Next up: Ball State

BGSU33 · Post by **BGSU33** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 12:50 am

Strangely, our next game against Ball State is a very similar situation as to what we faced against EMU. Ball State features a MAC POTY candidate in Skip Mills who has just been lighting it up on the court. He’s a tough match-up and can shoot the three or beat you off the dribble. I watched him in the Ball State/Ohio game on TV and he was torching OU and kept the Cardinals in it. What’s most surprising to me about Ball State is, the Cardinals have lost seven consecutive games! Wow. They are also winless in the MAC at 0-5 while standing 4-9 overall. They are only 2-4 at home with both wins coming against non D-I schools (Oakland City & Anderson), but their last three losses at home came to three very good teams in Indiana, Akron and Miami. The Akron and Miami defeats were both four-point losses, so obviously they were in it till the end. Another thing that stood out to me is, Ball State has some serious size with five players who stand 6-9 or taller! Again, we’re going to have to battle like heck to get a road win in Muncie, but on paper, this is one we can certainly win if we play our game. Let’s not give Ball State its first MAC win or allow them to end their seven-game losing streak against us! GO BG!!!

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 11:03 am

If we can steal another one on the road.....

Like Coach D said, "When we play hard, good things happen".

And look what's coming up after Ball State. Buffalo, Akron and Ohio at AA with road games at Kent State and Miami. OUCH. We gotta beat Ball State and keep Big Mo rolling cuz that's about as tough a stretch as I've ever seen in MAC play.

GO BG!~Beat the Cards!

BGSU33 · Post by **BGSU33** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 3:01 pm

Falconfreak90 wrote:And look what's coming up after Ball State. Buffalo, Akron and Ohio at AA with road games at Kent State and Miami. OUCH. We gotta beat Ball State and keep Big Mo rolling cuz that's about as tough a stretch as I've ever seen in MAC play.

No doubt. I know we talk every year about how tough the conference can be. But this year, despite not having the marquee-named players we've had over the last decade, we probably have some of the best competition and most talented teams we've seen in awhile in the MAC. I believe this year in hoops could be a preview of what it will be like in football next year too. Not as many indivdual stars, but lots of balance and competiveness.

PhalconFan · Post by **PhalconFan** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 6:17 pm

I too have seen Ball State this year and you are all correct. They are big and Skip is real good. The one player that worries me is Acker. He is real real quick. Floyd will not be able to stay with him and if Robinson gets into foul trouble Coach will have his hands full.
Any news on Guerin? Mono is hard to get over let alone playing basketball!!!
He might be able to stay with Acker.

BleedOrange · Post by **BleedOrange** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 6:34 pm

I'm a little nervous about Ball State. They are like a dog backed into a corner.

BGSU33 · Post by **BGSU33** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 10:04 pm

BleedOrange wrote:I'm a little nervous about Ball State. They are like a dog backed into a corner.

Exactly. Even in a down year, Ball State always plays you tough and they are hard to beat at home. Funny enough, come to think of it, that sort of describes BG too, you know? We've had some very good years, but even the years we aren't as good, we usually put up a good fight and play hard, like this year's team. I won't be able to make it this game, but I do like Ball State's arena. I think it's the nicest basketball facility in the MAC.

orangeandbrown · Post by **orangeandbrown** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 11:26 pm

I remember when we beat Miami in the "Cole Magner" game. Charlie Coles said that you just don't want to play a team on a long losing streak on their home floor.