Evansville basketball freshman Preston Phillips motivated by younger brother's struggles

EVANSVILLE — There’s a purple band wrapped around Preston Phillips’ right wrist to give him constant perspective.

It’s not for the University of Evansville men’s basketball team, though it fittingly matches his Purple Aces uniform. It’s a reminder of his younger brother Payton, who is Preston’s biggest fan and the same is true conversely.

If Preston needs a pep talk after a tough loss or if Payton needs a distraction from the pain he’s endured for much of his adolescence, they’re always encouraging each other.

“That’s my guy,” Preston said before a practice this week. “On and off the court, he doesn’t complain about anything and I try to apply that to everything I do. I don’t take anything for granted because I’ve seen what he’s struggled with and how he deals with it.”

Evansville basketball: The Aces dropped another close one Wednesday against Northern Iowa

Payton, 17, has Scheuermann’s disease, which affects the spine and creates a hunched back. Vertebrae change from a normal brick shape to a wedge. That forces the head and hips out over the body and adds significant pressure on the neck and lower back.

His condition has worsened as he’s matured. He hasn’t been to school in more than a year. His mother Julie joked that he’s a “little old man” because he’s so sore after activity and requires muscle rub and Epsom salt baths.

But watching college basketball has kept him going, especially with his 6-foot-8 brother playing as a freshman for UE.

Payton often says more about Preston's play than UE’s coaches.

“You guys are going to get better just like I’m going to get better,” Payton told Preston after the Loyola loss last Tuesday before adding, “but the second half of that game was worse than my back pain.”

Ah, brotherly love.

Payton supported the Aces from an ICU bed last week. He was glad there were three games to watch during his hospital stay – even if it took three people about a half-hour to prop him up in his bed each time.

He was recovering from surgery after having 12 vertebrae fused and two rods placed in his spine on Jan. 17. The Phillips family is optimistic it will allow Payton to return to school as a senior next year and potentially even play on the tennis team again.

“I have one kid who has so many gifts and everything comes super easy to him in all ways of life,” Julie said. “Then I have another kid where everything has been hard. He could be resentful of his brother, but he’s not. They have such a loving and strong bond.”

Preston has solidified his place in the rotation since Missouri Valley Conference play began. He’s made six consecutive starts and led the Aces in plus-minus the past two games, meaning they’ve been at their best when he’s on the floor to contribute.

He sank the game-deciding free throws during Sunday’s win over Illinois State.

“We’re right there,” Preston said. “Especially here at Ford Center, we’re tough to play against. We just need to take it one possession at a time and not take a play off, because when you do, that one play turns out to cost the game.”

UE coach Todd Lickliter understands how much his players juggle between classes, training, competing and everything else in their lives — all while navigating a pandemic, nonetheless.

“Competition has a way of making you have tunnel vision, and it can be a good thing,” he said. “It’s invigorating and satisfying, but when you add it on top of other circumstances, it can be difficult to manage. I try to be aware of that and not overburden them. I want them to play this game in the spirit they should.”

Preston’s play is motivating Payton to get healthy. He hopes to attend the Aces’ game at Valparaiso next week because it’s only about an hour from their home in Elkhart, Indiana.

Conversely, the wristband reminds Preston that whatever adversity he goes through is minimal to what his brother has endured. He wears it to raise awareness for the Scheuermann’s Disease Fund, which sent wristbands to both Phillips boys about a year ago.

“I haven’t taken it off since,” Phillips said. “It’s actually funny, I had another wristband on my wrist this summer but I lost it when I went tubing. This one didn’t fall off.

"It must be lucky, I guess.”

Chad Lindskog is the sports editor of the Courier & Press. You can contact him by email, clindskog@gannett.com, or on Twitter: @chadlindskog.

Halfway point

Next game: UE at Missouri State, 7 p.m. Saturday (ESPN+)

MVC standings:

Loyola 16-3 (7-1) — KenPom 29, NET 25

Drake 15-6 (6-2) — KenPom 96, NET 101

Missouri State 15-7 (6-3) — KenPom 51, NET 65

UNI 10-9 (6-3) — KenPom 108, NET 122

Bradley 11-10 (5-4) — KenPom 95, NET 104

Illinois State 10-11 (3-5) — KenPom 163, NET 187

SIU 10-11 (3-6) — KenPom 129, NET 144

Valparaiso 10-11 (3-6) — KenPom 197, NET 201

Indiana State 9-10 (2-5) — KenPom 164, NET 178

Evansville 5-14 (1-7) — KenPom 301, NET 317

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Evansville basketball: Preston Phillips motivated by younger brother