Game 15- Ball State

[clarkwgriswold]

Dang, how are we already at the 15th game of the season?!

 

The Zips head to Muncie, Indiana Tuesday to play the Ball State Cardinals.  The Cards are 8-5 heading into a game against Central Michigan, a likely win.  The Cards had a very soft OOC schedule.

 

Ball State was picked to finished eighth in the preseason Mid-American Conference coaches' poll, four spots lower than its fourth-seed placement in the MC tournament. The Cards had a rough off-season, losing former All-MAC athletes Payton Sparks, Jarron Coleman and Jaylin Sellers who transferred to larger programs after the Cards rebounded under Michael Lewis to 20 wins last year.  Between that exodus and graduations, the Cards returned only 6 players and one player with any starting experience (Pearson). Five of the new Cardinals are true freshmen.  One of the returners, 6’9 junior forward Bashid Jihad leads the team in scoring (18.7 ppg ) and rebounding (7.3 rpg).  6’3” junior guard Jalin Anderson,  a Loyola Marymount transfer, kicks in 15.8 ppg and 4.5 rpg.  6’8” junior forward Mickey Pearson averages 11.8 ppg and 4.6 rpg.

In a 13 point loss in Brimfield last week, the Cards started :
Bashir- 6’9”
Bailey- 6’4”
Anderson- 6’3”
Pearson- 6’8”
Hendriks- 6’10”
6’7” freshman forward Mason Jones also played 30+ minutes. 

 

I had a chance to watch a little of their game against PCCC last week and was surprised that with their size they now primarily run a five-out, fast-paced offense that focuses on ball movement on the perimeter rather than trying to establish a post game.
 

[csims0917]

Geez they lost a lot of talent. Really respected them last year. Gotta get revenge for the Muncie lost from last year when we didn’t have X. Should be fun!

[clarkwgriswold]

Today's history lesson:

The location of today's Ball State University had its start in 1899 as a private university called the Eastern Indiana Normal School.   Was there are Eastern Indiana Abnormal School?

In the early 1900's,  the close relationship between the Ball Brothers, local industrialists (Ball jars) and philanthropists, and the school led to an unofficial moniker "Ball State." a shorthand alternative to its longer, official name.  Through many transitions it eventually became Ball State University. Ball State University enrolls approximately 21,500 students.  Prominent alum include David Letterman and Jason Whitlock.

[NWAkron]

Watched the end of their game against the Chippewas.  Four turnovers (ball stolen) in final four possessions.  Two of those turnovers they had chance to tie or win.  The last two they didn't care.

[clarkwgriswold]

Some points from the BSU Game preview:

* Last season, both teams won on their home court, with Ball State prevailing 70-63 on Jan. 6 before Akron claimed an 87-83 decision on Feb. 28 in Northern Ohio.

* Jihad leads the Cardinals in scoring (18.5 points per game) and rebounding (7.4) averages. The junior forward out of Detroit has led the Cardinals in scoring eight games so far, scoring in double-figures 13 times, including six games with 20+ points. The big man's total points (259) and scoring average both rank fourth in the Mid-American Conference, while his rebounding average is fifth.

* The Cardinals are a young group, as the roster includes only one senior or graduate student (Ethan Brittain-Watts). Ball State returns only 21.5 percent of minutes played and 19.6 percent of points scored from last year's team.

* Jihad was named the Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Co-Player of the Week on both Dec. 4 and Dec. 11.

[LoyalZIP]

I've watched the Cards a couple times. I caught a half of their slog of a win over winless Detroit, and the first half of their MAC opener at Kent last Tuesday. The wonderful folks over at Over The Pylon have hit the nail on the head. They are a rather boring team without much of an identity. Lewis was going to have a hard time replacing the lost talent from last year, and it looks as though he has failed to do so in any significant way. With that said, Groce has had a hard time getting over the hump in Muncie. He's 2-3 at Worthen since getting to Akron, 2 of those Ls coming in the first 2 years (Ivey game). The 2022 win over there was a prime example of how the Zips had it rolling down the stretch that year. Road games are hardly ever easy, as even last week the Zips couldn't find the net for the first bit of that game. 

