I checked the boxscore for Evansville’s region-clinching win over East Carolina. Unless I researched it incorrectly, Evansville played 4 graduate students, 4 seniors, 4 juniors, and 1 sophomore.
I’m not sure about Indiana State. They probably have played more underclassmen than that.
But Evansville’s roster isn’t great fodder for @Spike’s criticism of Rhodes’ recruiting philosophy at SIU.
Spike is absolutely right about the recruiting:
Yes Evansville has some transfers, but the team has 4 or 5 frosh, a bunch of sophomores, and their best players for the most part have been there throughout their college careers.
Terrific Junior CF Rumsey is in his 3rd year at UE. #10 2024 MLB Draft Prospect by D1Baseball.com (2023)
All-MVC Senior SS Simon Scherry Runner-Up For The MVC’s Defensive Player of the Year Award (2023) MVC All-Freshman Team Selection (2021)
Soph. Reliever Max Hansmann threw 4 shutout middle relief innings against ECU in championship - only gave up 1 hit... A key part of the UE pitching staff as a true freshman, tying for third on the team with Shane Harris with 23 appearances.
First Team grad. student MVC Outfielder Mark Shallenberger - Ranked as the MVC's #7 MLB Draft Prospect in the 2024 Draft Class by D1Baseball.com (2024) -
- One of the top prep players in the St. Louis metro area at St. Louis Priory High School
- Started all 16 games in the COVID-shortened season as a true freshman
I could go on.
Fact is, if Coach Rhodes doesn't change his recruiting philosophy and get some young players and develop them, he may not finish out his contract.
But Evansville’s roster isn’t great fodder for @Spike’s criticism of Rhodes’ recruiting philosophy at SIU.
5 of their starting position players and 2 of the 3 pitchers used in their regional win over ECU have spent their entire careers at Evansville.
And the one season people point to to say Rhodes is great still had plenty of recruits from the previous staff and upper classmen who had been with the program since they were freshman.
Since those players have left and it's been Rhodes players only it's just been mediocrity combined with constant roster turnover and rebuilding.
And it's going to be the same next year. Zero freshman or sophomores on the roster. 7 of the 9 regular starters gone.
Rhodes biggest problem in my opinion is lack of quality pitching and lack of depth as this year's team was hit by injuries and no matter who you recruit those things always matter
I think the biggest problem is there’s been a huge drop off since Tim Jamieson left the program as pitching coach. The difference has been night and day the last 2 years with the pitching. I think Rhodes is good at finding and developing hitters but the pitching has made every game a challenge since Jamieson left.
The pitching drop off seems odd to me with his background as a pitcher and pitching coach
Huge Valley news here. Rough post-seasons for Indiana State baseball and basketball fans.
https://twitter.com/kendallrogers/status/1799572252574511558?s=61
Some ISU fans on social media say this move by Hannahs is in part due to last season’s super regional debacle, where ISU turned down a chance to host because they had committed to hosting a Special Olympics event. I’m still shocked they did that.
They also mention the current AD search that has been going on for at least 6 months, and they say the baseball program is underfunded and the facilities need improved to match other Valley schools.
I’m not sure how SIU stacks up in terms of baseball facilities, but the Itch seems nicer than some of the other Valley stadiums I’ve seen on TV.
Their facilities are far better. Probably getting a big bump in $$ too.
https://gousfbulls.com/news/2024/6/8/mitch-hannahs-named-head-coach-of-south-florida-baseball.aspx
Some ISU fans on social media say this move by Hannahs is in part due to last season’s super regional debacle, where ISU turned down a chance to host because they had committed to hosting a Special Olympics event. I’m still shocked they did that.
They also mention the current AD search that has been going on for at least 6 months, and they say the baseball program is underfunded and the facilities need improved to match other Valley schools.
I’m not sure how SIU stacks up in terms of baseball facilities, but the Itch seems nicer than some of the other Valley stadiums I’ve seen on TV.
I think our stadium is great, the "hill" is still very popular, and the field turf field is evidently a nice, well-drained surface. I know in the Spring, teams from other schools come here and play when they're slogged out. I'm guessing that they're paying some "rent" to use the facilities.
How about Evansville? Playing Tennessee at 5 PM for a trip to the College World Series in Omaha.
Evansville has become baseball’s UMBC. The Aces were seeded fourth in their own regional and past four-seeds had been 0-30 all-time against the tournament’s No. 1 overall seed. But not anymore. How does that happen?
“I think because we're super old,” Fougerousse says. “We're a bunch of old guys that have played a lot of baseball. We are not scared of the moment, and we have a lot of guys that really want it out there, a lot of good baseball players. There's no other way to say it. We're just an old bunch of guys that like having fun, and we've been together for a while.”
Go Aces!
Wow, I did not realize baseball's non-conference strength of schedule this season was 297 out of 305 teams.
https://www.warrennolan.com/baseball/2024/team-sheet?team=Southern-Illinois
