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Post by Big D on Nov 23, 2005 22:08:36 GMT -5
#89 Ball State Cardinals Mid-American Conference By Joel Welser Ball State was a couple last-second losses away from winning the MAC West in 2004-2005. Instead, the Cardinals ended 10-8 in the conference, lost in their first game of the MAC Tournament and failed to make a post season tournament. Who’s Out: The absence of the number two and three scorers will hurt. Dennis Trammell averaged nearly 16 points and the offensive rebounding machine, Terrance Chapman, averaged 14.1 points per contest and tacked on a team high 9.4 rebounds. The guard trio of Matt McCollom, Michael Bennett and Jesse McClung were solid options off the bench but will not be returning to Muncie. Who’s In: Coach Tim Buckley’s thin bench contributed to the late season slide last year. A whole slew of newcomers should put an end to that problem. Guards Maurice Acker, Jalon Perryman and Christopher Ames will need to be ready to see a lot of minutes along side of returnees Peyton Stovall and Darren Yates. Acker, a 5-8 point guard, could be starting by the end of the year so Stovall can move over to the two. Perryman averaged 19.1 points, 8.2 rebounds and 5.5 assists last year at Rogers High School in Detroit. Ames could end up making the biggest impact this season. The 6-3, 200 pound bruiser played at Southeastern Illinois last year and his experience, toughness and versatility will earn him some quality minutes. Junior college transfer D’Andre Peyton can run the floor very well and is a solid defender. The 6-7 small forward needs to work on his jumper, but he’ll see some playing time at both forward spots. Pat Nelson, a 6-10 230 pound center, is a hardworking big man who has plenty of potential. Landon Adler and Anthony Newell, who both redshirted a year ago, have some experience with the team and will be looked upon to provide a spark off the bench. It is difficult to call Charles Bass a newcomer since he’s been at Ball State for a year and a half. The 6-9, 215 pound forward sat out for a year after transferring from Ohio State and when he was eligible after the first semester last year, he was sidelined with an injury. Expected to be healthy, Bass will compete for a starting job at the five spot. Who to Watch: All of Muncie held their breath when Peyton Stovall went down during the opening round MAC Tournament game at Bowling Green. The 6-1 guard could only hobble back to the bench with an injured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Stovall is well on his way to a full recovery and will be ready to once again lead the Cardinals. As a sophomore last year he averaged 16.7 points, ranking fifth overall in the MAC. The Lafayette, Indiana native also added 3.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.6 steals per contest. If Stovall struggles, so will Ball State. Projected Conference Rank: Four players averaged double digits last year and two of them are gone. After that group, nobody averaged more than four points per game. Beyond Peyton Stovall and Skip Mills, the starting jobs are up for grabs. Center Anthony Kent came on strong at the end of the year and Darren Yates has some experience. The Cardinals may start off with Kent and Bass in the starting five, but eventually a three guard lineup is more likely. The only problem is Tim Buckley will have to wait until he has three guards that are ready to start. At least there are options and that will help Ball State finish 4th overall in the MAC and earn a trip to the NIT. Projected Post-season Tournament: NIT Projected Starting Five: Peyton Stovall, Junior, Guard, 16.7 points per game Darren Yates, Junior, Guard, 3.9 points per game Skip Mills, Junior, Forward, 11.9 points per game Charles Bass, Junior, Forward, DNP last season Anthony Kent, Senior, Center, 2.7 points per game www.collegehoopsnet.com/preview/2005/89.htm |
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Post by wsu97 on Nov 23, 2005 22:12:20 GMT -5
