Evansville vs Peay

[E-Villan]

So far, so good from Roberts..

Evansville up 64-60 1:15 to go

[E-Villan]

UE 65-60...35 seconds, Aces ball:aces:

[Ace Dad]

24 secs

67-60

Aces in charge

[E-Villan]

69-62 19.2 seconds..Aces at the line

Nice to see the Aces getting some points

[Ace Dad]

Austin Peay returned five starters and won 21 games last year.

This is a good win!

[C0|db|00ded]

Flushed the Peay!


T


...:cool:

[E-Villan]

Flushed the Peay!


T


...:cool:

Yes they did....72-62 final

Can we consider this a winning streak?

Nice win over a respectable team

[shockball]

Congratulations Aces:aces:

[klinky]

Yes... a really nice win for the Aces. Austin Peay had an RPI rating of 86.

:aces:

[Bama Ace]

Nice win for the Aces. Next back on the road again at Valpo and then hopefully two winnable home games before conference season starts. Progress has to be made one step at a time. Every step forward is a good one.

[Divergence]

Congrats to Evansville on a nice win.

[UE-BBALL#1]

Biggest thing here was that the Aces really got their big guys out running the floor better than they have been and battled hard on the glass, resulting in more scoring opportunities for a points starved team. Winning a game like this while Holsinger is limited to 8 points is big for this team. With all we lost last year, its important that some new guys start stepping up.

[Pocket Aces]

Peay is a good team. Their losses had been at Vandy, at Memphis, at Valpo, and at Utah State.

Only 10 turnovers tonight.

Big guys taken out of the game tonight with Peay's speed and we still outrebounded them by a couple.

This was a game (tied with about four minutes to go) that the last few Aces teams would have folded like a tent. This team just looked mentally tougher than teams past.

The Aces will still hurt for quality depth this year, but the first seven are fine.
Cousinard and Ely look like different players this year as long as they can avoid foul trouble.

Garner is a warrior at his size.

The Aces will still struggle to find some W's this year, but to appear to be improving as the early season progresses. That's all you can ask at this point.

Nice win.

[Ace Dad]

Pocket, I hope you are right. My gut and basketball IQ tells me that you have put too much sugar in your Kool-Aid. I find it ironic that a team that loss three significant seniors now plays better the last four minutes of a game. And oh by the way they have the same Point Guard. Please..........

Take a deep breath and give the team about 5-7 more games.

This is a marathon, not a sprint.

Fans need to remember the old axiom: "do not get too high, and do not get too low."

[Mecha_Bulldog]

The Aces have won 3 of 4, and their rpi is under 300. Good work. :aces:

[Ricky Del Rio]

The Aces have won 3 of 4, and their rpi is under 300. Good work. :aces:

I like your measured approach.

I hope some of your brethren have not contracted some of the Doggie diseases. i.e. Chest beating.

[goaces]

Nice win for the Aces....have my doubts if this would have happened under Merf. I expect continued improvement under Simmons.

[Ace Dad]

Ahhhh, "continued improvement," just like the Crews years:

Head Coach: Jim Crews
Assistant: Marty Simmons

I will keep you kool aid drinking fans honest ;)

[Aces101]

Austin Peay is definitely the 2nd best team the Aces have played this season(Butler). UE played their best game of the year and showed athleticism that many didn't expect. All of the hard work is starting to pay off for both Couisnard and Granger. They have made great strides early in the season.

The whole team seems to be buying into Coach Simmon's system. Each player is giving it 110% when they are on the floor. The defensive intensity is like night and day versus Merfeld's teams.

This team will have some great nights and some terrible ones.....but they will not give up. Their coach will not let them!

[Pocket Aces]

Ace Dad......

They just seemed mentally tougher at this end of this particular game. I think last year's team had more collective talent, but I feel underachieved, and often found new ways to lose games down the stretch. It seemed to become a mental thing with them.

I'm not much of a kool-aid drinker. I know it will still be a struggle for a while.

I was just stating that there has been steady improvement early on and that during the last few minutes of this game, the attitude Marty showed as a player seemed to rub off on the team.

I like the possibilities that exist 2-3 years down the road though. :grin:

[Ace Dad]

I am going to make my last comment on this thread and let this one die because I do not want to be perceived as the guy "peeing on the Aces' parade."

