Bears
Bears Dominated by Experience, Talent of BYU in Opener
Some bright spots in coach John Shulman’s first game but not enough against highly-regarded Big 12 team before big crowd
PROVO, Utah — A young but talented Central Arkansas got its feet wet against what could be a Top 25 team in the Brigham Young Cougars on Tuesday night in their season opener at the Marriott Center. The Bears found themselves in water up to their necks doing it, too.
The Cougars connected on 15 three-pointers and won the rebound battle 49-31 in taking an 88-50 victory over the Bears in front of a crowd of 16,941.
First-year coach John Shulman’s squad had several bright spots to build off, including 21 points from senior Elias Cato, one of just three scholarship players returning for the Bears. UCA played five freshmen and four sophomores, at times with four freshmen on the court at the same time. Nehemiah Turner, a 6-foot-10 center, pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds, while sophomore guard Brayden Fagbemi had a team-best 7 assists.
“We’ve got good players, but we’re new and we’re young,” said Shulman, who took over the program in March. “And to bring them into this environment, it’s not easy. But we’re better for it. One of the officials told me, you have a really good team, and we do have a really good team. I’m proud of our kids, and we just have to get better. We have a starting point.
“They (BYU) may have two Top 20 picks in the NBA draft next year. And then you’ve got 18,000 people in here going crazy. Really tough environment. But I’m glad we had a tough environment, I’m glad it was hard. You play a game early against somebody that is bad, you don’t get a realistic look of yourself. We got a really realistic look of ourselves tonight.”
The Bears hung close with the much taller Cougars for the first 10 minutes of the game, trailing just 16-14 at the second media time out of the game. But BYU began to find its range from beyond the arc, hitting seven threes before halftime to grab a 46-23 lead at the break.
BYU finished with four in double figures, led by 6-9 freshman guard Ego Demin with 18 points, including four three-pointers. The Cougars also forced UCA into 18 turnovers and scored 24 points off them.
“The deal was their length and their size,” said Shulman. “There were things open on the court but we can’t simulate that length in practice. There is stuff open on the court but you can’t see it. Give them credit, but I thought we made a boatload of mistakes. But we had four freshmen on the court at the same time in both halves.
“We gave up 20 offensive boards, and that’s absolutely unacceptable. We clean that up, and we can clean that up, and all of a sudden that chips away at what we’re doing.
“We’ve got some pieces, but it’s early. Can you imagine playing your first college game in here? That’s a lot to ask of these kids. And I thought we responded early, but then they went on a run. I’ve very rarely gotten beat 38 and felt good about it, and I don’t feel good about it. But I tell you what I do feel good about, I feel good about our team.
“We could have done some different things, but there weren’t a whole lot of people that would have beat BYU in here tonight.”
UCA continues its Utah road trip, taking on the Utah Utes on Thursday night in Salt Lake City.
Information from UCA Sports is included in this story.
Bears
Shulman brings a little Australia flavor to UCA’s lineup for inside game
Three-time gold medal captain of the U16-U18 Victorian national championship teams is second Australian to join Shulman’s lineup
CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas has added a second Australian student-athlete to the roster in guard Harrison Beauchamp, according to UCA coach John Shulman.
Beauchamp is a 6-foot-6 freshman guard from Victoria, Australia who most recently played at Marcelin College.
He is a current NBL1 player, was captain of the Australian U17 national team, was the 2024 FIBA World Cup group state Most Valuable Player (where he averaged 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals) and was captain of the Australian National Team that won gold in Qatar in 2023.
Beauchamp is a three-time gold medal captain of the U16-U18 Victorian national championship teams and was the Victoria Junior Basketballer of the Year in 2022 and 2024.
“Harry is a guy that we had heard a lot about this spring,” said Shulman. “He has had a ton of success during his prep years, both in high school and with his national team. Once we got to lay eyes on him it was apparent that his skill set fit the things that we value.
“His ability to shoot the basketball, combined with his high IQ quickly stuck out to us. After speaking with his coaches and hearing about his competitive edge and love for the game we knew we wanted Harry in our program. We are really excited about what he brings to the table for the Bears.”
Information from UCA Sports is included in this story.