[clarkwgriswold]

1 hour ago, LoyalZIP said:

I've watched the Cards a couple times. I caught a half of their slog of a win over winless Detroit, and the first half of their MAC opener at Kent last Tuesday. The wonderful folks over at Over The Pylon have hit the nail on the head. They are a rather boring team without much of an identity. Lewis was going to have a hard time replacing the lost talent from last year, and it looks as though he has failed to do so in any significant way. With that said, Groce has had a hard time getting over the hump in Muncie. He's 2-3 at Worthen since getting to Akron, 2 of those Ls coming in the first 2 years (Ivey game). The 2022 win over there was a prime example of how the Zips had it rolling down the stretch that year. Road games are hardly ever easy, as even last week the Zips couldn't find the net for the first bit of that game. 

 

Jihad's development has really helped.  He was merely a bit player last year, averaging 7.1 ppg and 3.6 rpg.  This year he's up to 18.5 ppg (4th in the MAC) and 7.4 rpg (5th in the MAC). 

 

As a team, they are 8th in offense and 3rd in defense (behind the Zips and BG).  

[clarkwgriswold]

Lots of Ball State optimism over at Over the Pylon, including referring to their own team as a "dog turd" in Akron's path.  LOL.

 

https://overthepylon.boards.net/thread/5411/akron-game-tuesday-january-2023

[Blue & Gold]

I hate that "another chance to get better today." It strikes me as so Tom Arth-ish; "Here to develop."  No Tom, we're here to kick ass.  I just hope that tonight we "get better" all over BSU's ass.

[csims0917]

Idk if I’ve ever seen a forum that down bad in the MAC 😭

[kreed5120]

1 hour ago, csims0917 said:

Idk if I’ve ever seen a forum that down bad in the MAC 😭

You must not have ever ventured to the Zips football section in November 

[Reslife4Life]

4 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

You must not have ever ventured to the Zips football section in November 

The Miami and BG threads were pretty rough lol

[clarkwgriswold]

Out of curiosity, I just checked on Payton Sparks.  He's averaging 9 minutes a game at Indiana.

[Illini Zip]

1 hour ago, clarkwgriswold said:

Out of curiosity, I just checked on Payton Sparks.  He's averaging 9 minutes a game at Indiana.

 

Do I dare mention that the Zips have a higher NET ranking than Indiana too? Ha!!

[zipsrule]

Tribble with a 3.

[zipsrule]

Ball State already with 5 turnovers.  Need to capitalize on them.

[LZIp]

Thornton is playing some nice D.

 

but we still can’t hit free throws 

[LoyalZIP]

Flat

[zipsrule]

Not shooting the ball well.

[1981 grad]

We started the game without getting the ball to Freeman and that means a slow start.  Ball State hitting the 3 pointers.  They are very sloppy with the ball.

[LZIp]

Jihad is a baller..for some reason I don’t remember him from last year. Too bad Ball St needs him so bad, just picked up his 3rd foul with 9:20 left in the first half.

[clarkwgriswold]

3 minutes ago, LZIp said:

Jihad is a baller..for some reason I don’t remember him from last year. Too bad Ball St needs him so bad, just picked up his 3rd foul with 9:20 left in the first half.

He was easy to forget, averaging only 7 a game.  Man, did he improve in a year.

[LZIp]

Refs are letting BS get away with a lot 

[LoyalZIP]

Rob Kueneman and John Floyd. KD’s least favorite and Groce’s least favorite officials. Color me surprised at what we’re seeing. 

[Let'sGoZips94]

4 minutes ago, LZIp said:

Refs are letting BS get away with a lot 

 

Ridiculous officiating, but this is the MAC. Garbage.

 

Tribble 's ball-handling is noticeably better this year. 

 

Dawson has put together a few nice games here.