You guys cannot have it both ways. I think you give Coach Simmons too much credit for the positive you see and absolutely no credit for the dismal performance of the Aces when he was their senior recruiter and lead Assistant a few years ago.

Again, I am a Marty fan just like you. However, too many hidden cheap shots at Coach Merfeld.

You are watching the Aces through rose colored glasses. You are wanting to see the "Simmons toughness" rub off so guess what? It does.

Disclaimer: I have not seen the Aces play this year. But, I know enough about fans and basketball and how fans allow their expectations to go overboard.

Last, look at the Saluki nation right now. Remember Coach Lowery, the boy wonder? How long before the fans want his scalp?

[Mecha_Bulldog]

I like your measured approach.

I hope some of your brethren have not contracted some of the Doggie diseases. i.e. Chest beating.

Like Ace Dad said, this is a marathon, not a sprint. Drake has started well before, only to crash when the MVC season starts. The more you beat your chest when things go well, the more others will beat your chest when things go wrong.

And to stay on topic, nice win Aces. Hope you keep it up :aces:

[Aces101]

I am simply giving credit where credit is due. Simmons has this team playing hard. He has a very young team that will have its ups-and-downs.

It is like being a supervisor. You give praise and recognition for a job well-done and constructive criticism following a poor performance.

I do both on this board.

:aces:

[Pocket Aces]

When you hold the opposition to one field goal in the last nine minutes, good things happen. They certainly did Saturday night as coach Marty Simmons' Purple Aces picked up their second straight victory, 72-62 over defending Ohio Valley Conference champion Austin Peay.

"We got a lot of big plays from a lot of our players," Simmons said afterward. "Offensively and defensively, we played well enough to beat a good, veteran team."

Added leading scorer Darin Granger, "Every win is big, but especially one against a team as good as Austin Peay."

Now 3-4, Evansville took its lead for good with 5:27 to play on Jason Holsinger's second three-pointer of the night to put the Aces up 57-54. The lead was only two at 61-59 with 2:52 remaining when Granger drilled his fourth three-pointer of the night to increase the lead to 64-59. Granger eventually ballooned the lead to 67-60 with 33 seconds remaining, and when Nate Garner hit two more free throws to make it 69-60 with 24 seconds to go, the 5,179 fans gave the Aces a standing ovation.

After Wes Channels hit a layup for Austin Peay to put the Governors ahead 52-48 with 9:38 remaining, the Govs were held to eight free throws before Channels finally hit Austin Peay's next field goal. That one didn't take place until 19 seconds remained, and Evansville had already wrapped up its third victory. Austin Peay, 21-12 and an NIT particpant last season, is now 4-5. All five starters are back this year.

Granger scored a career-high 17 points and Garner added a career-high 15. In between were the 16 points of Shy Ely. Jay Couisnard and Jason Holsinger added eight each for the Aces, who were averaging only 56 points coming into the game. Channels led the Govs with 18 points and Drake Reed scored 14.

Evansville goes after its third straight win Tuesday at Valparaiso in the Aces' final road game until January.

[E-Ville]

It looks like the worst non-con we will do is 5-5. If we beat Valpo, Possibly 6-4 and heading into conference play with wins in 6 of 7 and 5 in a row.

[goaces]

Aces Dad, I always enjoy your posts, but I think you put to much stock into the notion that since Coach Simmons served as Crews' assistant, that Aces fans should not expect the program to be much different.
That's like saying Marty is not his own man, and everything is just the same as before. Fact is, he's calling the shots now...he wasn't before. I would think through his own growth and maturity as a coach and person he has probably learned a few more things over the years. Coming back to the school where he played and coached before, lends me to believe that he is more likely to know what works here and what doesn't. Personally, I'm not looking for miracles from the Coach, but I do believe he is a difference maker.

[Ace Happy]

And, I give credit to Merfeld for recruiting Holsinger, Ely, and Granger who led the team in scoring tonight!

Good win against an experienced team. It is too early to judge Simmons, but I do think he has emphasized defense. That is good because we need to create opportunities since our talent/offense won't usually give us much this season. Comparing last year's team to this year's is like apples to oranges to me.

Great stat tonight was only 10 turnovers. Hope we can keep that up!

Looking forward to Gomez's return.....anyone know when?

