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It's been 15 years since the University of Evansville men's basketball team played a post-season game on its home court. That all changes tonight when the 17-13 Purple Aces battle 19-12 Belmont University at Roberts Stadium in the inaugural CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT). Game time is 7:00 CDT, and tickets are available at the Carson Center and Roberts Stadium box offices.
THE TOP 10 THINGS TO KNOW...UE VS. BELMONT...CIT FIRST ROUND
1. This month is the 20th anniversary of UE’s first NCAA Division I Tournament victory (March 17, 1989 vs. Oregon State), 15th anniversary of UE’s most recent NIT appearance (March 16, 1994), and 10th anniversary of UE’s most recent post-season game (March 12, 1999 vs. Kansas in NCAA Tournament).
2. This is the inaugural year for the 16-team CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT). Quarterfinal games take place next Monday, March 23, followed by the semifinals March 25 and the championship game March 31. All games take place on home courts. Since there is no official tournament bracket, pairings for next Monday’s games will be announced after first round games are completed.
3. This will be the first meeting between the University of Evansville and Belmont University, located in Nashville, Tenn. Their one common opponent is Austin Peay. Evansville won its season opener against the Governors, 70-62. Belmont lost at home to Austin Peay 86-84 in November, then won at Austin Peay 72-62 in December. UE is #96 out of 343 Division I teams in the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) this week. Belmont is 124.
4. Both the Purple Aces and Bruins know what it’s like to play a #1 seed in this week’s NCAA Tournament. Belmont lost by 14 at Pittsburgh on Nov. 25, 74-60. Evansville lost by 18 at North Carolina on Dec. 18, 91-73. Belmont had made three straight trips to the NCAA Tournament before this season, including a one-point loss to Duke last year, 71-70, when the Bruins were a #15 seed.
5. Both teams are led by outstanding seniors. Evansville has MVC scoring leader Shy Ely (18.6 ppg), a 6’4” forward who was second in MVC player of the year balloting. Belmont has Atlantic Sun Conference MVP Alex Renfroe, a 6’2” guard who averages 16 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists.
6. Second-year coach Marty Simmons was third in voting for MVC Coach of the Year behind coaches from co-champions UNI and Creighton. UE made the biggest jump of any MVC team in the final 2009 league standings compared to 2008, going from 10th to fifth. The fifth place finish is UE's best since 2003.
7. Shy Ely is the first Evansville player to earn first team all-MVC honors since Craig Snow in 2000, and the first to earn NABC first team all-district honors since Parrish Casebier in 1993. Ely is on his way to becoming the first UE player to lead the MVC in scoring. His 18.6 average is nearly three points per game higher than second place Booker Woodfox of Creighton.
8. Jason Holsinger is a first team Academic All-American, and co-recipient of the MVC Men’s Basketball Scholar Athlete of the Year award. He was also chosen honorable mention all-MVC. Holsinger leads all active MVC players in scoring with 1,437 points.
9. MVC All-Freshman Team member Kaylon Williams is the first UE player since Lucious Wagner in 2005 to total more than 100 points, rebounds and assists in the same season.
10. Nate Garner was chosen for the Most Improved Team. Garner’s scoring average went from 5.8 in 2008 to 9.8 this season. He is among the MVC’s top 10 in field goal percentage, rebounding and steals.
For a complete look at the UE-Belmont game notes, go to the March 18 Game Notes on the men's basketball page here at GoPurpleAces.com.
