5 burning questions about Evansville men’s basketball entering 2024-25 season

EVANSVILLE — We are less than two weeks from college basketball returning to Ford Center.

The Evansville men’s basketball season unofficially begins next Saturday with an exhibition against Tiffin (D-II). The games begin to count on Nov. 5 with a trip to North Texas before welcoming Brescia (D-II) at home four days later.

The Aces find themselves in a curious spot. The program is trending upward following a 12-win improvement and a victory in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. Evansville was also selected ninth in the MVC preseason poll after multiple contributors transferred.

More: UE and USI ‘want to play’ a crosstown men’s basketball game. ADs explain why they aren’t.

What could the 2024-25 season unfold? Here are five questions facing the Aces going into November.

Can the Aces expand on last year’s improvement?

Year two for David Ragland was a net positive, full stop. The 17 wins were the most for the program since 2018 and included a victory at Arch Madness for the first time in seven years. Fans want upward momentum and received a taste last year.

College basketball is different now, which is why Year three will be more important for Ragland and staff. The top five scorers and another starter either graduated or transferred. How quickly the Aces reload – more on some of the key names below – will determine if they can continue the improvement.

The goal from the summer and first month of practice? Rebuild team chemistry and find what this group does well.

“I think we took a huge jump from the moment we got here until now,” Ragland said after the first official day. “We’ve been able to recruit personalities and playing styles that fit our returners. They’ve been intentional with building really good relationships and bonds.”

Which returner will step up as the leader?

This roster isn’t starting from complete scratch. Those who did come back will be required to take on new roles. Three players come to mind.

Tanner Cuff is the Aces’ top returner in terms of production. The 6-7 senior guard averaged 7.4 points on 48 percent shooting, 4.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists. He will need to be a critical piece in the lineup if the Aces want to aim higher. All early indicators point to it.

6-10 sophomore Joshua Hughes (6.6 points, 3.9 rebounds) should also see more minutes. Ragland noted more vocal leadership from him and Cuff in early practices. The other notable returner is 6-2 junior guard Cam Haffner (4.7 points, 33 made 3-pointers).

Evansville basketball: Who left and joined the Aces for the 2024-25 season

Who will be the top newcomers?

The reason for uncertainty and perhaps hesitation from the rest of the MVC? Half the roster is brand new.

Six new scholarship players to be exact. What many of them have in common is bringing a boost of athleticism or playmaking to fit what Ragland wants to do with the ball. Tayshawn Comer, Indiana All-Star at Cathedral, should see immediate minutes in the backcourt after averaging 7.8 points and 3.0 assists at Eastern Kentucky. Ragland was also high on Ramondo Battle II during the summer. Gabriel Pozzato is another with above-the-rim ability.

Another to keep watch for is 6-10 junior Connor Turnbull. He was a 4-star recruit before an injury hampered his sophomore year at Butler. There are minutes to be found in the post for this lineup.

Will a competitive nonconference schedule make or break the season?

Ragland had one major objective when assembling his schedule: get the Aces ready for the MVC.

Evansville’s nonconference schedule is no pushover. North Texas, Ohio State, Western Kentucky, Chattanooga and UT Arlington are rated in the preseason top 150 per KenPom.com. The Aces also have trips to Middle Tennessee State (185) and Ball State (240). Not bad for a mid-major program.

We’ll learn a lot about the Aces between now and when MVC play gets truly rolling in late December. A competitive nonconference schedule can a) make you better and b) offer confidence with the right breaks. But for the Aces to take a step forward in the conference, they also can’t let the opening stretch hamper them should losses potentially build.

Evansville is rated 209th with a projected record of 14-16 on KenPom.

Where can Evansville finish in the MVC?

This might be the biggest who knows for every team in the conference.

Many teams, even Power 4 schools, can change rosters and projections dramatically in one offseason. Bradley was the consensus preseason pick with 46 of 49 first-place votes. After the Braves? Your guess likely weighs the same. There’s arguably not much separation in the middle.

Some may see ninth as low for the Aces. That’s likely based on the roster turnover and is probably the baseline for this team. A top-half MVC finish would be on the table if the newcomers make an immediate impact and players like Cuff or Hughes provide a jump.

Ragland will have two months to iron out the edges before the grind of conference play.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: 5 questions facing Evansville men’s basketball entering 2024-25 season