Ball State (15–13, 10–8) The success of the Ball State basketball team rests squarely on the health of junior point guard Peyton Stovall. He suffered a knee injury during the MAC Tournament, but coach Tim Buckley is optimistic about Stovall’s return to form. If Stovall is 100 percent healthy, the Cardinals will likely be in contention not only for the MAC West Division title but also the outright league crown. Stovall averaged 16.7 points per game last season and can dominate the game while making his teammates better. He averaged a respectable 3.5 assists last year, but Buckley says Stovall still needs to work on finding the open man. However, if Stovall is not healthy, all is not lost for the Cardinals. Junior Skip Mills returns after averaging 11.9 points per game last year. His athleticism can cause trouble for other perimeter players in the league. Freshman Maurice Acker might have to see extended time at point guard if Stovall is not healthy. Buckley is also excited about 6-4 guard Jalon Perryman and the athleticism and skill he brings to the program. A wild card for the Cardinals is 6-9 junior post player Charles Bass, who is finally eligible after transferring from Ohio State. sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/ncaa/specials/preview/2005/teams/others/mac.html |
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Post by wsu97 on Nov 23, 2005 22:14:02 GMT -5
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Post by wsu97 on Nov 23, 2005 22:17:24 GMT -5
Men's Basketball Travels To Wright State SaturdaySCOUTING BALL STATE Ball State opened its 2005-06 season with a 78-72 homecourt win over Oakland City last Saturday . . . Junior Julien "Skip" Mills posted his first career double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds in the win, while fellow junior and 2005 Mid-American Conference preseason pick Peyton Stovall added 16 points . . . Junior Charles Bass poured in 11 points and grabbed seven boards for the Cardinals. SCOUTING WRIGHT STATE Wright State is 0-1 after opening its season on the road with an 86-80 setback Nov. 19 at Belmont . . . Junior DaShaun Wood scored a team-high 29 points in the loss, while junior Drew Burleson had 14 points . . . The Raiders were 15-15 last season and tied for fourth in the Horizon League with an 8-8 record . . . WSU returns four starters and six letterwinners. THE ALL-TIME SERIES WITH WRIGHT STATE Ball State and Wright State will be meeting for just the sixth time in school history Saturday . . . The Cardinals lead the all-time series 4-1, with the only setback coming at the Ervin J. Nutter Center in a 64-50 decision Dec. 6, 2003 . . . BSU is 1-1 at the Nutter Center and 3-0 at Worthen Arena against the Raiders. THE LAST TIME WITH WRIGHT STATE -- BSU 61, WSU 54 Peyton Stovall scored a game-high 22 points as Ball State defeated Wright State 61-54 last season in Muncie . . . Terrance Chapman had 11 points and Dennis Trammell scored eight points for BSU . . . Anthony Kent chipped in eight points . . . WSU's DaShaun Wood scored 20 points for the Raiders. FAMILIAR FACE Wright State assistant coach John Fitzpatrick is in his first season at WSU . . . He was an assistant at Ball State with Tim Buckley from 1996-98. BALL STATE POSTS 17TH SEASON OPENING WIN IN 21 SEASONS With last Saturday's 78-72 win, the Cardinals have won 17 of their last 21 season-opening contests, including four of their last five season openers . . . Ball State owns an all-time record of 49-36 in season openers . . . Ball State is 37-8 all-time when its first game of the season is played in Muncie, including 8-1 in the Worthen Arena in season openers. SKIP MILLS MAKES IT A DOUBLE Julien "Skip" Mills scored a team-high 19 points plus grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds in Ball State's 78-72 win Nov. 19 over Oakland City . . . The double-double was the first of his collegiate career . . . The double-figure scoring effort was the 22nd of his Ball State career, however he had managed a high of nine rebounds on three occasions prior to his 13 boards last Saturday. JUNIORS ON THE BOARDS Ball State posted a 41-27 rebounding advantage against Oakland City, including 18 offensive rebounds . . . The 18 offensive rebounds were the most since BSU pulled in 20 against Toledo last season . . . Junior Julien Skip Mills (13), junior Charles Bass (7), junior Chris Ames (6) and junior D'Andre Peyton (6) combined for 32 of the 41 boards. MORE ABOUT THE CARDINALS The Cardinals welcome the return of three starters, five letterwinners and seven newcomers to the 2005-06 season . . . Peyton Stovall returns as Ball State's and the Mid-American Conference's top scorer this season . . . Stovall averaged 16.7 points per game last year and scored in double figures in 25 of BSU's 28 games . . . Julien "Skip" Mills averaged 11.9 points per game and reached double figures 19 times in 2004-05. PEYTON STOVALL NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-MAC FIRST TEAM Peyton Stovall was named to the All-Mid-American Conference Preseason Team for the West Division, as selected by the MAC News Media Association . . .The preseason honor is the first for a Ball State player since Theron Smith was selected to the preseason team in 2002. MORE ON THE PRESEASON PREDICTIONS Ball State was picked to finish second in the Mid-American Conference's West Division . . . The preseason poll was conducted and voted on by members of the MAC News Media Association . . . The Cardinals, also picked second in last year's preseason poll, captured four votes as favorites to win the MAC Tournament . . . Toledo recorded 135 points — including one vote to win the postseason tournament — to BSU's 127 points . . . Western Michigan (114), Northern Illinois (97), Eastern Michigan (54) and Central Michigan (40) rounded out the preseason order in the West . . . In the league's East Division, Ohio earned 153 points and 14 votes to win the MAC Tournament, followed by Akron's 120 points . . . Miami and Kent State each recorded 85 votes to tie for third, while Buffalo (79) and Bowling Green (45) completed the preseason picks in the East. THE HOMECOURT -- WELCOME TO "THE NEST" Ball State, which led the Mid-American Conference in home attendance last season, opened the new year with a crowd of 5,238 on hand for Saturday's season opener against Oakland City . . . Included in the attendance was nearly 1,200 Ball State students in the newly-formed student section called "The Nest" . . . The National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators named "The Nest" as its 2004-05 Gold Winner for Best Student Promotion in the Nation . . . The Cardinals finished 11-3 at home in 2004-05. 85 YEARS OF BASKETBALL, 1,000-PLUS WINS, 690 HOMECOURT WINS Ball State is in its 85th season of basketball in 2005-06 and owns 690 homecourt wins . . . The Cardinals are 690-279 (.713) all-time in Muncie . . . Overall, the Cardinals own an all-time basketball record of 1,041-899. MORE ON THE MAC'S BEST HOMECOURT; RANKS 36TH IN NATION According to RPIRatings.com, Ball State's .806 winning percentage in Worthen Arena is the toughest homecourt in the Mid-American Conference for opponents to play . . . The Cardinals all-time homecourt record of 158-38 in Worthen Arena ranks as the 36th best homecourt in the nation. AND WHILE WE'RE ON RANKINGS ... CARDS #23 IN MID MAJOR POLL Ball State is ranked 23rd in the first SPIKE TV/Collegeinsider.com Mid Major Top 25 Poll released Nov. 1 . . . The next poll is scheduled for Nov. 28. EXHIBITION GAME NOTES Chris Ames scored a game-high 16 points to lead four Cardinals in double figures in BSU's 66-43 exhibition victory over Saginaw Valley State . . . Ames matched freshman Pat Nelson with a team-best five rebounds . . . Julien "Skip" Mills poured in 15 points, Charles Bass added 12 points and four blocks, while D'Andre Peyton chipped in 11 points, including a 7-of-10 effort from the free throw line. DEFENSE LEADS TO STEALS Ball State recorded nine steals Nov. 19 against Oakland City and 13 steals in the exhibition contest against Saginaw Valley State . . . Although statistics are not official from exhibition contests, the 13 steals were the most from a Ball State team since the Cardinals recorded 13 against Anderson Dec. 10, 2003 . . .The Cardinals only reached double-figure steals totals twice in 28 games last season -- 11 vs. Bowling Green (1/18/05) and 11 vs. Northern Illinois (1/29/05). www.ballstatesports.com/article/0,1382,37932-6-team,00.html
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Post by wsu97 on Nov 23, 2005 22:21:45 GMT -5
BSU basketball working to iron out 'issues' By DOUG ZALESKI dzaleski@muncie.gannett.com MUNCIE -- Ball State basketball coach Tim Buckley believes the issues some of his players are trying to overcome early in the season are short-term problems. The Cardinals began the season in rocky fashion last Saturday, needing to rally in the closing minutes to beat Oakland City University 78-72. Ball State's play on the court was out of sync most of the game, and leading scorer Skip Mills suggested after the victory that he and his teammates need to focus harder to adapt to the system that is being put into place on and off the court. "I don't think it's so much frustration, but it's a little confusing for some," Cardinals junior guard Peyton Stovall said. "They're real new to some of these situations. Your