ACES..ACES
03-01-2007, 05:06 AM
Aces planning extended road trip
By STEVE FORD, Courier & Press staff writer 464-7511 or fords@courierpress.com
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Even the bottom feeders have dreams at the Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament.
So as the eighth-seeded University of Evansville Aces prepared for tonight's 6 p.m. tourney-opening matchup with ninth seed Drake at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, there was still an eye cast to the future.
"We're preparing to play four games in four days," said UE coach Steve Merfeld. "Obviously, the first thing you have to do is beat Drake, but that's how we have to think."
Tonight's game is anybody's guess after each team won on its home floor during the regular season. Drake (16-14, 6-12 MVC) has the better overall record and its first winning season in 20 years.
But Evansville (14-16, 6-12) is the higher seed and the Aces won decisively (78-57) back on Dec. 28, while the Bulldogs snuck by 82-79 last week.
"We've lost some close games lately," said UE senior Matt Webster, a second-team all-MVC selection. "But we're excited about the way we played the second half at Drake and Saturday at Southern Illinois (a 76-69 loss)."
Webster said the Aces have been preparing mentally and physically for a run in the tournament, which would continue at noon Friday against No. 13 Southern Illinois with a win.
"We took a couple days off after Southern Illinois," said Webster. "It gave us a chance to rest our bodies and our minds and it was a big key. Everybody on this team believes we can win four games in four days.
"But we know that starts with Drake. We have to attack them like we did here and the second half out there. We have to play the way we want to play and do a good job rebounding. That's a big key."
Merfeld agreed rebounding would be big tonight, but added ball handling to the list, too.
"It's easy to get ready for them because we just played last week," said Merfeld, who needs to win the tourney for his first winning season in five years at Evansville. "We rushed some possessions the first time.
"When we do that we make turnovers, like the 10 we had in the first half. When you add in their nine offensive rebounds in the first half, that's 19 possessions. We can't do that."
Evansville has little room for error in whatever games it hopes to win. Webster, who averages 16.5 points, much produce at his average or above as well as UE's other three other double-figures scorers: sophomore Jason Holsinger (11.1 ppg) and seniors Bradley Strickland (10.8 ppg) and Kyle Anslinger (10.8 ppg).
But the Aces also need help from No. 5 starter, sophomore Shy Ely (6.7 ppg), and their thin bench, headed by senior Art Stalbergs (4.8 ppg).
Drake is led by forward Ajay Calvin (16.4 ppg) and guard Nick Grant (11.9 ppg).
Merfeld is hoping a season of tough breaks and too many close losses (UE was 4-8 in games decided by five points or less) can be saved in St. Louis.
"For as much difficulty as we've endured this team's character and persistence has been phenomenal," said Merfeld. "I hope that it finally pays off for them this week. They're very capable of pulling this off."
2006 The Evansville Courier Co.
Please read our Privacy Policy and User Agreement.
By STEVE FORD, Courier & Press staff writer 464-7511 or fords@courierpress.com
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Even the bottom feeders have dreams at the Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament.
So as the eighth-seeded University of Evansville Aces prepared for tonight's 6 p.m. tourney-opening matchup with ninth seed Drake at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, there was still an eye cast to the future.
"We're preparing to play four games in four days," said UE coach Steve Merfeld. "Obviously, the first thing you have to do is beat Drake, but that's how we have to think."
Tonight's game is anybody's guess after each team won on its home floor during the regular season. Drake (16-14, 6-12 MVC) has the better overall record and its first winning season in 20 years.
But Evansville (14-16, 6-12) is the higher seed and the Aces won decisively (78-57) back on Dec. 28, while the Bulldogs snuck by 82-79 last week.
"We've lost some close games lately," said UE senior Matt Webster, a second-team all-MVC selection. "But we're excited about the way we played the second half at Drake and Saturday at Southern Illinois (a 76-69 loss)."
Webster said the Aces have been preparing mentally and physically for a run in the tournament, which would continue at noon Friday against No. 13 Southern Illinois with a win.
"We took a couple days off after Southern Illinois," said Webster. "It gave us a chance to rest our bodies and our minds and it was a big key. Everybody on this team believes we can win four games in four days.
"But we know that starts with Drake. We have to attack them like we did here and the second half out there. We have to play the way we want to play and do a good job rebounding. That's a big key."
Merfeld agreed rebounding would be big tonight, but added ball handling to the list, too.
"It's easy to get ready for them because we just played last week," said Merfeld, who needs to win the tourney for his first winning season in five years at Evansville. "We rushed some possessions the first time.
"When we do that we make turnovers, like the 10 we had in the first half. When you add in their nine offensive rebounds in the first half, that's 19 possessions. We can't do that."
Evansville has little room for error in whatever games it hopes to win. Webster, who averages 16.5 points, much produce at his average or above as well as UE's other three other double-figures scorers: sophomore Jason Holsinger (11.1 ppg) and seniors Bradley Strickland (10.8 ppg) and Kyle Anslinger (10.8 ppg).
But the Aces also need help from No. 5 starter, sophomore Shy Ely (6.7 ppg), and their thin bench, headed by senior Art Stalbergs (4.8 ppg).
Drake is led by forward Ajay Calvin (16.4 ppg) and guard Nick Grant (11.9 ppg).
Merfeld is hoping a season of tough breaks and too many close losses (UE was 4-8 in games decided by five points or less) can be saved in St. Louis.
"For as much difficulty as we've endured this team's character and persistence has been phenomenal," said Merfeld. "I hope that it finally pays off for them this week. They're very capable of pulling this off."
2006 The Evansville Courier Co.
Please read our Privacy Policy and User Agreement.