Bears
UCA strengthens program with three key coaching staff additions
UCA basketball bolsters coaching ranks with experienced additions from top programs, focusing on player development and strength training
Central Arkansas basketball coach John Shulman has made some changes to his coaching staff with three additions.
Will Braden joins the Bears as an assistant coach after serving as director of player development at Fordham University, where he spent five impactful years in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
Braden’s appointment brings valuable expertise in player development, having worked closely with NBA skills coach Drew Hanlen, whose client list includes NBA stars Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum, and Tyrese Haliburton.
“Will’s experience in the Atlantic 10 and his background in player development make him an invaluable addition to our program,” said Shulman. “His work with Drew Hanlen has given him insights into elite-level skill development that will benefit our players immensely.”
The Bears are also welcoming Jake Frankiewicz as their new graduate assistant.
Frankiewicz brings a winning pedigree from his time at the University of Toledo, where he served as a student manager for a program that captured three consecutive Mid-American Conference championships.
His behind-the-scenes expertise in program operations and high-energy approach align perfectly with UCA’s culture of excellence.
Perhaps the most intriguing addition is Ivan Hadzic, who takes over as strength and conditioning coach for both men’s and women’s basketball programs.
A native of Sabac, Serbia, Hadzic’s journey through American basketball includes playing experience at Canisius University and Carson-Newman, followed by two seasons as a graduate assistant coach in strength and conditioning at Jacksonville University.
The timing of these staff additions is crucial for UCA, as the program aims to improve upon its 9-24 record from the 2024-25 season.
Shulman, who brings over two decades of coaching experience to Conway, has been methodically building his staff since taking the helm of the program.
His previous success includes multiple NCAA tournament appearances while at Chattanooga and an impressive track record of developing talent.
Hadzic’s expertise is particularly noteworthy, as he holds certifications from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Association (CSCCA), and USA Weightlifting (USAW).
His comprehensive approach to strength training, combined with his understanding of basketball from a player’s perspective, offers a unique advantage to UCA’s athlete development program.
“These additions represent a significant step forward for our program,” Shulman said. “Each brings a specific skill set that addresses our needs and aligns with our vision for UCA basketball. Will’s player development background, Jake’s operational expertise, and Ivan’s strength and conditioning knowledge create a perfect combination for our staff.”
The Bears play in the ASUN, which has seen increasingly competitive play in recent years. The conference’s level of play has risen significantly, with multiple teams making deep runs in postseason tournaments.
Bears
Australian standout Truman Byrne ‘big’ addition for Shulman’s roster
Size, experience with AUSA Basketball adds size, skill, and championship experience to Shulman’s second roster at UCA
CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas has made a big addition to their men’s basketball roster for the 2025-26 season, but they had to go down under to do it.
Bears coach John Shulman signing 6-foot-10 Australian forward Truman Byrne over the weekend, adding some much-needed size to the roster.
Hailing from Melbourne and a product of Berwick College, Byrne brings a rare combination of size, skill, and championship experience.
Byrne’s basketball résumé is impressive.
As a three-time high school national champion representing the state of Victoria, he averaged 16.5 points, 11 rebounds, and 3.5 assists during his senior year.
His versatility extends beyond the basketball court. He’s also a two-time medalist in golf and was selected for Australia’s NBL league at just 17.
“We have been very meticulous with this last forward spot and I am excited to say that after sifting through hundreds of prospects that Truman Byrne is exactly what we were looking for,” Shulman said
“Within the first 10 minutes of meeting Truman I knew he fit us perfectly when it came to his personality and character. It just so happens that he is a 6-10 solid-framed kid with a great deal of skill.”
Shulman highlighted Byrne’s shooting and passing abilities as key assets for the Bears’ offensive system.
“It’s a perfect fit for us in what we are going to do offensively,” Shulman said. “While Truman has all of the abilities that we are looking for, it is also very refreshing to know that he has really been coached.
“Coming out of the AUSA program we know that he has been taught how to play the game of basketball with high IQ and a competitive edge.”
Byrne’s recruitment reflects a growing trend of NCAA programs looking internationally for talent, especially from Australia, which has produced NBA and college standouts such as Ben Simmons and Josh Giddey.
The Australian basketball development system is known for its emphasis on fundamentals and team play, traits that Shulman and his staff value highly.
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