The Purple Aces are searching for offensive answers after Blaise Beauchamp's departure

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Saying the University of Evansville men's basketball team has struggled offensively would be an understatement. Since the win on opening night, the Purple Aces have not consistently scored or found ways to the basket, resulting in one of the lowest-rated offenses nationally.

According to the KenPom efficiency ratings, UE's offense ranks in the following metrics:

• Effective field-goal percentage: 41.5% (No. 356 of 363 Division I programs)

• 3-point shooting: 25.9% (No. 354)

• 2-point shooting: 42.9% (No. 339)

• Free-throw shooting: 63.8% (No. 315)

• Adjusted efficiency: 89.8 (No. 356)

Last game: 3 reasons Evansville men's basketball lost to Northern Iowa, falling to 0-2 in MVC play

The Aces' struggles were on display in their first two Missouri Valley Conference games last week, a pair of losses to Southern Illinois and Northern Iowa. Although the contest against the Salukis was never competitive, UE trimmed an 18-point halftime deficit to six Saturday against the Panthers before cooling off.

UE practiced at Ford Center on Tuesday ahead of its game against Campbell to get some extra shots in there instead of the on-campus practice facility. Coach David Ragland, Marvin Coleman II, Gage Bobe and Kenny Strawbridge Jr. discussed how they can improve.

"We have to put four-minute games together," Ragland said. "The ability is there, it's just the consistency we have to get to next."

He added the Aces are "getting quality shots" with open looks, but they aren't dropping. Ball movement also has improved since Ragland took over for former coach Todd Lickliter as UE is playing at a faster pace.

Despite that, the Aces have struggled to put everything together. UE has scored 65 or more points three times — the win over Miami and the losses to Saint Louis and South Alabama — while notching fewer than 60 in four consecutive games.

"We tell some of the individuals, 'We can't have more confidence in you than you do yourself,'" Ragland said. "We believe in the whole group, and it's a matter of when it all comes together."

Here's what the Aces had to say:

• Coleman: "I think we just have to run our schemes a little bit better. As conference play starts and you get later in the season, teams just know what you're going to do, so we just have to cut harder. We have good players, our coaching staff, they do a good job of getting us prepared. ... I think we just gotta cut harder, move with more pace and trust our shots. Not second guessing, just shoot the ball. If we miss, the next one's going in."

• Strawbridge: "I feel like we get the good looks, it just comes down to knocking the shots down. ... We still got the same focus: Attack, get in the paint, knock down open shots. Just take what the defense gives us."

• Bobe: "We're getting good looks. ... Our coaches have confidence in us, we have confidence in ourselves and we're working on making shots."

Most of the offense revolves around Strawbridge, who averages nearly 17 points. When Strawbridge isn't scoring, Coleman said that's when the Aces get into droughts.

How Blaise Beauchamp's departure affects the program

UE announced Friday junior guard Blaise Beauchamp had left the program. The third-leading scorer on the team, Beauchamp told the Courier & Press of his intention to enter the transfer portal.

"The staff is a great group of guys and I appreciate all the time and effort they have put into me and the program thus far," Beauchamp wrote in a text message. "Some things just don’t work out or align with everyone’s vision, but I love the guys and wish nothing but the best for everyone involved in the program."

The announcement came the night before the Aces played UNI. They had already landed from their flight to Cedar Falls.

"Change is hard, it's hard for everyone. Blaise is a good person, good player, hard worker," Ragland said. "A lot of people don't understand (that) we're all creatures of habit and we like consistency. When it's been very inconsistent for young people for such a long time, that could change your perspective on things.

"We encourage him, we support him. We look forward to what he's gonna do moving forward, he's gonna be successful. Unfortunately, it's not gonna be here."

Beauchamp's departure leaves UE with a hole in both on-court time and scoring. Beauchamp had played 45% of available minutes, per KenPom.

That also could allow for players like Chris Moncrief — Ragland said he's played his way into the regular rotation — Logan McIntire or Zaveion Chism-Okoh to earn more action. Ragland said whether that happens is "TBD, but they will be ready." He added the Aces will replace Beauchamp's production "by committee."

"Between a 14-man roster, we'll solve it," he said. "We'll figure it out, we'll stay ready and just be better every day."

Now a scholarship spot should open for the Aces. Ragland did not rule out searching for a mid-season transfer to fill that role. If UE decides to look to the portal for a replacement, its options are currently slim. Verbal Commits has noted just four guards in the portal since the season began: Incarnate Word's Charlie Yoder, Georgetown's Dante Harris, Illinois-Chicago's Shaun Williams and Howard's Deven Richmond.

"We'll see (if we pursue a mid-season transfer)," Ragland said. "We want to support each and every one of our student-athletes, right now we're supporting Blaise. He signed a scholarship and we're gonna see it through until he's no longer on campus. Just want to take care of and support him first and then we'll look to move forward after that."

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Evansville men's basketball: Purple Aces seek offensive answers