BTW, I saw Simmons at the Castle/Harrison game last night. I believe he was scouting Kendal Brown from Harrison - a 5'10" spark plug of a guard who scored 29 points in that game.

[AceGargantua]

One thing I really liked was seeing how much control Marty was able to have at the end of the game. He was very vocal, calling every play on the offensive end down the stretch, and after every time-out something positive seemed to happen. I even heard him yell "Other side, Garner!" once during an offensive set--and I sit in the upper third of the stadium.

I think the guys are really listening to him and it's starting to pay off. I'm glad we got him. Valpo's going to be very tough, but I like what I see at this point in the season. There is evidence of development already.

:aces:

[Bigcityp]

Ace Dad, You need to make a trip to Evansville and see a game. For a team that didn't have much experience coming back, and not much expectations for this year since they lost so much last year, they can play. In the four home games this year, there has been improvement from one game to the next. Is it coaching, I don't know, but there seems to be a better attitude from the coaches, and players. That desire to not quit working hard is displayed by simmons though out the entire game. He doesn't let distractions get in his way of keeping his team focused and motived the entire game.

(This is not a cheep shot at Merfield either..)

[outpost]

Two comments.

1. Good win over an OVC school.
2. Very nice to see so many Ace fans visiting and contributing. I wasn't sure that there were many of you left.

[AceGargantua]

We're still here...and looking to multiply.

[DoubleJayAlum]

Great job Aces in booking a win over a quality opponent. Now go stick it to Valpo.

New goal: get the RPI under 250 before the conference season starts.

[Ace Dad]

Very well said.

All of you.

[Bama Ace]

Very well said.

All of you.

And now it is my turn. Quite honestly, Ace dad, I think your vision is clouded by the fact that your son played for Coach Merfeld.

None of the posts that you seem to want to criticize seem to be overly optimistic at all. However, any reference to Coach Merfeld or how the team played under him in the past draws your criticism. There is nothing wrong with any of the comments I have read recently (not going back to last year with this) about Coach Merfeld.

The facts are he simply did not get it done at UE. You can make whatever excuses you want for him, but he is not here because he didn't get it done and the program was going backwards. Unfortunately, it was doing the same when Coach Crews left as well.

Whether you belive Marty is the answer or not is immaterial. Fans have a right to be optimistic (although for the most part they seem very realistic to me). Marty was an assistant at UE during both good times and bad. He was a player here and helped lead them into good times. I personally, and I believe other UE fans do as well, think that Marty was a good hire because he understands the community and the school and what it takes to be successful here. I don't believe that Coach Merfeld ever truly got it. I could be wrong about that, but I know I am not alone in that thinking.

The key is now Marty has to turn that understanding into success. As you have said before, it will take time. I don't think it will take 6-7 years as you have predicted, but it will take time. But seeing and pointing out the positive is fair, as is discussing the setbacks and nothing here lately (aside from one post I criticized) seems overly optimistic or pessimistic.

I really feel like you are the one that needs to let Coach Merfeld go and everything will be much better. I know that is hard when you have a personal relationship with someone. But he does not need to be defended daily. If I have misread your position here, please accept my apologies and clarify what you mean.

[Ace Dad]

Bama:

I had a personal relationship with Coach Simmons. He recruited my son to Evansiville. Without his involvement, my son is not an Ace.

I had a personal relationship with Coach Crews. He made the decision to offer the scholarship and gave my son a chance to play.

I had a personal relationship with Coach Merfeld. He came on board, took a look around, and convinced my son that he would do fine.

You are right in that I have had personal relationships.

You are wrong if you do not understand that all I want posters to do is to be balanced and fair. The long term posters on this board know that it is in my character to be this way. Also, go back and look at the posts from a few years ago when I defended Coach Crews, too.

I have always said that I am different than the average fan because I am a parent of a player. I do have my biases.

I bite my tongue more than you know with some of the uninformed crap on this board. Too many fans want to be able to post nonsense and talk xhit about a former coach without being reigned in or called out.

I have no problem being optimistic with Marty at the helm. We can do that without pissing on former coaches.

[AceGargantua]

Merfeld's gone. No sense in dancing on his grave. I think we can all agree that it feels good having Marty at the helm. From what I've seen him do during games and how I've seen the players react so far, I'm very happy that he's back in Evansville.

