Evansville Purple Aces men's basketball: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|American college basketball team}} |
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{{Infobox CBB Team |
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{{Infobox college basketball team |
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|current = 2023–24 Evansville Purple Aces men's basketball team |
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|name = Evansville Purple Aces |
|name = Evansville Purple Aces |
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|logo = Evansville |
|logo = Evansville Athletics logo.svg |
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|logo_size = 200 |
|logo_size = 200 |
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|university = [[University of Evansville]] |
|university = [[University of Evansville]] |
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|conference = [[Missouri Valley Conference|Missouri Valley]] |
|conference = [[Missouri Valley Conference|Missouri Valley]] |
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|location = [[Evansville, Indiana]] |
|location = [[Evansville, Indiana]] |
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|coach = [[ |
|coach = [[David Ragland]] |
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|tenure = 2nd |
|tenure = 2nd |
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|arena = [[Ford Center (Evansville)|Ford Center]] |
|arena = [[Ford Center (Evansville)|Ford Center]] |
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|NCAAchampion = 1959*, 1960*, 1964*, 1965*, 1971* |
|NCAAchampion = 1959*, 1960*, 1964*, 1965*, 1971* |
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|NCAAfinalfour = 1958*, 1959*, 1960*, 1964*, 1965*, 1971* |
|NCAAfinalfour = 1958*, 1959*, 1960*, 1964*, 1965*, 1971* |
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|NCAAsweetsixteen = 1957*, 1958*, 1959*, 1960*, 1962*, 1963*, 1964*, 1965*, 1966*, 1968*, 1971*, 1972*, 1976* |
|NCAAsweetsixteen = 1957*, 1958*, 1959*, 1960*, 1962*, 1963*, 1964*, 1965*, 1966*, 1968*, 1971*, 1972*, 1976* |
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|NCAAsecondround = 1989 |
|NCAAsecondround = 1989 |
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|NCAAtourneys = 1957*, 1958*, 1959*, 1960*, 1961*, 1962*, 1963*, 1964*, 1965*, 1966*, 1968*, 1971*, 1972*, 1976*, 1982, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1999<br>*''at Division II level'' |
|NCAAtourneys = 1957*, 1958*, 1959*, 1960*, 1961*, 1962*, 1963*, 1964*, 1965*, 1966*, 1968*, 1971*, 1972*, 1974*, 1976*, 1982, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1999<br>*''at Division II level'' |
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|conference_tournament = [[Horizon League|Midwestern Collegiate Conference]]<br />1982, 1992, 1993 |
|conference_tournament = [[Horizon League|Midwestern Collegiate Conference]]<br />1982, 1992, 1993 |
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| conference_season = [[Horizon League|Midwestern Collegiate Conference]]<br />1982, 1987, 1989, 1992, 1993 |
| conference_season = [[Horizon League|Midwestern Collegiate Conference]]<br />1982, 1987, 1989, 1992, 1993 |
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'''[[Missouri Valley Conference]]<br />1999'' |
'''[[Missouri Valley Conference]]<br />1999'' |
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}} |
}} |
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The '''Evansville Purple Aces men's basketball''' team represents the [[Evansville Purple Aces|Purple Aces]] of the [[University of Evansville]], located in [[Evansville, Indiana]], in [[NCAA Division I]] [[basketball]] competition. They play their home games at the [[Ford Center (Evansville)|Ford Center]]. Evansville's athletics teams were originally known as the Pioneers in the early part of the 1900s. In the 1920s, the name Aces arose after a local sports writer wrote in a game story of the men's basketball team, "They played like Aces." The team has been known as the Aces and/or Purple Aces ever since. Evansville has won five Division II national championships (1959, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1971). |
The '''Evansville Purple Aces men's basketball''' team represents the [[Evansville Purple Aces|Purple Aces]] of the [[University of Evansville]], located in [[Evansville, Indiana]], in [[NCAA Division I]] [[basketball]] competition. They play their home games at the [[Ford Center (Evansville)|Ford Center]]. Evansville's athletics teams were originally known as the Pioneers in the early part of the 1900s. In the 1920s, the name Aces arose after a local sports writer wrote in a game story of the men's basketball team, "They played like Aces." The team has been known as the Aces and/or Purple Aces ever since. Evansville has won five Division II national championships (1959, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1971). |
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On November 12, 2019, the Aces earned one of the biggest victories in their Division I history, upsetting top-ranked Kentucky at Rupp Arena. Since joining Division I in 1977-78, the Purple Aces have appeared in five [[NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournaments]], making their most recent appearance in 1999. In 1989, Evansville upset Oregon State and advanced to the Round of 32 of the [[1989 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1989 NCAA tournament]]. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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[[File:UE awards.jpg|thumb|left|The memorial display case at the [[Ford Center (Evansville)|Ford Center]] honoring UE's championship tradition]] |
[[File:UE awards.jpg|thumb|left|The memorial display case at the [[Ford Center (Evansville)|Ford Center]] honoring UE's championship tradition]] |
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In the early years of the men's basketball program the Purple Aces appeared in the [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics|NAIA]] national tournament. The Purple Aces appeared 4 times in the [[NAIA national men's basketball championship|NAIA Tournament]] ([[1941 NAIA Division I |
