'We project ourselves at No. 1': USI men's basketball hopes first OVC season is historic
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Stan Gouard realizes the significance this men’s basketball season holds at the University of Southern Indiana.
He’s soaked in the excitement since the university decided to move to NCAA Division I in February. Now that the first game at Missouri is merely a few weeks away, the buzz has grown even stronger. From volunteer trips around town to the West Side Nut Club Fall Festival, the Screaming Eagles have been showered with cheers everywhere they go.
Fans understand the importance of the jump. Gouard hopes his players do, too.
“They’re a part of history. They might not understand it now but in 25 to 30 years when they’re my age, they’ll start looking back like, ‘Wow, we're the first team,'” Gouard said. “Be the team that no one forgets about because you created some type of history.”
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The starting lineup is beginning to take shape
While there’s still plenty of time before the season-opening trip to Columbia, Missouri, official practices have been underway for two weeks and rotations are emerging.
If the season started now, Gouard said the Eagles would start three guards. Gary Solomon, a junior-college transfer, would be the point guard alongside sophomore Isaiah Swope at the two-guard spot and senior Jelani Simmons at the three. He also said graduate transfer Trevor Lakes is a lock to start as a stretch four.
The most significant question mark is at the center position. There's been a debate about who will earn those minutes with Jacob Polakovich out for at least three months recovering from a Jones Fracture injury. It's a toss-up between a pair of transfers, sophomore Nick Hittle and freshman Kiyron Powell.
“We go to that board every day upstairs and switch names around because of what guys are doing at practice,” Gouard said. “We’ll get a true test with a closed-door scrimmage this week at Eastern Kentucky. That will kind of give us a measuring stick to where we are.”
Depth will be tested with early-season injuries
USI is already dealing with its fair share of injury-related setbacks. In addition to Polakovich, a few other key members of the rotation have sat out practice this preseason.
Simmons tweaked his knee and has been working his way back; Gouard emphasized how much they need him for opener at Missouri.
Hittle also missed a few practices with a concussion.
While not injury-related, junior guard Tyler Henry is suspended for the first game for “conduct detrimental to the team."
This is where USI’s depth will be tested. It’s something that Gouard has always stressed. Still, the rotation will be boosted with experience and capable shooters — something emphasized when building this roster — thanks to the addition of transfers such as Jeremiah Hernandez and Ryan Hall.
“We have to have that next-man-up mentality. I think we’ve done a good job as a team of not letting one guy go down affect us. It’s just an opportunity for the next guy,” Gouard said. “I think this group will excite some people.”
Lakes added: “I think it’s good for competition. We have a lot of guys on this team who can play. Knowing that if someone goes down, we have guys who can step in that we’re confident in. That’s one of our strengths, for sure.”
Local standouts share a close bond
Isaiah Swope had plenty of reasons to be excited when he learned Powell would be transferring to USI.
But there was one that stood out amongst them all: He gets to play alongside family.
“That’s my older cousin. We grew up together,” Swope said. “We’ve played together in leagues like the EBA (Evansville Basketball Academy), AAU and we even were playing around the city together this summer. For us to be on the same team now, it’s super fun. I can’t wait to get on the court.”
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The duo had some stellar matchups during their high school days while Powell was at Bosse and Swope at Castle. But other than some summer pickup games and youth basketball days, the pair has mostly only played as opponents.
Now teammates, they’re excited to show how well they can work together. The chemistry hasn’t weakened just because it’s been several years since they’ve repped the same team. From energy to communication, expect to see the two share a tight bond right away.
“We’re both competitive. We’ve always been competitive with each other. Even in practice, we get to talking noise to one another when we’re on different teams,” Powell said with a laugh. “That just drives us on the court together. We’re gonna make some real, real noise this year.”
“Make a statement”: Expectations remain high in the OVC
Final standings predictions for the Ohio Valley Conference have been all over the place this preseason. That’s to be expected in a league that has three new teams to fill the departure of banner programs such as Murray State and Belmont.
Prognosticators don't seem to know where to place the Eagles. They’ve been selected as high as fifth by Blue Ribbon Magazine and as low as eighth by Lindy Sports. CBS Sports even listed them as one of the teams who will impact its new conference the most.
Although the official OVC poll will be released in the next week or so, Gouard doesn’t want his team to focus on any rankings. He wants them to control what they can control. If they do that, he feels confident that it can be a successful first year in the OVC.
“When you look at the makeup of our league, only one team finished above .500 last year and that’s Morehead State. We’ve got a shot,” Gouard said. “We’re trying to teach guys to play every possession like it’s their last. If they do that, we have a pretty good chance to be playing in front of 5,000-10,000 people at the Ford Center in March. That’s our goal.”
But the players aren’t satisfied with just playing in the OVC tournament. They want to win the whole thing. They believe that’s a real possibility with this deep group and some talented newcomers.
“We can make some noise. We feel like we can make a run,” Powell said. “They have us projected at, what, five? We project ourselves at No. 1.”
Swope added: “We have to come in right away and show we belong. Make a statement early.”
Contact Courier & Press sports reporter Hendrix Magley via email at hendrix.magley@courierpress.com or via Twitter @TweetsOfHendrix.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Why USI men's basketball hopes its first OVC season is historic
