EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Coming off a season that saw the University of Evansville men’s basketball team more than triple its win total from a season prior, the Purple Aces are set to open the 2024-25 season on Tuesday at North Texas. ESPN+ and the Purple Aces Radio Network will have the broadcast of the 7 p.m. CT contest from the Super Pit.
– Tanner Cuff saw action in all 35 games last season and made two starts, but his role is set to grow even more heading into the upcoming campaign
– In his first season with the Purple Aces, Cuff averaged 7.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game
– He had a strong exhibition tune-up, posting 12 rebounds to go along with four points versus Tiffin
– Cuff was named to the MVC All-Bench Team in March of 2024
– In last season’s home win over UIC, he recorded a career-high 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting
– With seven seconds remaining in overtime against UNI, Cuff knocked down a 3-pointer to give UE a 4-point lead and seal the win
– Cuff had an excellent all-around performance at Missouri State, recording 8 assists, 7 points and 7 boards
Doing it All
– Tayshawn Comer gave UE fans a preview of his abilities in the exhibition contest versus Tiffin
– He recorded 16 points, 7 assists, 3 steals and 2 rebounds in his first time in an Aces uniform
– The Eastern Kentucky transfer averaged 7.8 points and 2.5 rebounds as a sophomore last season with the Colonels
– He completed the season 9th in the A-Sun with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.6
– Rated a 3-star recruit out of high school, Comer was named to the A-Sun All-Freshman Team in 2023
Staying in the State
– After spending his first two collegiate seasons at Butler, Connor Turnbull remained in the State of Indiana with his transfer to UE
– In the exhibition game, the junior scored 15 points while hauling in 7 boards
– He converted 5 of his 10 field goal attempts and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the line
– The 4-star recruit out of high school was limited to 9 games with the Bulldogs last season but finished with 16 blocks
– As a freshman, he shot 44% from the field and 47% from outside
Scouting the Opposition
– The Mean Green have been one of the top mid-major programs in the nation over the past few seasons, making the NIT in each of the last three seasons while earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament in 2021
– Highlighting the recent success was a 31-7 mark in 2022-23 as the Mean Green were the NIT Champions
– This will be the second meeting between the programs with the first taking place at Roberts Stadium in 1995 (58-54 UE win)
– UNT lost its top six scorers from last season as Rondel Walker is the top returner with 3.8 PPG
