Plenty of new faces dot USI Men’s Basketball roster, this summer

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) – It’s the middle of June, so you might not be thinking about hoops, but for college basketball teams, this is really the beginning, of a long preseason process. For the USI men’s squad, it’s a very important time.

Stan Gouard’s Eagles have eleven new faces on the team, and only seven returning players. That means it’s critical, that they use every bit of available time allowed by the NCAA, to gel as a team, and figure out where each player fits in, and what roles they will fill.

This is the third week for their summer workouts, and we spoke with assistant coach Doug Novsek, about what he expects from the returning veterans.

“It doesn’t really matter what level you’re at — anticipate having at least six or seven new guys every year. It’s not something anybody really likes, but that’s the way it is right now,” said USI basketball assistant coach, Doug Novsek. “You gotta keep a core of guys back at least every year. We like the guys that we return this year, and they’re helping our new guys a lot. Jack Mielke is a guy who’s in here all the time. He’s a great voice for us. Jack Campion’s had a good spring, and so far a good summer as well. We’re leaning on those guys to help us with these younger guys, new guys, in terms of how we do things with our pace and how we do things, and right now, it’s been pretty good.” We also had a chance to catch up with some of the Eagle players, who say they’re taking advantage of the time, without a normal class schedule, to really get to know all their new teammates.

“We got a good group of locker room guys that came back, but yeah we’re doing our best we can to welcome the new guys and try to get on the same page. Just playing off of each other and kinda just feeling each other’s game and seeing how we can play off each other,” said USI junior guard, Jack Campion. “We’ve been in the locker room, goofing off a lot, a lot of hanging out off the court a lot. Just getting to know each other in these past three weeks has been huge. Doing whatever we can to kinda go out to eat with the guys, try to get to know each other.” “Coaches are just huge on that, just our team chemistry, our togetherness that it needs to be there if we’re going to be successful. We can have all the dudes we want, but if we don’t play as a team, we’re not going to be any good,” said USI freshman and Ev. Christian grad, Josiah Dunham. “The guys are bigger, faster, the skill level is higher, but we’re still out here with a ball, trying to put it in the basket. We don’t want to take away from the simplicity of the game, but obviously you have to adjust.” USI basketball’s summer workouts continue off an on, until the school year begins.

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