In the early years of the men's basketball program the Purple Aces appeared in the [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics|NAIA]] national tournament. The Purple Aces appeared 4 times in the [[NAIA national men's basketball championship|NAIA Tournament]] ([[1941 NAIA Division I men's basketball tournament|1941]], [[1942 NAIA Division I men's basketball tournament|1942]], [[1951 NAIA Division I men's basketball tournament|1951]], and [[1955 NAIA Division I men's basketball tournament|1955]]). The Purple Aces had a NAIA tournament record of 3–4. The furthest Evansville got in the NAIA tournaments was in third round (NAIA Quarterfinals) in 1951, only to lose to [[Regis University|Regis University (Colo.)]] 70–68.<ref>[http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/naia/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/mensd1champhistory.pdf NAIA Championship History] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325091349/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/naia/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/mensd1champhistory.pdf |date=March 25, 2009 }}</ref> |
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Shortly after the 1955 season the Purple Aces |
Shortly after the 1955 season the Purple Aces moved up to the NCAA College Division, now called [[NCAA Division II]]. The Evansville Purple Aces rank second all-time in NCAA College Division national championships with five: [[1959 NCAA College Division basketball tournament|1959]], [[1960 NCAA College Division basketball tournament|1960]], [[1964 NCAA College Division basketball tournament|1964]], [[1965 NCAA College Division basketball tournament|1965]] (29–0 record) and [[1971 NCAA College Division basketball tournament|1971]]. The [[1964 NCAA Men's Division II basketball tournament|1964]] and [[1965 NCAA Men's Division II basketball tournament|1965]] teams starred NBA Legend [[Jerry Sloan]], the [[1971 NCAA Men's Division II basketball tournament|1971]] team featured future NBA star [[Don Buse]] and future NCAA referee Steve Welmer. |
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[[File:Arad McCutchan.jpg|thumb|160px|right|Coach [[Arad McCutchan]] won five national championships in his tenure.]] |
[[File:Arad McCutchan.jpg|thumb|160px|right|Coach [[Arad McCutchan]] won five national championships in his tenure.]] |
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In 1977, UE began playing in [[NCAA Division I]] athletics. That same year on December 13, a chartered [[DC-3]] carrying the entire UE basketball team [[Evansville basketball plane crash|crashed]] in a field near the [[Evansville Regional Airport]] en route to a game against [[Middle Tennessee State University|Middle Tennessee State]]. Every member of the team and coaching staff on the plane was killed. David Furr, who was a member of the 1977–78 Purple Aces squad, did not die in the crash, as he was out for the season with an ankle injury and thus was not on the plane that day. |
In 1977, UE began playing in [[NCAA Division I]] athletics. That same year on December 13, a chartered [[DC-3]] carrying the entire UE basketball team [[Evansville basketball plane crash|crashed]] in a field near the [[Evansville Regional Airport]] en route to a game against [[Middle Tennessee State University|Middle Tennessee State]]. Every member of the team and coaching staff on the plane was killed. David Furr, who was a member of the 1977–78 Purple Aces squad, did not die in the crash, as he was out for the season with an ankle injury and thus was not on the plane that day. However, only just two weeks later after the crash, Furr and his younger brother Byron were killed in a [[Traffic collision|car accident]] near [[Newton, Illinois]], leaving the entire 1977–78 Purple Aces team dead. |
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Tremendous community support brought back the basketball program the next year. Evansville was a charter member of the [[Horizon League|Midwest Collegiate Conference]], now known as the Horizon League. The Aces won or shared the MCC regular season title in 1982, 1987, 1989, 1992, and 1993. They also won the conference tournament title in 1982, 1992, and 1993. The Aces are now a member of the [[Missouri Valley Conference]], and won the 1999 regular season title. |
Tremendous community support brought back the basketball program the next year. Evansville was a charter member of the [[Horizon League|Midwest Collegiate Conference]], now known as the Horizon League. The Aces won or shared the MCC regular season title in 1982, 1987, 1989, 1992, and 1993. They also won the conference tournament title in 1982, 1992, and 1993. The Aces are now a member of the [[Missouri Valley Conference]], and won the 1999 regular season title. |
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Legendary Aces coach [[Arad McCutchan]] was the first NCAA College Division coach selected to the [[Basketball Hall of Fame|Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame]]. |
Legendary Aces coach [[Arad McCutchan]] was the first NCAA College Division coach selected to the [[Basketball Hall of Fame|Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame]]. |
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The Purple Aces have made five trips to the NCAA Men's basketball tournament ([[1982 NCAA |
The Purple Aces have made five trips to the NCAA Men's basketball tournament ([[1982 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1982]], [[1989 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1989]], [[1992 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1992]], [[1993 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1993]], [[1999 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1999]]) <ref>[http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/stats/m_basketball_champs_records/2008/d1/champs.pdf NCAA Basketball History]</ref> and two trips to the NIT ([[1988 National Invitation Tournament|1988]], [[1994 National Invitation Tournament|1994]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nit.org/history/nit-postseason.html|title=NIT Championship Home}}</ref> |
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==Seasonal records== |
==Seasonal records== |
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; |
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |
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|- |
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! Season !! Team !! W !! L !! PCT !! Conf. Record !! Postseason !! Head Coach |
! Season !! Team !! W !! L !! PCT !! Conf. Record !! Postseason !! Head Coach |
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| 1980–81 || Evansville || 19 || 9 || .679 || 6–5 || || Dick Walters |
| 1980–81 || Evansville || 19 || 9 || .679 || 6–5 || || Dick Walters |
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|- |
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| 1981–82 || Evansville || 23 || 6 || .793 || 10–2 || [[1982 NCAA |
| 1981–82 || Evansville || 23 || 6 || .793 || 10–2 || [[1982 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA]] first round || Dick Walters |
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|- |
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| 1982–83 || Evansville || 13 || 16 || .448 || 6–8 || || Dick Walters |
| 1982–83 || Evansville || 13 || 16 || .448 || 6–8 || || Dick Walters |
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| 1987–88 || Evansville || 21 || 8 || .724 || 6–4 || [[1988 National Invitation Tournament|NIT]] Sweet Sixteen || Jim Crews |
| 1987–88 || Evansville || 21 || 8 || .724 || 6–4 || [[1988 National Invitation Tournament|NIT]] Sweet Sixteen || Jim Crews |
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|- |
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| 1988–89 || Evansville || 25 || 6 || .806 || 10–2 || [[1989 NCAA |
| 1988–89 || Evansville || 25 || 6 || .806 || 10–2 || [[1989 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA]] Second Round || Jim Crews |
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|- |
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| 1989–90 || Evansville || 17 || 15 || .531 || 8–6 || || Jim Crews |
| 1989–90 || Evansville || 17 || 15 || .531 || 8–6 || || Jim Crews |
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| 1990–91 || Evansville || 14 || 14 || .500 || 7–7 || || Jim Crews |
| 1990–91 || Evansville || 14 || 14 || .500 || 7–7 || || Jim Crews |
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| 1991–92 || Evansville || 24 || 6 || .800 || 8–2 || [[1992 NCAA |
| 1991–92 || Evansville || 24 || 6 || .800 || 8–2 || [[1992 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA]] first round || Jim Crews |
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| 1992–93 || Evansville || 23 || 7 || .767 || 12–2 || [[1993 NCAA |
| 1992–93 || Evansville || 23 || 7 || .767 || 12–2 || [[1993 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA]] first round || Jim Crews |
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| 1993–94 || Evansville || 21 || 11 || .656 || 6–4 || [[1994 National Invitation Tournament|NIT]] |
| 1993–94 || Evansville || 21 || 11 || .656 || 6–4 || [[1994 National Invitation Tournament|NIT]] first round || Jim Crews |
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|colspan="8" align="center" | '''[[Missouri Valley Conference]]''' |
|colspan="8" align="center" | '''[[Missouri Valley Conference]]''' |
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| 1997–98 || Evansville || 15 || 15 || .500 || 9–9 || || Jim Crews |
| 1997–98 || Evansville || 15 || 15 || .500 || 9–9 || || Jim Crews |
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| 1998–99 || Evansville || 23 || 10 || .697 || 13–5 || [[1999 NCAA |
| 1998–99 || Evansville || 23 || 10 || .697 || 13–5 || [[1999 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA]] first round || Jim Crews |
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| 1999–2000 || Evansville || 18 || 12 || .600 || 9–9 || || Jim Crews |
| 1999–2000 || Evansville || 18 || 12 || .600 || 9–9 || || Jim Crews |
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| 2007–08 || Evansville || 9 || 21 || .300 || 3–15 || || [[Marty Simmons]] |
| 2007–08 || Evansville || 9 || 21 || .300 || 3–15 || || [[Marty Simmons]] |
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| 2008–09 || Evansville || 17 || 14 || .548 || 8–10 || [[2009 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament|CIT]] |
| 2008–09 || Evansville || 17 || 14 || .548 || 8–10 || [[2009 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament|CIT]] first round || Marty Simmons |
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| 2009–10 || Evansville || 9 || 21 || .300 || 3–15 || || Marty Simmons |
| 2009–10 || Evansville || 9 || 21 || .300 || 3–15 || || Marty Simmons |
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| 2010–11 || Evansville || 16 || 16 || .500 || 9–9 || [[2011 College Basketball Invitational|CBI]] Second Round || Marty Simmons |
| 2010–11 || Evansville || 16 || 16 || .500 || 9–9 || [[2011 College Basketball Invitational|CBI]] Second Round || Marty Simmons |
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| 2011–12 || Evansville || 16 || 15 || .516 || 9–9 || [[2012 College Basketball Invitational|CBI]] |
| 2011–12 || Evansville || 16 || 15 || .516 || 9–9 || [[2012 College Basketball Invitational|CBI]] first round || Marty Simmons |
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| 2012–13 || Evansville || 21 || 15 || .583 || 10–8 || [[2013 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament|CIT]] Semifinals || Marty Simmons |
| 2012–13 || Evansville || 21 || 15 || .583 || 10–8 || [[2013 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament|CIT]] Semifinals || Marty Simmons |
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| 2018–19 || Evansville || 11 || 21 || .343 || 5–13 || || [[Walter McCarty]] |
| 2018–19 || Evansville || 11 || 21 || .343 || 5–13 || || [[Walter McCarty]] |
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| 2019–20 || Evansville || 9 || 23 || .281 || |
| 2019–20 || Evansville || 9 || 23 || .281 || 0–18 || || Walter McCarty<br>[[Todd Lickliter]] |
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[[Todd Lickliter]] |
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| 2020–21 || Evansville || 9 || 16 ||.360 || 7–11 || ||Todd Lickliter |
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| 2021–22 || Evansville || 6 || 24 ||.360 || 2–16 || ||Todd Lickliter |
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| 2022–23 || Evansville || 5 || 27 ||.185 || 1–19 |