first Division I basketball game is a lot different than practice. "We have to get a better understanding and just listen to the coaches." Buckley is trying to mesh eight players who are in their first seasons with the Cardinals, including three true freshman, with five returning players. The process has been slow. "At first, it's difficult (for young players) to understand time and punctuality," Buckley said. "I think we're starting to get more acclimated with it. "On the floor, if you go off on your own, the other four guys don't know what you're doing. That's not who we are or who we're going to be." Buckley said freshmen have new obstacles that they've never experienced before. For example, he noted, Maurice Acker and Jalon Perryman were high school standouts who now must learn to play as backups. "They're in different roles, and ones they love, but it's different for them," Buckley said. "We have to find different ways to help them get ready when it's their time to contribute." Buckley put redshirt freshman Anthony Newell on indefinite suspension last week for what was termed "conduct detrimental to the team." Newell did not play against Oakland City. His status for Saturday night's game at Wright State is up for review. "He's going to practice (this week), and we'll see how he carries himself," Buckley said. "If it's like a champion, he'll be back in uniform on Saturday www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051123/SPORTS/511230307/1006 |
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Post by Big D on Nov 25, 2005 21:17:56 GMT -5
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Post by Big D on Nov 26, 2005 8:40:25 GMT -5
Raiders encouraged by improved defenseBy Marc Katz Dayton Daily News FAIRBORN | Wright State may be entering its third game of the season tonight with an 0-2 record, but Raiders coach Paul Biancardi liked the way his team improved in at least one area between Games 1 and 2. "When you get on the floor and don't score, it's hard to keep defending," Biancardi said after WSU's 64-53 loss at Toledo on Wednesday night. "Yet we were defending. We just needed to make shots. Our defense and rebounding improved drastically." WSU held Toledo to 37.3 percent shooting — and that included the Rockets making six of their last seven shots in the final 6:11. What hurt the Raiders most was their own shooting — just 34.6 percent, including a putrid 8-for-27 (29.6 percent) in the first half when Toledo took a 28-21 lead. How cold were the Raiders? Even as they were holding Toledo to no baskets in the first 8:55 of the second half, they chipped only one point off the Rockets' lead. "We've got shooters," junior co-captain and starting forward Drew Burleson said. "(The Rockets) played good defense." Then Burleson, who shot 47 percent last year and was 5-for-9 against Belmont in this season's opener, repeated what Biancardi often tells his team. "The coach always says you can't rely on your offense," said Burleson, who made three-of-nine shots against Toledo. "You have to play defense." Defense manifested itself in other ways, too. The Raiders outrebounded the Rockets 44-33, with sophomore forward Jordan Pleiman pulling down 10, and still the Raiders could not win. Some of the problem came from 22 WSU turnovers, yet that was only six more than Toledo. The Rockets also blocked six of Wright State's shots. "We made the right plays, we just couldn't make the shots," said sophomore Everett Spencer, who made four of his eight shots at Toledo. "The new guys are still trying to find their niche. Nobody has this game mastered." Wright State lost its opener at Belmont in Nashville, Tenn., 86-80. Now, finally, it's time to play a home game. Ball State, which beat the Raiders 61-54 in Muncie, Ind., last year, lost at Wright State 64-50 two years ago. That Dec. 6, 2003, game was WSU's first victory of the season after three losses. "I'm so excited to go home," Biancardi said. "I'm excited to be in the Nutter Center." Contact Marc Katz at 225-2157 www.daytondailynews.com/sports/content/sports/wsu/daily/1126wsubb.html
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Post by Big D on Nov 26, 2005 8:43:06 GMT -5
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Post by Big D on Nov 26, 2005 10:36:41 GMT -5
BSU forward feels like he belongsBy DOUG ZALESKI dzaleski@muncie.gannett.com DAYTON, Ohio -- Anthony Kent's production in the final seven games of the 2004-05 basketball season wasn't off the charts. But they were noteworthy. Kent spent most of last season trying to overcome a confidence level that he admits was low. After being a non-contributor most of the season, something finally clicked in mid-February. Kent made 12-of-22 field goals while averaging 5.0 points and 4.8 rebounds in Ball State's final seven games last year. He played in 20 games before that, and scored two or fewer points 15 times and had two or fewer rebounds 16 times. "Where I came from, I was never one of the better players in high school (at Whetstone in Columbus, Ohio), and I wasn't sure how I compared to other players in college," Kent said of the uncertainty he felt last season. "Now I feel like I belong." Two games last year demonstrated his potential. His breakout performance came at Bowling Green on Feb. 16, when he had then-season highs of nine points and six rebounds. In the season finale, also at Bowling Green, Kent had a season-high 12 points on 4-for-5 shooting and five rebounds. "Coach Buckley kept hammering the mental game into my mind, and I had to believe in myself," Kent said. "At times, I didn't take it to heart like I should have. The (first game) at Bowling Green, it just clicked. The game slowed down, and I was more confident." Kent appears to have some confidence early this season. He had four rebounds in an exhibition game against Saginaw Valley State. In the Cardinals' season-opener last Saturday against Oakland City University, Kent had nine points and five rebounds in 17 minutes. He made all three of his field-goal attempts and 3-of-4 free throws. "He has confidence in his shot," Cardinals guard Peyton Stovall said. "If he misses a shot, he goes on to the next shot, and that's important. He just decided to get better." Ball State coach Tim Buckley said Kent wasn't ready for the high expectations that were placed on him early last season. The coach sees a different player this season. "Last year, he was just out there playing," Buckley said. "This year, he can help us win." The Cardinals (1-0) will play their first road game of the season at 7 p.m. today when they play at Wright State (0-2). The Raiders lost 64-53 on Wednesday at Mid-American Conference West Division favorite Toledo. Contact sports writer Doug Zaleski at 213-5813. www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051126/SPORTS/511260323/1006
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Post by Halo on Nov 26, 2005 11:12:33 GMT -5
My pick....
Ball State 82
Wright State 81
and after the game all the rednecks come on the floor for a crazy party!!!!!!!
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Post by Halo on Nov 26, 2005 21:04:44 GMT -5
Party canceled..........WSU rednecks are not in mood after that big loss.....\
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Post by PapaRaider on Nov 26, 2005 22:34:22 GMT -5
I have experienced many Wright State lows over the years, however it feels pretty horrible right now. I know it's not as bad as it seems, but amid so many expectations, everything about our season so far sounds really negative just about now.
Will it get better? Although I have no confidence in this group at this point, I am sure it will correct itself. I was going to list a few positives from this game and couldn't find anything.
If any coach playing against Wright State would even consider playing anything but zone a defense, it will show immediately they don't do their homework. I can't imagine that Wright State did not even attempt to practice on what to do against a zone defense in 6 weeks of practice. Well, that's what it looks like right now. The only time we had any continuity on offense when in the first half DaShaun scrapped the "passing around with no purpose" offense and took his defenders off the dribble on three straight possessions earning 6 free throws. Ball State countered with zone defense and never looked back.
Jordan was in foul trouble all game, and Walter Chancellor looks so, so unimpressive. Why would a Division I team recruit a junior college guy who was never a scorer or rebounder as one of our primary big guys? He tries hard, but looks overwhelmed both offensively and defensively. Actually, Parysh had some good plays tonight, but as soon as he felt confident going to the basket, he promptly got blocked by one of the long armed Ball State defenders. Three 6'5" power forwards (in our case centers) is not what a Division I team with any aspirations can afford.
