday....

Maybe instead of a winning record, or even 9-9, I should just set my expectations lower: just finish 6th! But that means we'd have to finish ahead of Bradley & Indiana St. We're just a little fish in a big pond and will be as long as Merfeld's around. The sad reality is, long-term, we'll never be able to hang w/ the Valley big dogs, b/c we can't pay a coach like Altman or Turgeon enough money to keep passing on better oppurtunities, so even if we do come across a good coach, it will only be a stepping stone. Maybe we could get lucky like SIU and maintain the success afterwards. But dropping to the Ohio Valley just to be more competitive in the conference would suck, so I'm not saying that...... Look at Northwestern, I'm sure their fans feel the same way, just on a bigger stage than us. No way they'll ever be consistently competitive in the Big 10, but I'm sure they aren't pining for a drop to the MAC!

[Mick Taylor]

Have there been rumblings among some Ace fans to drop to the OVC? I hadn't heard that.

It's insane logic. Even if UE can't compete for MVC titles (which I think is a dubious notion to start with), so long as the MVC is a multi-bid conference, they still have a better chance of making the NCAAs because there's more spots available.

The OVC has been, and always will be, a one-bid conference. It's harder to make the NCAA's there, because regular season performance means nothing, it's all about the whims and sometimes unpredictable fortunes in the conference tourney.

Besides, I think UE baseball did just fine last year.

[AcePurple]

I wouldn't say there's serious talk about that, but on the Evansville paper message board people say some pretty crazy stuff, as extreme as we shouldn't even be DI. So my post is just kinda in response to all that....

[NoPlaceLikeDome]

UNI

U-N-I

Let's go over this again.

U N I

[UE-BBALL#1]

The Creighton game is really only the 2nd game of the season we haven't had a shot to win. Every other game that we have lost we have been right there at the end and just haven't been able to pull it out.

A decision has to be made about Merfeld after this season. This is his first group of graduating seniors, and so far we haven't been able to claw out of the bottom half of the conference. We are going to basically have to start over next season in the post, as every post player we have are on their way out. If we are going to go in a different coaching direction, I think it'd be best for the program to do it after this season so that the new coach can try to bring in a group of players that fit his system for next season. I believe we still have several open scholarships.

I truly feel like Merfeld if given the chance can be successful here, in terms of winning. I think he suffered a little bit because of defections and off court problems with some of the gambles he took recruiting, and because of this and the struggles on the court has lost the support of many in the community and at the university. Could winning solve this? Maybe. The fact is that Evansville is a city that will support a winning college basketball team that plays a good schedule. I think that scheduling this year improved a bit by adding Butler and Valpo, and think that we would benefit crowd-wise by adding more regional schools, such as bringing back Western Kentucky, maybe looking to add Ball St, and a game against one of the big schools in the state to draw interest. No one cared about playing Miami, and no one showed up.

This year our team has been competitive. I think all fans, myself included, wish that we had turned this competitiveness into more victories to this point. However, while the conference is tough, I still believe that this team has a chance to learn to win the close games and feel we are good enough to compete and have a chance to win on any given night against any team in the conference. I would love to see this team pull together and have a winning season, but for that to happen we need to be more consistent.

[AcePurple]

UNI

U-N-I

Let's go over this again.

U N I

It's crazy, b/c it really annoys me when people type EU, yet I keep typing NIU.... I'll try and stop it....

[AcePurple]

UE-BBALL#1: spoken like a true mind of reason! Thanks for talking me off the ledge!!

:aces: :aces: :aces:

[Phantom]

The Aces are a very tough team. No 2 ways about it. (And Im not just saying that cuz they kicked the **** out of us at Roberts last month).

They play very hard and dont back down to anyone. Its JMHO, but I respect them and the job Merfeld has done. I dont care who you are or where your at, you have your work cut out for you when you play UE.

[NoPlaceLikeDome]

It's crazy, b/c it really annoys me when people type EU, yet I keep typing NIU.... I'll try and stop it....

No problem. I promise we'll get you to change eventually. Once you are around here long enough you won't even think of NIU or Northern Iowa...it will just be UNI. :panthers: :yes:

[Ace Happy]

I truly feel like Merfeld if given the chance can be successful here, in terms of winning...........

I think he's been given the chance. The humbling tonight from MSU and our likely losses during a tough road schedule do not bode well for his future. I know McGillis is a believer in Merfeld, but this year's record of his seniors will speak volumes (along with continued declining attendance).

I must admit I am losing faith.

[March Madman]

Tonight was an anomaly. Don't forget, UE is 7-4 in non-con games, with two of the L's at Mizzou and Butler. No need for anyone to throw in the towel yet.

[Bigcityp]

Tonight was an anomaly. Don't forget, UE is 7-4 in non-con games, with two of the L's at Mizzou and Butler. No need for anyone to throw in the towel yet.

Cleveland St. Buffalo, Lipscomb (1 win, 1 lose), SEMU, Tenn-Martin, Austin Peay, and Valpo... Not much on the W side to be proud of as well. THe towel needs to be thrown over Merfelds head.

[UE-BBALL#1]

Cleveland St. Buffalo, Lipscomb (1 win, 1 lose), SEMU, Tenn-Martin, Austin Peay, and Valpo... Not much on the W side to be proud of as well. THe towel needs to be thrown over Merfelds head.

Merfeld will not be fired in midseason, so save your whining for the end of the year when chances are his status will be reevaluated. Until then, support your team, players and coaches.

[wushockduke]

Evansville has great tradition, and fits well into the Valley.
Maybe you need to bring the sleeves back to the jersey's.

[btisu22]

Evansville has great tradition, and fits well into the Valley.
Maybe you need to bring the sleeves back to the jersey's.
Check my post on the other Evansville thread....great minds think alike!:clap:
:sycamores: