Busting Brackets
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MVC Basketball: Way-too-early preseason power rankings for 2019-20

By Curtis Wilkerson

ST. LOUIS, MO - MARCH 10: Ja'Shon Henry #22 of the Bradley Braves runs on to the court with his teammates after beating the Northern Iowa Panthers during the final game of the MVC Basketball Tournament at the Enterprise Center on March 10, 2019 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Bradley Braves beat the Northern Iowa Panthers 57-54 to win the MVC Championship. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO - MARCH 10: Ja'Shon Henry #22 of the Bradley Braves runs on to the court with his teammates after beating the Northern Iowa Panthers during the final game of the MVC Basketball Tournament at the Enterprise Center on March 10, 2019 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Bradley Braves beat the Northern Iowa Panthers 57-54 to win the MVC Championship. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /
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EVANSVILLE, IN – FEBRUARY 16: Evansville Purple Aces fans cheer against the Wichita State Shockers during the first half of the game at Ford Center on February 16, 2014 in Evansville, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
EVANSVILLE, IN – FEBRUARY 16: Evansville Purple Aces fans cheer against the Wichita State Shockers during the first half of the game at Ford Center on February 16, 2014 in Evansville, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

7) Evansville Purple Aces

Year one for head coach Walter McCarty was a rough one for the Purple Aces.  They finished 11-21 overall and 5-13 in Missouri Valley Conference play including losing eight of nine games to close the season.

They lose a trio of key pieces in Marty Hill, Shea Feehan, and Dainius Chatkevicius but there is reason to believe Evansville is trending positively moving into next season.

They return leading scorer K.J Riley who averaged 13.6 points per game as well as a pair of valuable contributors in John Hall and Noah Frederking.  Those three provide a solid nucleus for McCarty to build around.

Evansville will supplement that group with a pair of transfers that they hope to get big contributions from right away.  Sam Cunliffe is a 6’6 wing who brings much needed experience from Kansas.  He will be joined by Artur Labinowicz who averaged 10.8 points per game in ’17-18 at Coastal Carolina.