I asked coach B at Halloween Hoops who is going to score this year (particularly having Zakee's departure in mind) and he said that they will find the way. Raiders fans showed that they can be patient as much as any (maybe only Bengals fans can rival in patience, but at least Bengals fans are getting their fix this year).
Please don't make any excuses related to the youth of this team. It is not any younger than most of the teams we play. We have juniors (DaShaun, Drew) who played more minutes in their careers than most seniors. We have sophmores (Everett, Jordan), who accumulated enough experience. William Graham is the only freshman, who plays significant minutes and he is a red-shirt freshman. This team does not look young - it just does not look very good.
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Post by wsu97 on Nov 26, 2005 23:29:31 GMT -5
No one seems to be playing with any heart whatsoever. The only thing I can think of is that everyone has come to the conclussion that they are playing for a lame duck coach. Even our coaches seemed to give up tonight.
It is a hard time to be a Raider fan right now.
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Post by Big D on Nov 26, 2005 23:39:42 GMT -5
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Post by Dayton Daily News on Nov 27, 2005 9:16:13 GMT -5
www.daytondailynews.com/sports/content/sports/wsu/daily/1127wsubb.htmlBall State blasts WSU in home opener, 71-50 By Marc Katz Dayton Daily News FAIRBORN | — In two games, they have become the gang that couldn't shoot straight, AKA the Wright State Raiders, who turned what could have been a boisterous crowd into a hushed assembly Saturday night at the Nutter Center. Even without shooting well, the Raiders managed a three-point lead over Ball State with less than five minutes to go in the first half, then went on an expedition to find the basket and almost never did. Ball State dominated the rest of the half and the rest of the game on the way to a 71-50 victory in front of a crowd that filled about half the 10,000-seat Nutter Center for WSU's first home game. "We did a bad job," WSU junior co-captain Drew Burleson said. "When one thing went wrong, things began snowballing." Ball State trailed 24-21 with 4:39 to go in the first half, then ran off 11 of the half's final 12 points as the Raiders shot just 28 percent. It was the best shooting they'd have for the evening. In the second half, Ball State sensed the problem and went to a zone defense that befuddled the Raiders into just 24.5 percent shooting, including a 1-for-6 start as the Cardinals began pulling away. "Once they went to the zone, we kind of staggered around," WSU's other co-captian, DaShaun Wood, said. "We passed around the zone instead of attacked it." The Raiders also had a poor shooting night in their previous game, at Toledo. "Our offense is a big problem right now," WSU coach Paul Biancardi said. "We struggled the last two games with turnovers and shooting percentage. But let's give Ball State some credit, too." Ball State coach Tim Buckley said he knew something about poor shooting, since some of his teams have gone through it. "They'll get things figured out," Buckley said. "There seems to be a confidence-level problem right now." Burleson and Wood were the only Raiders in double figures, but Burleson's 13 points came on 3-of-9 shooting and Wood's xx on 2-of-13. Wright State made nearly twice as many free throws (23) as field goals (12). While the Raiders couldn't find a way to score, Ball State found plenty of ways, with four starters in double figures led by Julien Mills' 19 points. For the game, the Cardinals shot 50 percent and beat the Raiders for the second straight year. Two years ago, WSU beat Ball State at the Nutter Center to break an 0-3 start. It won't get easier for the Raiders, who travel to Miami on Wednesday to meet their third straight Mid-American Conference team. This is the second time in three years and the third time since 2000 the Raiders have started 0-3. • Raiders Notes: Starting guard Reinaldo Smith limped off the court late in the game with a sprained ankle. He left the arena in a splint and will have the ankle checked today. Ball State's Peyton Stovall went down with 1:59 to go, clutching his left knee, the same knee he had repaired after suffering an ACL tear in the MAC tournament last spring. It is not known if he tore the ligaments again. Contact Marc Katz at 225-2157.
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