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|| ||[[David Ragland]] |
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==Postseason results== |
==Postseason results== |
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===Division I NCAA tournament results=== |
===Division I NCAA tournament results=== |
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{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Evansville Purple Aces|Year|Round|Opponent|Result}} |
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Evansville Purple Aces|Year|Round|Opponent|Result}} |
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|- align="center" |
|- align="center" |
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| [[1982 NCAA |
| [[1982 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1982]] || First round || Marquette || L 62–67 |
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|- align="center" |
|- align="center" |
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| [[1989 NCAA |
| [[1989 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1989]] || First round<br>Second Round || Oregon State<br>Seton Hall || '''W''' 94–90 <sup>OT</sup><br>L 73–87 |
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|- align="center" |
|- align="center" |
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| [[1992 NCAA |
| [[1992 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1992]] || First round || UTEP || L 50–55 |
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|- align="center" |
|- align="center" |
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| [[1993 NCAA |
| [[1993 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1993]] || First round || Florida State || L 70–82 |
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|- align="center" |
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| [[1999 NCAA |
| [[1999 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1999]] || First round || Kansas || L 74–95 |
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{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Evansville Purple Aces|Year|Round|Opponent|Result}} |
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Evansville Purple Aces|Year|Round|Opponent|Result}} |
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|- align="center" |
|- align="center" |
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| [[1957 NCAA |
| [[1957 NCAA College Division basketball tournament|1957]] || Regional Seminfinals<br>Regional Finals || Illinois State<br>Buffalo || '''W''' 108–96<br>L 75–77 |
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|- align="center" |
|- align="center" |
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| [[1958 NCAA |
| [[1958 NCAA College Division basketball tournament|1958]] || Regional semifinals<br>Regional Finals<br>Elite Eight<br>Final Four<br>National 3rd-place game || Wabash<br>Akron<br>American<br>St Michael's<br>Wheaton || '''W''' 70–68 <sup>OT</sup><br>'''W''' 82–70<br>'''W''' 82–72<br>L 70–78<br>'''W''' 95–93 |
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|- align="center" |
|- align="center" |
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| [[1959 NCAA |
| [[1959 NCAA College Division basketball tournament|1959]] || Regional semifinals<br>Regional Finals<br>Elite Eight<br>Final Four<br>National Championship Game || Belmont Abbey<br>Wittenberg<br>St. Michael's<br>North Carolina A&T<br>SW Missouri State || '''W''' 66–54<br>'''W''' 56–50<br>'''W''' 82–63<br>'''W''' 110–92<br>'''W''' 83–67 |
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|- align="center" |
|- align="center" |
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| [[1960 NCAA |
| [[1960 NCAA College Division basketball tournament|1960]] || Regional semifinals<br>Regional Finals<br>Elite Eight<br>Final Four<br>National Championship Game || Arkansas State<br>Wabush<br>American<br>Kentucky Wesleyan<br>Chapman || '''W''' 91–74<br>'''W''' 89–68<br>'''W''' 101–91<br>'''W''' 76–69<br>'''W''' 90–69 |
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|- align="center" |
|- align="center" |
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| [[1961 NCAA |
| [[1961 NCAA College Division basketball tournament|1961]] || Regional Seminfinals<br>Regional 3rd-place game || Lincoln (MO)<br>MacMurray || L 90–77<br>'''W''' 98–97 <sup>OT</sup> |
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|- align="center" |
|- align="center" |
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| [[1962 NCAA |
| [[1962 NCAA College Division basketball tournament|1962]] || Regional Seminfinals<br>Regional Finals || North Carolina A&T<br>Southern Illinois || '''W''' 97–82<br>L 83–88 |
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|- align="center" |
|- align="center" |
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| [[1963 NCAA |
| [[1963 NCAA College Division basketball tournament|1963]] || Regional Seminfinals<br>Regional Finals<br>Elite Eight || Concordia (IL)<br>Washington-St. Louis<br>Southern Illinois || '''W''' 66–56<br>'''W''' 85–76<br>L 73–86 |
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|- align="center" |
|- align="center" |
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| [[1964 NCAA |
| [[1964 NCAA College Division basketball tournament|1964]] || Regional semifinals<br>Regional Finals<br>Elite Eight<br>Final Four<br>National Championship Game || Jackson State<br>Southern Illinois<br>Cal Poly Pomona<br>Northern Iowa<br>Akron || '''W''' 97–69<br>'''W''' 64–59<br>'''W''' 95–73<br>'''W''' 82–67<br>'''W''' 72–59 |
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|- align="center" |
|- align="center" |
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| [[1965 NCAA |
| [[1965 NCAA College Division basketball tournament|1965]] || Regional semifinals<br>Regional Finals<br>Elite Eight<br>Final Four<br>National Championship Game || Bethune-Cookman<br>Bellarmine<br>Philadelphia<br>St. Michael's<br>Southern Illinois || '''W''' 116–77<br>'''W''' 81–74<br>'''W''' 92–76<br>'''W''' 93–70<br>'''W''' 85–82 <sup>OT</sup> |
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|- align="center" |
|- align="center" |
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| [[1966 NCAA |
| [[1966 NCAA College Division basketball tournament|1966]] || Regional Seminfinals<br>Regional Finals || Lamar<br>Southern Illinois || '''W''' 111–103<br>L 77–90 |
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|- align="center" |
|- align="center" |
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| [[1968 NCAA |
| [[1968 NCAA College Division basketball tournament|1968]] || Regional Seminfinals<br>Regional Finals<br>Elite Eight || Lincoln (MO)<br>SW Missouri State<br>Trinity || '''W''' 95–80<br>'''W''' 79–73<br>L 77–93 |
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|- align="center" |
|- align="center" |
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| [[1971 NCAA |
| [[1971 NCAA College Division basketball tournament|1971]] || Regional semifinals<br>Regional Finals<br>Elite Eight<br>Final Four<br>National Championship Game || Ashland<br>Central Michigan<br>Hartwick<br>Southwestern Louisiana<br>Old Dominion || '''W''' 72–64<br>'''W''' 78–60<br>'''W''' 105–69<br>'''W''' 93–74<br>'''W''' 97–82 |
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|- align="center" |
|- align="center" |
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| [[1972 NCAA |
| [[1972 NCAA College Division basketball tournament|1972]] || Regional Seminfinals<br>Regional Finals || Wittenberg<br>Eastern Michigan || '''W''' 81–73<br>L 88–93 |
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|- align="center" |
|- align="center" |
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| [[1976 NCAA |
| [[1976 NCAA Division II basketball tournament|1976]] || Regional Seminfinals<br>Regional Finals || Wright State<br>Eastern Illinois || '''W''' 85–75<br>L 73–75 |
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{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Evansville Purple Aces|Year|Round|Opponent|Result}} |
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Evansville Purple Aces|Year|Round|Opponent|Result}} |
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|- align="center" |
|- align="center" |
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| [[1941 NAIA |
| [[1941 NAIA basketball tournament|1941]] || First round || Texas Wesleyan || L 62–71 |
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|- align="center" |
|- align="center" |
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| [[1942 NAIA |
| [[1942 NAIA basketball tournament|1942]] || First round<br>Second Round || Peru State<br>East Central || '''W''' 73–50<br>L 30–42 |
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|- align="center" |
|- align="center" |
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| [[1951 NAIA |
| [[1951 NAIA basketball tournament|1951]] || First round<br>Second Round<br>Quarterfinals || Westminster<br>Morningside<br>Regis || '''W''' 85–74<br>'''W''' 75–62<br>L 68–70 |
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|- align="center" |
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| [[1955 NAIA |
| [[1955 NAIA basketball tournament|1955]] || First round || Atlantic Christian || L 88–95 |
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{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Evansville Purple Aces|Year|Round|Opponent|Result}} |
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|- align="center" |
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| [[1988 National Invitation Tournament|1988]] || First |
| [[1988 National Invitation Tournament|1988]] || First round<br>Sweet Sixteen || Utah<br>Boston College || '''W''' 66–55<br>L 81–88 |
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|- align="center" |
|- align="center" |
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| [[1994 National Invitation Tournament|1994]] || First |
| [[1994 National Invitation Tournament|1994]] || First round || Tulane || L 63–76 |
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|} |
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{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Evansville Purple Aces|Year|Round|Opponent|Result}} |
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|- align="center" |
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| [[2011 College Basketball Invitational|2011]] || First |
| [[2011 College Basketball Invitational|2011]] || First round<br>Quarterfinals || Hofstra<br>Boise State || '''W''' 77–70<br>L 69–75 |
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|- align="center" |
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| [[2012 College Basketball Invitational|2012]] || First |
| [[2012 College Basketball Invitational|2012]] || First round || Princeton || L 86–95 |
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|- align="center" |
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| [[2009 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament|2009]] || First |
| [[2009 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament|2009]] || First round || Belmont || L 72–92 |
||
|- align="center" |
|- align="center" |
||
| [[2013 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament|2013]] || First |
| [[2013 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament|2013]] || First round<br>Second Round<br>Quarterfinals<br>Semifinals || Tennessee State<br>Eastern Kentucky<br>Canisius<br>East Carolina || '''W''' 84–72<br>'''W''' 86–72<br>'''W''' 84–83<br>L 58–81 |
||
|- align="center" |
|- align="center" |
||
| [[2015 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament|2015]] || First |
| [[2015 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament|2015]] || First round<br>Second Round<br>Quarterfinals<br>Semifinals<br>Championship Game || IPFW<br>Eastern Illinois<br>Louisiana–Lafayette<br>UT Martin<br>Northern Arizona || '''W''' 82–77<br>'''W''' 83–68<br>'''W''' 89–82<br>'''W''' 79–66<br>'''W''' 71–65 |
||
|} |
|} |
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==Retired |
==Retired Jerseys== |
||
Twelve players and two coaches have had their jerseys retired by the school. |
Twelve players and two coaches have had their jerseys retired by the school. Nevertheless, '''numbers remain active''' and can be worn by future players.<!-- Note: as of 2022-23 season, the Evansville roster has many of those numbers in use (source: https://gopurpleaces.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster ) --> |
||
