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EVANSVILLE — No sugarcoating it. Few things went right for University of Evansville men's basketball last season.
The Purple Aces took a big step backwards in a 7-25 season and finished 312th in the final KenPom rankings. Multiple injuries also left the rotation with only seven players for most of February. Then add losing a notable member of the coaching staff in June. What comes next? A fair and tough question for everyone involved.
One which starts with a mostly new roster on campus this summer.
Sokeland: UE vs USI men's basketball game is a step in the right direction
UE saw six players enter the transfer portal, in addition to a pair of graduates, from last year. Enter 10 new faces on Lincoln Avenue with the aim of helping the Aces reverse course in coach David Ragland's fifth year. Two incoming freshman are scheduled to arrive in July.
"We all have to take blame for what happened last year," Ragland said. "We all have to be accountable, starting with me. We had some honest conversations about where we can be better individually and as a group. Then when you get into a situation, you either run from it or run toward it. Those guys wanted to run toward it and help fix the issue."
What UE is banking upon is a quartet of returners to lead the way.
Senior forward AJ Casey (13.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg) was among the top players in the Missouri Valley Conference by March and earned Third Team honors. Sophomore guard Bryce Quinet (8.7 ppg, 2.4 apg) provides a good base as another returning starter. Sophomore forward James Dyson-Merwe (2.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg) showed promise in spot minutes off the bench, while freshman guard Aaron Gutman took a redshirt.
Where the Aces are by November remains to be seen with the new group only together one month. But the returners identify their role in making sure last year isn't repeated. Evansville doesn't have a winning record since 2018.
"I think we have a special group here this season," Casey said. "It's easy for us to connect and talk. Practice has picked up. Rags has emphasized putting in the work. Be where we want to be. Every single day is about competing and pushing one another. I think that's the difference between this year and last year."
The Aces are a much younger group compared to last season with 12 listed freshmen and sophomores.
"We really feel like we have something to prove this year," Ellspermann said. "It starts right now. Trying to get everything we can to make the right steps. We have a lot of guys here that can play. Talking to the coaches, I think we're going to play a lot of different lineups.
"This is a team I grew up watching and cheering for. To put on the Aces jersey means a lot. It's a pressure that I love."
More: Here are the Class of 2026 Male and Female SIAC Athlete of the Year finalists
What is notable among the newcomers is positional size. Nearly all are listed at 6-foot-4 or taller, especially a restocked backcourt. What it does lack is Division I experience beyond Winther, Langenfield and Riek (freshman season at Fairfield).
"Our league moved more to positional size since we've been here," Ragland said. "We wanted to keep that. Then just growing our depth. That's really hurt us the last three years. We've had a major injury to a really good player and it negatively impacted our team. This year we have true depth at each position."
Major news came early with the 2026 non-conference schedule annoucement. In addition to the previously announced game with Southern Indiana, the Aces have notable matchups against Memphis, Missouri, Miami (Ohio) and Western Kentucky. Seven of their 11 games come at Ford Center, including the River City Classic against the Screaming Eagles.
Here is the full schedule. Game times will be announced in the near future.
Kyle Sokeland is a sports reporter for the Courier & Press. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @kylesokeland or email at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: A look at new Evansville men's basketball roster for 2026-27 season
Continue reading...
The Purple Aces took a big step backwards in a 7-25 season and finished 312th in the final KenPom rankings. Multiple injuries also left the rotation with only seven players for most of February. Then add losing a notable member of the coaching staff in June. What comes next? A fair and tough question for everyone involved.
One which starts with a mostly new roster on campus this summer.
Sokeland: UE vs USI men's basketball game is a step in the right direction
UE saw six players enter the transfer portal, in addition to a pair of graduates, from last year. Enter 10 new faces on Lincoln Avenue with the aim of helping the Aces reverse course in coach David Ragland's fifth year. Two incoming freshman are scheduled to arrive in July.
"We all have to take blame for what happened last year," Ragland said. "We all have to be accountable, starting with me. We had some honest conversations about where we can be better individually and as a group. Then when you get into a situation, you either run from it or run toward it. Those guys wanted to run toward it and help fix the issue."
What UE is banking upon is a quartet of returners to lead the way.
