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

EVANSVILLE — Consider it the nature of the current college basketball landscape. The Evansville men’s basketball team will have a different look this winter.

The Aces began year three of the David Ragland era in June with official team workouts. The program aims to build upon positive momentum from last season with a 17-18 mark and a victory in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, the former a 12-win improvement.

There remain questions. The top five scorers and another starter either graduated or transferred. That’s a considerable chunk of points, rebounds and frankly experience required to win at the mid-major level. It does provide available minutes for the reinforcements Ragland and his staff procured during the offseason.

Roster reset: Here’s who left, joined the USI men’s basketball team this offseason

Step one, integrate six new players with those who returned. Step two, identify the roster’s strengths.

“It’s kind of an odd situation,” Ragland said. “We’re re-teaching stuff to a big part of the group, but it’s new to the other group. It’s trying to make sure I have the proper patience for the entire group. There are things we need to sharpen and improve. Embracing ugly at times and imperfection is all part of the process. I love the group.”

Here are Evansville’s departures from last season

Chuck Bailey III, transferred to Nevada (8.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg)

Gage Bobe, graduated (4.1 ppg)

Sekou Kalle, transferred to Eastern Illinois (1.8 ppg)

Ben Humrichous, transferred to Illinois (14.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 41% from three)

Kenny Strawbridge Jr., graduated (9.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.5 apg)

Antonio Thomas, graduated (7.5 ppg)

Yacine Toumi, transferred to Seton Hall (10.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg)

Evansville Head Coach David Ragland cheers as the University of Evansville Purple Aces play the University of Northern Iowa Panthers at Ford Center in Evansville, Ind., Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023.

Who are the newcomers?

Ramondo Battle II, 6-foot-8 junior forward from Walters State

Kaia Berridge, 6-foot-4 freshman…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/evansville-basketball-left-joined-aces-080101278.html

Author : The Courier & Press

Publish date : 2024-07-02 08:01:01

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