EVANSVILLE, Ind. – It was the dawn of a new season on Tuesday morning when the University of Evansville men's basketball team took to the floor inside the Fifth Third Practice Facility. The first official practice took place, marking the "unofficial" start of the 2021-22 campaign.
There was a different vibe around the gym than a season ago as a sense of normalcy was beginning to return. While multiple measures remain in place to minimize the COVID threat, head coach Todd Lickliter and his squad were excited to be back on the floor and prepare for what they hope is a more conventional basketball season.
"I will never take it (a regular basketball season) for granted again – I am so thankful," Lickliter exclaimed. "Our players really helped us navigate through some unique circumstances last year, so it is a great feeling to be where we are at right now."
Last season saw the Purple Aces improve across the board as they became acclimated to Lickliter's system and staff. The first order of business was getting into the win column. Once that box was checked, the team went out and just played basketball. Picked 10
th in the Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Poll, the Aces won three of the first four conference games on their way to a 5
th place finish in the regular season.
"We just enjoyed the opportunity to play last season. It always felt like we were on track and making progress, but our guys went out last season and proved that all to be true," Lickliter added.
For the first time in his UE tenure, Lickliter and his staff were able to conduct in-person summer workouts. With seven out of nine regulars returning from last season, including four starters, Evansville has a great deal of experience to go along with six newcomers. As things continue to inch towards "normal", Lickliter is happy to finally be able to concentrate on basketball.
"This year, we have a very challenging non-conference sale. We know that the challenge is big, but that makes it even more satisfying. I believe in these guys – they are a great group and are the right group for this program. There are still (COVID) concerns and we are taking precautions, but we feel like there is a little more freedom and less stress. Now we can focus on how good our team can get and how well we can compete."
Shamar Givance is coming off of a season that saw him make one of the biggest jumps not just in the MVC, but potentially the entire NCAA. As a sophomore, Givance finished with 4.0 points per game, but the 20-21 campaign saw him finish 9
th in the league with 13.3 PPG. The conference leader in steals also ranked 9
th in average minutes.
Always someone who let his game speak for itself, Givance certainly did so on his way to a spot on the MVC Most Improved Team. It was not very long ago that Givance himself was one of the newcomers at UE. Now he uses lessons learned to educate the guys who are entering their first season with the program.
"When I was a younger player, it was guys such as K.J. Riley who led by example with how they treated us and showed us how Evansville works," Givance explained. "Now it is guys such as Jawaun (Newton), Evan (Kuhlman), Noah (Frederking) and myself who are helping our new uys embrace the culture."
One of those newcomers is freshman forward Blake Sisley. Coming to UE from Santa Claus, Ind., Sisley showed that Givance and the upperclassmen are indeed leading by example.
"All of the guys that came back are grabbing us younger guys in practice. Buddying up with us and showing us how to do things right has really helped," Sisley said. "Right now, I am trying to learn as much as I can and do whatever I need in practice and the future to help the team win."
So how have things progressed for Sisley since arriving on campus?
"We put in a lot of work this summer and the staff took things day-by-day to ease us into it. Now at the first official day of practice, we are looking to perfect everything we have done so far."
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