What to expect ahead of the 2026-27 Southern Indiana men's basketball season

We are one week away from the start of another University of Southern Indiana men’s basketball season.The Screaming Eagles will begin their campaign at Belmont on November 2. Then, the home opener against Saint Mary-of-the-Woods on November 4.More: Unity is apparent for new-look Southern Indiana men's basketballThe much-anticipated game against Evansville (River City Classic) at the Ford Center follows on November 7. It will be the first meeting between the programs since an exhibition in 2019.“Everybody’s been asking about this game for years, especially since we made the jump to Division I,” USI coach Stan Gouard said. “It’ll be our chance as universities to bring two programs together within the same city. Hopefully we get good fan support at the game and try to redo this thing in the years to come.”Gouard said he will not get too high or low about it now; the focus will be on Belmont for now.A changed roster for USI@USI_Basketball roster has a strong international flavor.Gouard on what those seven players bring: pic.twitter.com/7MLrDi7zDs— Markos Tsegaye (@10_Markos_) October 16, 2026This is a USI roster that has experienced plenty of turnover. Just three players from last season’s team have returned, while 12 have transferred in.Among the returners is senior guard Kaden Brown. Brown made just 13 appearances for the Screaming Eagles last season before experiencing a season-ending injury. He averaged 11.1 points per game.Brown was listed as an Ohio Valley Conference preseason player to watch. Both are expected to play key roles for USI this season. He is a trusted figure for Gouard on-and-off the court — a reason why he was chosen to represent the program at OVC Basketball Media Day on October 16.“I’m proud of (Brown’s) comeback and resilience,” Gouard said. “He went through strenuous rehab to get himself back to where he’s at right now. Looks like the Kaden Brown of old, and we’re excited to have him back.”Brown found it important to return to USI, and takes a responsibility alongside fellow returners Josiah Dunham and Alem Fejzic to lead this group.“The fanbase has been really welcoming,” Brown said. “They love basketball here. We’re trying to lead by example.”Thanks to the returning trio, the acclimation period has gone well for the newcomers. It is a group that contains six international players from countries in Europe, Asia and Africa.“Kaden, Alem and Josiah have done a wonderful job of taking the pressure off the coaches to develop relationships that’s needed within the team,” Gouard said. “Guys are getting along at a high clip, and that’s just going to build a closer bond on the court.”Over the summer, Gouard said trust and accountability would be important to the team’s growth. At this point, it is heading in the right direction.Expectations for Ari Gooch@USI_Basketball return just three players from last year’s roster while bringing in 12 from the transfer portal.Here’s coach Stan Gouard on how the group has gelled to this point: pic.twitter.com/HZHLVvqH8o— Markos Tsegaye (@10_Markos_) October 16, 2026One newcomer spoken highly of is Alabama-Birmingham transfer Ari Gooch. Like Brown, the senior guard was also listed as a player to watch in the OVC. In their short time together, Brown said Gooch has brought leadership, smart playmaking and a willingness to hustle. “He can be our defensive stopper,” Gouard said. “He’s a great rebounder. The biggest thing for Ari is leading by example. He’s starting to utilize his voice better.While his defensive impact has been impressive, Gouard is looking for Gooch to handle the ball better to create offense for the Screaming Eagles.Still, this is a program that has not had a winning season since before its move to Division 1; 2021, to be exact. Last season, Gouard said a lack of camaraderie contributed to the 7-23 finish.That, among other things, has been stressed by the seventh-year coach in the lead up to the season opener. To what length has this program advanced?Time will tell.“If you look at the numbers in every area (last season), we were very low,” Gouard said. “We took a lot of bad shots, this year, we’ve been harping on taking great shots and sharing the basketball. On the defensive side, we have to shrink the court.”Markos Tsegaye is a sports reporter for the Courier & Press. He can be reached at mtsegaye@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @10_Markos_.This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: What to expect ahead of the 2026-27 Southern Indiana men's basketball season