{| class="wikitable |
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
||
| |
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team= Evansville Purple Aces|border=0 |No. | Player | Year honored }} |
||
⚫ | |||
! width=40px style="background: #cccccc; color: #000000" | No. |
|||
! width=150px style="background: #cccccc; color: #000000" |Player |
|||
! width=150px style="background: #cccccc; color: #000000" |Years played |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
| '''3''' || [[Scott Haffner]] || 1986–1989 |
| '''3''' || [[Scott Haffner]] || 1986–1989 |
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Line 304: | Line 311: | ||
| '''19''' || [[Gus Doerner]] || 1939–1942 |
| '''19''' || [[Gus Doerner]] || 1939–1942 |
||
|- |
|- |
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| rowspan=2|'''20''' || |
| rowspan=2|'''20''' || Hugh Ahlering || 1957–1959 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| |
| Scott Shreffler || 1989–1993 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| '''31''' || |
| '''31''' || Andy Elkins || 1991–1995 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| '''40''' || [[Ed Smallwood]] || 1958–1960 |
| '''40''' || [[Ed Smallwood]] || 1958–1960 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| rowspan=2|'''50''' || |
| rowspan=2|'''50''' || Larry Humes || 1963–1966 |
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|- |
|- |
||
| [[Marty Simmons]] || 1986–1988 |
| [[Marty Simmons]] || 1986–1988 |
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Line 327: | Line 334: | ||
==External links== |
==External links== |
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* {{official website}} |
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* {{Official website|1=http://gopurpleaces.com/index.aspx?path=mbball&tab=basketball}} |
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{{Evansville Purple Aces men's basketball navbox}} |
{{Evansville Purple Aces men's basketball navbox}} |
Latest revision as of 13:45, 9 March 2024
Evansville Purple Aces | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
University | University of Evansville | |||
Head coach | David Ragland (2nd season) | |||
Conference | Missouri Valley | |||
Location | Evansville, Indiana | |||
Arena | Ford Center (capacity: 10,000) | |||
Nickname | Purple Aces | |||
Colors | Purple, white, and orange[1] | |||
Uniforms | ||||
| ||||
NCAA tournament champions | ||||
1959*, 1960*, 1964*, 1965*, 1971* | ||||
NCAA tournament Final Four | ||||
1958*, 1959*, 1960*, 1964*, 1965*, 1971* | ||||
NCAA tournament Elite Eight | ||||
1958*, 1959*, 1960*, 1963*, 1964*, 1965*, 1968*, 1971* | ||||
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen | ||||
1957*, 1958*, 1959*, 1960*, 1962*, 1963*, 1964*, 1965*, 1966*, 1968*, 1971*, 1972*, 1976* | ||||
NCAA tournament second round | ||||
1989 | ||||
NCAA tournament appearances | ||||
1957*, 1958*, 1959*, 1960*, 1961*, 1962*, 1963*, 1964*, 1965*, 1966*, 1968*, 1971*, 1972*, 1974*, 1976*, 1982, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1999 *at Division II level | ||||
Conference tournament champions | ||||
Midwestern Collegiate Conference 1982, 1992, 1993 | ||||
Conference regular season champions | ||||
Midwestern Collegiate Conference 1982, 1987, 1989, 1992, 1993 Missouri Valley Conference 1999 |
The Evansville Purple Aces men's basketball team represents the Purple Aces of the University of Evansville, located in Evansville, Indiana, in NCAA Division I basketball competition. They play their home games at the Ford Center. Evansville's athletics teams were originally known as the Pioneers in the early part of the 1900s. In the 1920s, the name Aces arose after a local sports writer wrote in a game story of the men's basketball team, "They played like Aces." The team has been known as the Aces and/or Purple Aces ever since. Evansville has won five Division II national championships (1959, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1971).
On November 12, 2019, the Aces earned one of the biggest victories in their Division I history, upsetting top-ranked Kentucky at Rupp Arena. Since joining Division I in 1977-78, the Purple Aces have appeared in five NCAA tournaments, making their most recent appearance in 1999. In 1989, Evansville upset Oregon State and advanced to the Round of 32 of the 1989 NCAA tournament.
History
[edit]In the early years of the men's basketball program the Purple Aces appeared in the NAIA national tournament. The Purple Aces appeared 4 times in the NAIA Tournament (1941, 1942, 1951, and 1955). The Purple Aces had a NAIA tournament record of 3–4. The furthest Evansville got in the NAIA tournaments was in third round (NAIA Quarterfinals) in 1951, only to lose to Regis University (Colo.) 70–68.[2]
Shortly after the 1955 season the Purple Aces moved up to the NCAA College Division, now called NCAA Division II. The Evansville Purple Aces rank second all-time in NCAA College Division national championships with five: 1959, 1960, 1964, 1965 (29–0 record) and 1971. The 1964 and 1965 teams starred NBA Legend Jerry Sloan, the 1971 team featured future NBA star Don Buse and future NCAA referee Steve Welmer.
In 1977, UE began playing in NCAA Division I athletics. That same year on December 13, a chartered DC-3 carrying the entire UE basketball team crashed in a field near the Evansville Regional Airport en route to a game against Middle Tennessee State. Every member of the team and coaching staff on the plane was killed. David Furr, who was a member of the 1977–78 Purple Aces squad, did not die in the crash, as he was out for the season with an ankle injury and thus was not on the plane that day. However, only just two weeks later after the crash, Furr and his younger brother Byron were killed in a car accident near Newton, Illinois, leaving the entire 1977–78 Purple Aces team dead.
Tremendous community support brought back the basketball program the next year. Evansville was a charter member of the Midwest Collegiate Conference, now known as the Horizon League. The Aces won or shared the MCC regular season title in 1982, 1987, 1989, 1992, and 1993. They also won the conference tournament title in 1982, 1992, and 1993. The Aces are now a member of the Missouri Valley Conference, and won the 1999 regular season title.
