EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Day three of our preview looks at one of the most challenging aspects of the Purple Aces' upcoming schedule.  In fact, this stretch is just over six weeks away!
 
One of the requirements each season for the University of Evansville is to play in a non-exempt tournament.  Taking place in the season, these tournaments give programs the opportunity to play around three games in one spot while facing top competition.
 
This year, the Aces travel to Florida for the Gulf Coast Showcase.  Seven other teams are set to participate and provide Evansville with some stellar early competition to prepare the squad for Missouri Valley Conference play.  Of those seven teams, six were at least .500 in 2013-14, five won 20 or more games and five participated in a postseason tournament.
 
Green Bay was the top performing team from last season.  The Phoenix were 24-7 while winning the Regular Season Horizon League Championship with a 14-2 record en route to playing in the NIT.  They played a tough schedule, especially early on, falling to Wisconsin by just three points.  Their top win of the season came against ACC regular season champion Virginia.
 
Florida Gulf Coast went 22-13 last season and 14-4 in the Atlantic Sun en route to their first regular season title.  They played Florida State in the NIT.  Another NIT participant was San Francisco, who went 21-12 in 2013-14.  They were an impressive 13-5 in the West Coast Conference.
 
The Bulldogs of Fresno State advanced to the championship of the College Basketball Invitational, falling to Siena in the final game of the tournament in Loudonville, N.Y.  Fresno State went 21-18 on the season.
 
East Carolina was 17-17 last season on their way to another berth in the CIT.  In early 2013, the Aces fell to ECU in the same tournament in Greenville, N.C.  The Pirates fell to Wright State in the 2014 event.
 
Another 20-win team was added late as Hawaii joined just over a month ago.  The Warriors were 20-11 with solid wins coming over Oregon State and Saint Mary's.  Rounding out the field is Marist, who posted a 12-19 mark a season ago.
 
Evansville will get a great test early on, facing three of those teams in a span of three days!  It begins on Nov. 24 against Fresno State.