SIU rings in 2025 with a matchup against the Purple Aces in Carbondale
Meet the Purple Aces:
It's been a rough start to the season for Evansville after losing players like Yacine Toumi (Seton Hall), Ben Humrichous (Illinois), and Chuck Bailey (Nevada) but they were able to pick up a conference win against Missouri State on Sunday. All 4 of their wins this year have come at home, they're currently 0-6 in true road games.
It's been a big struggle on the offensive end for the Aces. They're 338th in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency, 316th in the country in effective field goal % (46.1%), and 349th in the country in 3 point % (27.3%). Despite the low percentage from 3, the Aces still take a lot of 3's, they're 40th in the country in 3 point attempts per field goal attempts (47.0%) and 34.1% of their points comes from 3.
Things aren't much better on the defensive end for Evansville but they are 42nd in the country in block % (13.4%) thanks to a combination of their two 6-10 forwards.
The leading scorer for the Aces is 6-7 Freshman Gabriel Pozzato averaging 15.4 points per game. Pozzato was born in Italy and comes over from the NBA Global Academy in Australia. Pozzato is 137th in the country in 2 point % (31-47, 66.0%) and 342nd in the country in effective field goal % (55.9%). (Pozzato has missed the last 3 games with a back injury and there's no status on if he's playing on Wednesday).
The leader in possessions and shots for Evansville is 6-1 Junior Tayshwan Comer. Comer spent his first two seasons at Eastern Kentucky where he started 68 games. Comer is 214th in the country in assist rate (24.9%) and 367th in the country in free throw rate (40.6%).
Evansville has a pair of 6-10 shot-blockers in Sophomore Joshua Hughes and Junior Connor Turnbull. Hughes is in his 2nd year with the Aces from Brisbane, Australia. Hughes is 174th in the country in block % (5.3%) and 471st in the country in steal % (2.7%). Turnbull comes over after 2 years at Butler where he played a reserve role. Turnbull is 56th in the country in block % (8.2%).
In the absence of Pozzato the last 3 games, 6-2 Junior Cam Haffner has stepped up including playing all 40 minutes in the win over Missouri State on Sunday. Haffner is in his 2nd year at Evansville after spending his Freshman season at Eastern Illinois. Haffner is 136th in the country in 2 point % (33-50, 66.0%) and 353rd in the country in effective field goal % (55.8%).
Links:
Pretty much a must win or this season heads into late Lowery/early Hinson territory. There's not many wins left on the schedule with how deep the Valley is.
evansville's NET is 336. right behind them are Florida AM, Jackson state, Houston christian, and west Georgia. those teams are a combined 4-41. pomeroy likes the aces much better, at 306, sandwiched between grambling state and North Carolina AT.
should be a good test! GO DAWGS!
evansville's NET is 336. right behind them are Florida AM, Jackson state, Houston christian, and west Georgia. those teams are a combined 4-41. pomeroy likes the aces much better, at 306, sandwiched between grambling state and North Carolina AT.
should be a good test! GO DAWGS!
Battle for 11th place! Let’s go!
I’ll be there as part of a group of 5. Excited to get back to the arena and cheer this team to a big win.
The atmosphere should be good — last year’s event was fun.
Evansville lost by a scant two points at Murray.
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James Madison
Finally it’s Jan 1st. I don’t think I can take any more “Biggest ball drop in Southern Illinois history” radio ads.
oh…. And tickets are only $3 😳
there is no better halftime show than the Jesse white tumblers!
I am gonna start the New Year out by sending out positive vibe to coach Nagy, his coaching staff and players. Work hard, trust in each other, believe in the system and play each game like it is the last game you will ever play. Go Dawgs and pass the Kool-Aide.
We are terrible
Steffe misses a layup and then dribbles out of bounds within a minute span