:aces:

[goaces]

Bashing needlessly on former coaches never makes a lot of sense. Forever and always the favorite target of fans...particularly unintelligent fans.

I still wonder if Coach Crews would have waited on Kent Williams to make his college decision and Stetson Hariston would have honored his original commitment, if he would still be in Evansville.

I wonder what would have happened if Dupree Flecther would have gotten his life straightened out, and if Wacy Hall would have come to UE as he originally said he would, how much that would have affected Merfield's outcome.

Doesn't take a whole lot to happen for a mid-level program to collapse. I just hope that Marty can stop the bleeding and get the program on track. In time, I am believing he will.

Thanks, for your earlier post, Aces Dad. Again, I always enjoy your perspective.

[Mc Bulldog]

Kananskie sucked! :lol: :aces:

Nice win Aces!

AceDad ROCKS!

:aces::aces::aces::aces::aces::aces::aces:

[E-Villan]

I guess I am one of the long time Aces faithful that Ace Dad is referring to in his previous post. Let me say, in looking back, I don't see any reason to bash Merfeld or any of the previous Aces coaches I have watched in the last 40 something years.

Arad- Lets see, an absolute legend. He single handedly took a small, private college program that was playing its games in a gym of an armory and made it the premier college division program in the country. Everyone is aware of the success he had here and simply put, was one of the greatest college coaches ever, period.

Booby Watson-He coached the first four Aces games we ever played in Division 1. His life was cut tragically short by the plane crash along with his entire team. Who knows what could have been but he had the making of a great coach.

Now is where we will probably all differ.....

Dick Walters-He came along in probably one of the toughest position a coach could walk into, a program that had been completely wiped out and with really no Division 1 experience. He built the program up from the ashes and had the team in its first Div-1 NCAA within 5 years. The program stumbled and his ego probably clashed with a few of the boosters so he was sent packing within two years. Personalities aside, he really did a remarkable job.

Jim Crews- While many of us realized he was burned out and time for a change, we can't forget what happened during his run. He got us used to 20 win seasons, a regularly sold out stadium and multiple conference championships. We dominated a pretty tough MCC and competed very well in the MVC the first several seasons. He was gone within three years of a MVC championship and at large bid.

Steve Merfeld-I respect him. I don't think he was the right fit and obviously, he didn't get it done, but I respect him. He showed testicular fortitude during "dorm-gate". I don't think a lot of coaches would have taken the stance he took. It would have been easy for him to slap them on the wrist and went on. Instead, he took the high road and undoubtedly, it ended up costing him his job. It probably has cost him his future as well.The fact he didn't recruit well enough to show improvement for this season was the final reason, but I don't think he ever recovered from that incident. I also don't think he was the one to bridge the gap between the boosters, community and the program. Not his fault, just not the right fit. I wish him nothing but success.

[Bama Ace]

Bama:

I had a personal relationship with Coach Simmons. He recruited my son to Evansiville. Without his involvement, my son is not an Ace.

I had a personal relationship with Coach Crews. He made the decision to offer the scholarship and gave my son a chance to play.

I had a personal relationship with Coach Merfeld. He came on board, took a look around, and convinced my son that he would do fine.

You are right in that I have had personal relationships.

You are wrong if you do not understand that all I want posters to do is to be balanced and fair. The long term posters on this board know that it is in my character to be this way. Also, go back and look at the posts from a few years ago when I defended Coach Crews, too.

I have always said that I am different than the average fan because I am a parent of a player. I do have my biases.

I bite my tongue more than you know with some of the uninformed crap on this board. Too many fans want to be able to post nonsense and talk xhit about a former coach without being reigned in or called out.

I have no problem being optimistic with Marty at the helm. We can do that without pissing on former coaches.

I'm aware of your personal history and certainly respect that. When I was in school I was great friends with many players, even in a couple of their weddings. I knew their families and understand what they went through and how their perspective was different than most fans (sometimes positive, sometimes not).

I guess I just don't see the recent comments made as justified with your response, hence my post. Perhaps your perspective in that regard is colored by history on this board and how Coach Merfeld was being portrayed, while mine is not being newer on this board. I was simply trying to point out that statements like "the team played better or showed more than they have the past few years" is not dancing on the "grave" of the old coach. I have just gotten the impression that anytime anyone mentions Coach Merfeld or the play/results of the past few years, you are coming to the rescue of him. Maybe I am wrong, that just seems the way it is.

