The University of Evansville men's basketball team finished the previous campaign with a 7‑25 record, placing 312th in the KenPom national rankings.
A cascade of injuries limited the rotation to seven players for much of February, and the program also saw a key assistant coach depart in June.
Enter Coach David Ragland, who has taken over the reins and is driving a culture of accountability and measurable improvement as the Aces prepare for the 2026‑27 season.
A Young, Revamped Roster
The squad will be led by returning starters AJ Casey and Bryce Quinet, while sophomore forward James Dyson‑Merwe showed promise in limited minutes and freshman Aaron Gutman will redshirt to add depth.
Off the bench, the team has bolstered its talent pool with ten newcomers, including Gustav Winther, Max Langenfield, Luke Ellspermann, Makuei Riek, Rafayel Masumyan, Junior Kemm, David Nejezchleb, Jake Genschaw, Caden Symons and Bryce Renn.
This youthful core, comprised of twelve freshmen and sophomores, represents a stark contrast to last year’s more experienced lineup and signals a focus on long‑term development.
The schedule promises several high‑profile tests, with matchups against Memphis, Missouri, Miami (Ohio) and Western Kentucky highlighted on the calendar.