With starting point guard Duane "Boo" Gibson expected to miss the rest of November with a knee injury, the University of Evansville men's basketball team will rely on junior Jaylon Brown to start the season.
A quasi-starter a year ago, Brown is prepared for the increased workload. He'll serve as the primary ballhandler and point man on defense when the Aces welcome Southeast Missouri State (0-1) to the Ford Center at 2 p.m. Sunday.
"It's unfortunate Boo is out," Brown said. "Me and him kind of had a little tandem type of thing where we'd help each other out, but he still helps me out even though he's hurt.
"I just got to play confident and continue to play my game and do what coach asks. I think we should be fine."
Brown and Gibson both played about 19 minutes per game last year, with Brown drawing 13 starts compared to 23 for Gibson. The two players had nearly identical statistics in the major categories, so the Aces shouldn't see much drop-off.
Brown could see more minutes, and the Aces will also use senior D.J. Balentine and freshman Harris Brown at point guard.
"J.B.'s got a lot of experience and he's done a good job in the preseason," UE coach Marty Simmons said. "We're confident that he'll do a great job."
Southeast Missouri State opened its season with an 84-53 loss Friday at Dayton. The Redhawks finished 13-17 last season and 7-9 in the Ohio Valley Conference. They return two starters in 6-foot-6 wing Antonius Cleveland (10.8 points per game last season) and 6-4 guard Isiah Jones (9.8).
"They've got great team speed; they've got good athleticism," Simmons said. "They've got a lot of guys who can step out and shoot it, who can put it on the floor and drive it. Defensively, they'll pick you up full court."
After a 95-65 exhibition win over Wabash College on Nov. 7, the Aces made interior defense and rebounding points of emphasis. Junior center David Howard said the team's big men arrived 30 minutes early each day to practice this week for defensive drills.
"There's not a day that goes by where we don't emphasize interior defense and rebounding, but we were able to show the video and maybe make an even more concentrated effort," Simmons said.
Even with Gibson sidelined, the Aces open the 2015-16 campaign with a glut of experience. Led by two all-conference players ? Balentine and center Egidijus Mockevicius ? the Aces return their top seven scorers from a 24-12 team.
"Obviously, we're very excited to get the season started," Howard said. "We've got high expectations."
Said Jaylon Brown: "Now that we know it counts, everybody has to be ready to play."
A quasi-starter a year ago, Brown is prepared for the increased workload. He'll serve as the primary ballhandler and point man on defense when the Aces welcome Southeast Missouri State (0-1) to the Ford Center at 2 p.m. Sunday.
"It's unfortunate Boo is out," Brown said. "Me and him kind of had a little tandem type of thing where we'd help each other out, but he still helps me out even though he's hurt.
"I just got to play confident and continue to play my game and do what coach asks. I think we should be fine."
Brown and Gibson both played about 19 minutes per game last year, with Brown drawing 13 starts compared to 23 for Gibson. The two players had nearly identical statistics in the major categories, so the Aces shouldn't see much drop-off.
Brown could see more minutes, and the Aces will also use senior D.J. Balentine and freshman Harris Brown at point guard.
"J.B.'s got a lot of experience and he's done a good job in the preseason," UE coach Marty Simmons said. "We're confident that he'll do a great job."
Southeast Missouri State opened its season with an 84-53 loss Friday at Dayton. The Redhawks finished 13-17 last season and 7-9 in the Ohio Valley Conference. They return two starters in 6-foot-6 wing Antonius Cleveland (10.8 points per game last season) and 6-4 guard Isiah Jones (9.8).
"They've got great team speed; they've got good athleticism," Simmons said. "They've got a lot of guys who can step out and shoot it, who can put it on the floor and drive it. Defensively, they'll pick you up full court."
After a 95-65 exhibition win over Wabash College on Nov. 7, the Aces made interior defense and rebounding points of emphasis. Junior center David Howard said the team's big men arrived 30 minutes early each day to practice this week for defensive drills.
"There's not a day that goes by where we don't emphasize interior defense and rebounding, but we were able to show the video and maybe make an even more concentrated effort," Simmons said.
Even with Gibson sidelined, the Aces open the 2015-16 campaign with a glut of experience. Led by two all-conference players ? Balentine and center Egidijus Mockevicius ? the Aces return their top seven scorers from a 24-12 team.
"Obviously, we're very excited to get the season started," Howard said. "We've got high expectations."
Said Jaylon Brown: "Now that we know it counts, everybody has to be ready to play."