My only problem with Coach Merfeld is just that I don't think he truly understood Evansville and what the program means to the community. Obviously I live far away now, but my perception is formed by those still close and knowledgeable with the program. As was posted in a later post, I just don't think he was the right fit. In Evansville, I think "fit" is as important a factor to the program being successful as any other. From everything I have heard he is a good man and I am sure he did everything he could to make it happen. The breaks certainly did not go his way. So if you hear me refer to the past, please know that it is with the understanding of the above. I am not the type to bash coaches in a way that I am sure has drawn your ire in the past.

I do know you bring a different persepctive to a discussion than most fans and that is great that you are willing to share it. So keep sharing. It is appreciated.

[Bama Ace]

I guess I am one of the long time Aces faithful that Ace Dad is referring to in his previous post. Let me say, in looking back, I don't see any reason to bash Merfeld or any of the previous Aces coaches I have watched in the last 40 something years.

Arad- Lets see, an absolute legend. He single handedly took a small, private college program that was playing its games in a gym of an armory and made it the premier college division program in the country. Everyone is aware of the success he had here and simply put, was one of the greatest college coaches ever, period.

Booby Watson-He coached the first four Aces games we ever played in Division 1. His life was cut tragically short by the plane crash along with his entire team. Who knows what could have been but he had the making of a great coach.

Now is where we will probably all differ.....

Dick Walters-He came along in probably one of the toughest position a coach could walk into, a program that had been completely wiped out and with really no Division 1 experience. He built the program up from the ashes and had the team in its first Div-1 NCAA within 5 years. The program stumbled and his ego probably clashed with a few of the boosters so he was sent packing within two years. Personalities aside, he really did a remarkable job.

Jim Crews- While many of us realized he was burned out and time for a change, we can't forget what happened during his run. He got us used to 20 win seasons, a regularly sold out stadium and multiple conference championships. We dominated a pretty tough MCC and competed very well in the MVC the first several seasons. He was gone within three years of a MVC championship and at large bid.

Steve Merfeld-I respect him. I don't think he was the right fit and obviously, he didn't get it done, but I respect him. He showed testicular fortitude during "dorm-gate". I don't think a lot of coaches would have taken the stance he took. It would have been easy for him to slap them on the wrist and went on. Instead, he took the high road and undoubtedly, it ended up costing him his job. It probably has cost him his future as well.The fact he didn't recruit well enough to show improvement for this season was the final reason, but I don't think he ever recovered from that incident. I also don't think he was the one to bridge the gap between the boosters, community and the program. Not his fault, just not the right fit. I wish him nothing but success.

I think that is a very good assessment. My thoughts on Coach Merfeld were stated in my previous post.

Coach Crews just seemed to lose the fire needed to keep the program going. I really wonder if it was recruiting that he let up on or the job overall? You could see the program going in the wrong direction the last couple of years and he wasn't the type to do the massive PR campaign to keep fans interested. Maybe he just got too comfortable?

But the job he did absolutely should be respected. I was there right in the middle of his most successful years and the program was a blast to be around and was a huge part of campus life. I am not sure that is the same now. Coach Crews was excellent for UE, unfortunately he just did not go out on top, leaving it to someone else to carry forward.

[jb399]

Basketball defiently isn't a real huge part of campus life at the moment. However, with a few more of the hard fought wins like again Peay, it might just come around. I think Simmons and some of the other coachs are doing some things to create buzz around campus.

[MoValley John]

Jesus effing Christ, the game is long over!!! Either start talking about the game or move on. Crews is history, Merfeld is history, the debate is pointless. Be glad Indiana and Evansville won, drink a beer and talk about next week! Sheeeeeesh, you Evansville Hoosiers are never happy!

[AceGargantua]

You have to give us until Tuesday. That's the next game.

[Ace Dad]

Excellent perspectives.

Now, did I ever tell the story about how SIU "stole" Stetson Hairston by .................................

;)

[goaces]

Aces Dad, I am not sure if you are kidding about SIU and Stetson Hariston. I recall something strange happened in regards to how he backed off from UE and signed with the Salukis. Do you recall exactly what happened?

[Bama Ace]

Excellent perspectives.

Now, did I ever tell the story about how SIU "stole" Stetson Hairston by .................................

;)

No winking, spill it!!