Senior forward AJ Casey (13.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg) was among the top players in the Missouri Valley Conference by March and earned Third Team honors. Sophomore guard Bryce Quinet (8.7 ppg, 2.4 apg) provides a good base as another returning starter. Sophomore forward James Dyson-Merwe (2.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg) showed promise in spot minutes off the bench, while freshman guard Aaron Gutman took a redshirt.
Where the Aces are by November remains to be seen with the new group only together one month. But the returners identify their role in making sure last year isn't repeated. Evansville doesn't have a winning record since 2018.
"I think we have a special group here this season," Casey said. "It's easy for us to connect and talk. Practice has picked up. Rags has emphasized putting in the work. Be where we want to be. Every single day is about competing and pushing one another. I think that's the difference between this year and last year."
Here are Evansville's departures from last season
- Joshua Hughes, transferred to Southern California (9.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg)
- Kaia Berridge, transferred to Cal State-Monterey Bay (DII)
- Marlon Barnes Jr., transferred to Slippery Rock (DII)
- Connor Turnbull, transferred to Utah State (11.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg and 2.4 bpg)
- Weston Aigner
- Leif Moeller, transferred to UTEP (10.8 ppg, 4.0 apg and 3.8 rpg)
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Who are the newcomers?
- Gustav Winther, 6-10 sophomore forward from Northern Illinois (8.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg)
- Max Langenfield, 6-6 sophomore guard from Florida Atlantic (3.5 ppg)
- Luke Ellspermann, 6-0 sophomore guard from Wabash College (15.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.6 apg). Memorial grad.
- Makuei Riek, 6-6 junior guard from Salt Lake Community College (14.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.1 apg)
- Rafayel Masumyan, 6-7 freshman guard from Granada Hills (Calif.)
- Junior Kemm, 6-4 freshman guard from GBA Academy/So Cal Academy
- David Nejezchleb, 6-8 freshman guard from Nymburk (Czech Republic)
- Jake Genschaw, 6-6 freshman forward from Fairview (Colo.)
- Caden Symons, 6-4 freshman guard from Coeur d'Alene (Idaho)
- Bryce Renn, 6-10 freshman forward from Link Prep/Terre Haute North
The Aces are a much younger group compared to last season with 12 listed freshmen and sophomores.
"We really feel like we have something to prove this year," Ellspermann said. "It starts right now. Trying to get everything we can to make the right steps. We have a lot of guys here that can play. Talking to the coaches, I think we're going to play a lot of different lineups.
"This is a team I grew up watching and cheering for. To put on the Aces jersey means a lot. It's a pressure that I love."
More: Here are the Class of 2026 Male and Female SIAC Athlete of the Year finalists
What is notable among the newcomers is positional size. Nearly all are listed at 6-foot-4 or taller, especially a restocked backcourt. What it does lack is Division I experience beyond Winther, Langenfield and Riek (freshman season at Fairfield).
"Our league moved more to positional size since we've been here," Ragland said. "We wanted to keep that. Then just growing our depth. That's really hurt us the last three years. We've had a major injury to a really good player and it negatively impacted our team. This year we have true depth at each position."
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Other offseason notes on the Purple Aces
Major news came early with the 2026 non-conference schedule annoucement. In addition to the previously announced game with Southern Indiana, the Aces have notable matchups against Memphis, Missouri, Miami (Ohio) and Western Kentucky. Seven of their 11 games come at Ford Center, including the River City Classic against the Screaming Eagles.
Here is the full schedule. Game times will be announced in the near future.
- Sunday, Oct. 11 at Austin Peay (exhibition)
- Wednesay, Oct. 21 vs. SEMO (exhibition)
- Thursday, Oct. 29 vs. Wabash College (exhibition)
- Monday, Nov. 2 vs. IU Kokomo
- Saturday, Nov. 7 vs. Southern Indiana (River City Classic)
- Tuesday, Nov. 10 at Middle Tennessee State
- Saturday, Nov. 14 vs Miami (Ohio)
- Tuesday, Nov. 17 vs Le Moyne College
- Sunday, Nov. 22 at Memphis
- Tuesday, Nov. 24 at Missouri
- Monday, Nov. 30 vs. Chicago State
- Saturday, Dec. 5 vs. Western Kentucky
- Wednesday, Dec. 9 at Ball State
- Friday, Dec. 11 vs. Brescia
Kyle Sokeland is a sports reporter for the Courier & Press. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @kylesokeland or email at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: A look at new Evansville men's basketball roster for 2026-27 season
Continue reading...
