Evansville Purple Aces
Overall Record: 23-8
Conference Record: 12-6
Conference Standing: 2nd/10th
Head Coach: Marty Simmons
Team MVP: Egidijus Mockevicius (16.6 PPG, 13.8 RPG, 2.8 BPG, .656 FG %)
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 1982, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1999
Conference Tournament Champions: 1982, 1992, 1993
Regular Season Conference Champions: 1982, 1987, 1989, 1993, 1999
Evansville’s Egidijus Mockevicius (55) dunks the ball in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Illinois State in the quarterfinals of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament, Friday, March 6, 2015, in St. Louis.
Associated Press
The Evansville Purple Aces have quietly been one of the best teams in the Missouri Valley Conference this season. They currently sit in a tie with Illinois State for second place in the MVC. The Aces only had two out of conference losses this season which came against Providence and Arkansas, both teams who are likely going to the NCAA Tournament. But the Aces fell against top MVC team Wichita State in both games against the Shockers. Evansville also split season series’ with Illinois State, Northern Iowa, and Indiana State. Behind Lithuanian big man Egidijus Mockevicius who averages a double double, and the impressive play of guard D.J. Balentine who averages nearly 21 points per game, the Purple Aces have a chance to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since ’99. They will enter the MVC tournament as either the 2nd or 3rd seed, maybe even 4th if SIUE is able to jump them in the standings. But the Aces will have to battle through the MVC tournament and win it all if they want to make it to the big dance, which is something they are certainly capable of doing.
