With this being the last season for the BracketBusters event, are there any plans in the works for a replacement that would be similar to that?

I do not believe there will be a replacement on a national basis for BracketBusters and it is something we will miss as it gave us diversity in our scheduling and overall helped scheduling. We have enjoyed the Mountain West Series and while we will be taking next year off from the “MVC vs.MWC” series, there is a chance it could resume the following year once some of the conference membership issues are straightened out nationally.

UE recently announced that the January 5 home men's basketball game versus Southern Illinois will be a Military Appreciation Night; what does it mean to you and the department to be able to honor servicemen and their families who gave so much?

We are putting time and energy into expanding  our Military Appreciation Night this year. Thanks to our generous sponsors, we are going to be able to provide tickets at a game that should be very exciting. I  believe fans will enjoy being able to applaud our servicemen and we are pleased that UE athletics, and UE in general (we have excellent academic programs for our servicemen as well) is very appreciative of the efforts to keep America safe. So, yes, it means a lot to me and to many others associated with UE!

The Missouri Valley Conference has had a successful non-conference run so far, how does that set UE for what should be an exciting schedule, especially at home, heading forward?

The conference component of our season is really fun. Our crowds are good and we have the chance to play a lot of very good teams that fans will enjoy watching if they enjoy basketball. There is nothing better than being at an exciting Division 1 game when a lot rides on the outcome. Our conference has an excellent ranking again this year and there will be no easy games so we need the help, noise, and support of all those that come to watch us play!