EVANSVILLE — Basketball season started -- and ended -- sooner than the University ofSouthern Indiana men's team preferred.
The Eagles played the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic on Nov. 3-4 — one week before most all other NCAA programs started.
They then had it come to an end this past Friday with a first-round loss in the Great Lakes Valley Conference tournament. The Eagles dropped six of their final seven games and finished 20-11 overall. They failed to qualify for the NCAA tournament for the third time in four years in what was an up-and-down season.
Let’s reminisce.
THE GOOD TIMES
USI defeated a Division I opponent for the first time since 1990 with its exhibition win over Eastern Illinois.
Although the previous D-I win was in the regular season against Wisconsin, this season's victory was an impressive achievement for the Eagles, who shot 16-for-25 from three to make an early statement.
Coach Rodney Watson said the win was “not just fool’s gold" at the time.
The Eagles’ other signature victory came on Dec. 30 in the 11th-annual Bill Joergens Memorial Classic against then-No. 15 Lake Superior State.
They broke a program record for single-game free throw makes during the 94-77 win. USI made its first 33 attempts and finished 44-of-47.
Plus, there were standout moments such as Alex Stein’s game-winning jumper against Maryville and Emmanuel Little’s 29-point, 21-rebound outburstoff the bench against Missouri S&T.
Those two were the lone Eagles to receive all-GLVC recognition. Stein was named to the First Team and Little landed on the Freshman Team.
Stein, who received national publicity for leading the NCAA in free throw percentage, scored 541 points this season and is fifth all-time on the program’s career scoring list. He needs 721 to break the record.
Overall, however, the Eagles never quite broke through. The seasonwas mired in mediocrity with some great moments mixed in.
Although they officially won 20 games, only 17 came against D-II competition.
MORE:The USI women's team made the NCAA tournament
THE NOT-SO-GOOD TIMES
Perhaps the season-opening loss to Augustana was a bad omen.
It marked the first time in 32 years the Eagles dropped their opener. And, in D-II, essentially every game plays a factor in whether teams make the postseason. (Augustana also missed the tournament.)
The Eagles lost again the following weekend to Hillsdale, which made the Midwest Regional. So, it wasn’t a bad lossper se, and it seemed to make them better moving forward.
They won 18 of their next 21, with losses coming to West Texas A&M, Drury and Bellarmine, all of whichmade the NCAA tournament.
Then the wheels fell off.
USI lost to Illinois-Springfield, Bellarmine, William Jewell, Rockhurst, Lewis and Drury during the final month. The only win during the final seven games came against Wisconsin-Parkside, a team that wouldn’t have made the GLVC tournament if it was eligible.
It was the worst ending to a season since USI lost its final six games in 1972 — the program’s second year of existence.
And there’s been no explanation for it considering the only major personnel difference was when Julius Rajalamissed a weekend road trip for a two-game suspension.
The Eagles didn't win the rebounding battle in any of the six losses, in which they were outscored 82-65, on average.
USI was once an annual national championship contender. Now, it's a great accomplishment to even make the Midwest Regional.
MORE:USI misses NCAA tournament for third time in four years
BRIGHTER DAYS AHEAD?
Still, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the program’s future, even if the recent lack of postseason success hasbeen dispiriting.
Most, if not all, of nextseason likely will be played in the new, to-be-named arena. The new venue will assuredly attract more fans and build more buzz.
It’s a recruiting tool, too, and could be the deciding factor that influences players to come to USI.
Chance Coyle of Bloomington South High School — the current prize of the 2018 recruiting class — should make an impact from Day 1.
The son of 1995 USI national champion Neil Coyle, he is in line to be an Indiana Senior All-Star, averaging 20.1 points per game, 5.3 rebounds and shooting 47.8 percent from 3-point range.
They have at least two more spots to fill with four seniors departing and Boonville’s Glen Rouch being the only other signee. Assistant coach Brent Owen is out of state recruiting this week.
Yet the Eagles have a solid core returning. There’s no doubt they will need more size, but having Mateo Rivera, Stein, Nate Hansen and Little in the starting lineup looks good on paper.
Plus, junior transfer Taylor Breck received little playing time and freshmanTyler Dancy redshirted, so no one has seen either's potential yet with both standing 6-foot-7.
Watson has two years remaining on his contract and will be the program’s longest-tenured coach once next season starts. He wants to hang banners more than anyone.
Excitement from a new arena combined with an established senior class that’s hungry to win in the postseason seems like a recipe for success.
MORE
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- Walk-on Humaad Khan embodies what it means to be a student-athlete
- Strong contributions from freshmen 'critical for the future of this program'