Legendary Aces coach Arad McCutchan was the first NCAA College Division coach selected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
The Purple Aces have made five trips to the NCAA Men's basketball tournament (1982, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1999) [3] and two trips to the NIT (1988, 1994).[4]
Seasonal records
[edit]Season | Team | W | L | PCT | Conf. Record | Postseason | Head Coach |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | |||||||
1977–78 | Evansville | 1 | 3 | .250 | Bobby Watson | ||
1978–79 | Evansville | 13 | 16 | .448 | Dick Walters | ||
Midwestern Collegiate Conference | |||||||
1979–80 | Evansville | 18 | 10 | .643 | 1–4 | Dick Walters | |
1980–81 | Evansville | 19 | 9 | .679 | 6–5 | Dick Walters | |
1981–82 | Evansville | 23 | 6 | .793 | 10–2 | NCAA first round | Dick Walters |
1982–83 | Evansville | 13 | 16 | .448 | 6–8 | Dick Walters | |
1983–84 | Evansville | 15 | 14 | .517 | 7–7 | Dick Walters | |
1984–85 | Evansville | 13 | 16 | .448 | 4–10 | Dick Walters | |
1985–86 | Evansville | 8 | 19 | .296 | 3–9 | Jim Crews | |
1986–87 | Evansville | 16 | 12 | .571 | 8–4 | Jim Crews | |
1987–88 | Evansville | 21 | 8 | .724 | 6–4 | NIT Sweet Sixteen | Jim Crews |
1988–89 | Evansville | 25 | 6 | .806 | 10–2 | NCAA Second Round | Jim Crews |
1989–90 | Evansville | 17 | 15 | .531 | 8–6 | Jim Crews | |
1990–91 | Evansville | 14 | 14 | .500 | 7–7 | Jim Crews | |
1991–92 | Evansville | 24 | 6 | .800 | 8–2 | NCAA first round | Jim Crews |
1992–93 | Evansville | 23 | 7 | .767 | 12–2 | NCAA first round | Jim Crews |
1993–94 | Evansville | 21 | 11 | .656 | 6–4 | NIT first round | Jim Crews |
Missouri Valley Conference | |||||||
1994–95 | Evansville | 18 | 9 | .667 | 11–7 | Jim Crews | |
1995–96 | Evansville | 13 | 14 | .481 | 9–9 | Jim Crews | |
1996–97 | Evansville | 17 | 14 | .548 | 11–7 | Jim Crews | |
1997–98 | Evansville | 15 | 15 | .500 | 9–9 | Jim Crews | |
1998–99 | Evansville | 23 | 10 | .697 | 13–5 | NCAA first round | Jim Crews |
1999–2000 | Evansville | 18 | 12 | .600 | 9–9 | Jim Crews | |
2000–01 | Evansville | 14 | 16 | .467 | 9–9 | Jim Crews | |
2001–02 | Evansville | 7 | 21 | .250 | 4–14 | Jim Crews | |
2002–03 | Evansville | 12 | 16 | .429 | 8–10 | Steve Merfeld | |
2003–04 | Evansville | 7 | 22 | .241 | 5–13 | Steve Merfeld | |
2004–05 | Evansville | 11 | 17 | .393 | 5–13 | Steve Merfeld | |
2005–06 | Evansville | 10 | 19 | .345 | 5–13 | Steve Merfeld | |
2006–07 | Evansville | 14 | 17 | .452 | 6–12 | Steve Merfeld | |
2007–08 | Evansville | 9 | 21 | .300 | 3–15 | Marty Simmons | |
2008–09 | Evansville | 17 | 14 | .548 | 8–10 | CIT first round | Marty Simmons |
2009–10 | Evansville | 9 | 21 | .300 | 3–15 | Marty Simmons | |
2010–11 | Evansville | 16 | 16 | .500 | 9–9 | CBI Second Round | Marty Simmons |
2011–12 | Evansville | 16 | 15 | .516 | 9–9 | CBI first round | Marty Simmons |
2012–13 | Evansville | 21 | 15 | .583 | 10–8 | CIT Semifinals | Marty Simmons |
2013–14 | Evansville | 14 | 19 | .424 | 6–12 | Marty Simmons | |
2014–15 | Evansville | 24 | 12 | .613 | 9–9 | CIT Champions | Marty Simmons |
2015–16 | Evansville | 25 | 9 | .735 | 12–6 | Marty Simmons | |
2016–17 | Evansville | 16 | 17 | .485 | 6–12 | Marty Simmons | |
2017–18 | Evansville | 17 | 15 | .531 | 7–11 | Marty Simmons | |
2018–19 | Evansville | 11 | 21 | .343 | 5–13 | Walter McCarty | |
2019–20 | Evansville | 9 | 23 | .281 | 0–18 | Walter McCarty Todd Lickliter | |
2020–21 | Evansville | 9 | 16 | .360 | 7–11 | Todd Lickliter | |
2021–22 | Evansville | 6 | 24 | .360 | 2–16 | Todd Lickliter | |
2022–23 | Evansville | 5 | 27 | .185 | 1–19 | David Ragland | |
Totals | 672 | 633 | .517 |
Postseason results
[edit]Division I NCAA tournament results
[edit]The Purple Aces have appeared in five NCAA Division I Tournaments. Their combined record is 1–5.
Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1982 | First round | Marquette | L 62–67 |
1989 | First round Second Round |
Oregon State Seton Hall |
W 94–90 OT L 73–87 |
1992 | First round | UTEP | L 50–55 |
1993 | First round | Florida State | L 70–82 |
1999 | First round | Kansas | L 74–95 |
Division II NCAA tournament results
[edit]The Purple Aces have appeared in 14 NCAA Division II Tournaments. Their combined record is 39–9. They are five time national champions (1959, 1960, 1964, 1965, 1971).
Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1957 | Regional Seminfinals Regional Finals |
Illinois State Buffalo |
W 108–96 L 75–77 |
1958 | Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight Final Four National 3rd-place game |
Wabash Akron American St Michael's Wheaton |
W 70–68 OT W 82–70 W 82–72 L 70–78 W 95–93 |
1959 | Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight Final Four National Championship Game |
Belmont Abbey Wittenberg St. Michael's North Carolina A&T SW Missouri State |
W 66–54 W 56–50 W 82–63 W 110–92 W 83–67 |
1960 | Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight Final Four National Championship Game |
Arkansas State Wabush American Kentucky Wesleyan Chapman |
W 91–74 W 89–68 W 101–91 W 76–69 W 90–69 |
1961 | Regional Seminfinals Regional 3rd-place game |
Lincoln (MO) MacMurray |
L 90–77 W 98–97 OT |
1962 | Regional Seminfinals Regional Finals |
North Carolina A&T Southern Illinois |
W 97–82 L 83–88 |
1963 | Regional Seminfinals Regional Finals Elite Eight |
Concordia (IL) Washington-St. Louis Southern Illinois |
W 66–56 W 85–76 L 73–86 |
1964 | Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight Final Four National Championship Game |
Jackson State Southern Illinois Cal Poly Pomona Northern Iowa Akron |
W 97–69 W 64–59 W 95–73 W 82–67 W 72–59 |
1965 | Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight Final Four National Championship Game |
Bethune-Cookman Bellarmine Philadelphia St. Michael's Southern Illinois |
W 116–77 W 81–74 W 92–76 W 93–70 W 85–82 OT |
1966 | Regional Seminfinals Regional Finals |
Lamar Southern Illinois |
W 111–103 L 77–90 |
1968 | Regional Seminfinals Regional Finals Elite Eight |
Lincoln (MO) SW Missouri State Trinity |
W 95–80 W 79–73 L 77–93 |
1971 | Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight Final Four National Championship Game |
Ashland Central Michigan Hartwick Southwestern Louisiana Old Dominion |
W 72–64 W 78–60 W 105–69 W 93–74 W 97–82 |
1972 | Regional Seminfinals Regional Finals |
Wittenberg Eastern Michigan |
W 81–73 L 88–93 |
1976 | Regional Seminfinals Regional Finals |
Wright State Eastern Illinois |
W 85–75 L 73–75 |
NAIA tournament results
[edit]The Purple Aces have appeared in four NAIA Division I Tournaments. Their combined record is 3–4.
Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1941 | First round | Texas Wesleyan | L 62–71 |
1942 | First round Second Round |
Peru State East Central |
W 73–50 L 30–42 |
1951 | First round Second Round Quarterfinals |
Westminster Morningside Regis |
W 85–74 W 75–62 L 68–70 |
1955 | First round | Atlantic Christian | L 88–95 |
NIT results
[edit]The Purple Aces have appeared in two National Invitation Tournaments (NIT). Their combined record is 1–2.
Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1988 | First round Sweet Sixteen |
Utah Boston College |
W 66–55 L 81–88 |
1994 | First round | Tulane | L 63–76 |
CBI results
[edit]The Purple Aces have appeared in two College Basketball Invitationals (CBI). Their combined record is 1–2.
Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2011 | First round Quarterfinals |
Hofstra Boise State |
W 77–70 L 69–75 |
2012 | First round | Princeton | L 86–95 |
CIT results
[edit]The Purple Aces have appeared in three CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournaments (CIT). Their combined record is 8–2. They were CIT champions in 2015
Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2009 | First round | Belmont | L 72–92 |
2013 | First round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals |
Tennessee State Eastern Kentucky Canisius East Carolina |
W 84–72 W 86–72 W 84–83 L 58–81 |
2015 | First round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Championship Game |
IPFW Eastern Illinois Louisiana–Lafayette UT Martin Northern Arizona |
W 82–77 W 83–68 W 89–82 W 79–66 W 71–65 |
Retired Jerseys
[edit]Twelve players and two coaches have had their jerseys retired by the school. Nevertheless, numbers remain active and can be worn by future players.
No. | Player | Year honored |
---|---|---|
3 | Scott Haffner | 1986–1989 |
5 | Marcus Wilson | 1995–1999 |
10 | Don Buse | 1969–1972 |
15 | Brad Leaf | 1979–1982 |
19 | Gus Doerner | 1939–1942 |
20 | Hugh Ahlering | 1957–1959 |
Scott Shreffler | 1989–1993 | |
31 | Andy Elkins | 1991–1995 |
40 | Ed Smallwood | 1958–1960 |
50 | Larry Humes | 1963–1966 |
Marty Simmons | 1986–1988 | |
52 | Jerry Sloan | 1962–1965 |
— | Arad McCutchan | 1946–1977 |
— | Jim Crews | 1985–2002 |
References
[edit]- ^ Missouri Valley Conference Style Guide (PDF). August 29, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
- ^ NAIA Championship History Archived March 25, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ NCAA Basketball History
- ^ "NIT Championship Home".