Game 22- Ball State

[clarkwgriswold]

The Cardinals of Ball State come in to the JAR Tuesday night to face the Zips.  Going into Buffalo today the Cards stand at 9-11, 3-5 in the MAC.

 

Jermahri Hill, a 6’5” junior guard, leads the Cardinals at 16.2 ppg, while also contributing 5 rpg.  6’10” senior center Payton Sparks is back with the Cardinals after his venture at Indiana and is second in scoring at 12.1 ppg while leading the team in rebounds at 7.8 rpg.   Sparks doesn’t see to have developed much since his outstanding freshman season when he was MAC Freshman of the Year and averaged 13.5 ppg and 8.5 rpg.  He is still one of the top MAC big men and will be a challenge for Okonkwo and Lyles.
 

[clarkwgriswold]

Mike Lewis started off with a bang at Ball State two years ago, winning 20 games in his first season and I thought he was building them into a contender but since they're essentially .500.

[Blue & Gold]

5 hours ago, clarkwgriswold said:

Mike Lewis started off with a bang at Ball State two years ago, winning 20 games in his first season and I thought he was building them into a contender but since they're essentially .500.

I thought the same. Have you been watching closely enough to hypothesize his problem? Why hasn't he been able to gain traction?

[clarkwgriswold]

8 minutes ago, Blue & Gold said:

I thought the same. Have you been watching closely enough to hypothesize his problem? Why hasn't he been able to gain traction?

 

I believe he's had a problem with turnover and not replenishing to extent he's lost.  

[Let'sGoZips94]

21 minutes ago, Blue & Gold said:

I thought the same. Have you been watching closely enough to hypothesize his problem? Why hasn't he been able to gain traction?

 

I believe a wise man recently (loosely) said, "The Zips are like the Dodgers and Yankees. They're preventing everyone in the MAC from having success with all their resources and power."

[clarkwgriswold]

2 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

I believe a wise very surly and fuchsia faced man recently (loosely) said, "The Zips are like the Dodgers and Yankees. They're preventing everyone in the MAC from having success with all their resources and power."

 

I fixed it for you.

[Let'sGoZips94]

1 hour ago, clarkwgriswold said:

 

I fixed it for you.

 

"Surly and fuchsia faced" could apply to Sendy and/or Mike Lewis. 

[clarkwgriswold]

Sparks has been on a little bit of a tear, averaging 23 points and 15.5 rebounds in his last 2 games.

[Reslife4Life]

He was MAC POY last week

[The Hip Zip]

Yeah, Sparks is solid and Pearson is a nice piece as well. I honestly can't figure out why they're not better than they are. We need to be careful with this one. Ball State has a legit inside presence that other MAC teams lack. It's a natural letdown spot as well after playing so well at Kent. 

 

I'll take the 14' points here but won't be sad if we drill them a new one.

[clarkwgriswold]

The line is now down to 13 with an under/over of 156.5.

[Let'sGoZips94]

Amazing new intro video tonight.

[NWAkron]

43 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

The line is now down to 13 with an under/over of 156.5.

uh oh.  fear and loathing at the JAR.  I still see 13.5.  CMU was up then down now back up again

[clarkwgriswold]

I do like how the Ball State staff dresses old style in suits.

[zipsrule]

Can we stop fouling on three point attempts?

[UAZippers]

Gray has had a rough night early

[AkronAlumnus]

Good game so far!!

[AkronAlumnus]

Sparks and Hill are really good by MAC standards 

[LZIp]

Feels like first or one of the rare times we see MMK and Lyles or MMK and Okonkwo on the floor at the same time. Would be nice if this were a lineup we could go to if needed.

[zipinnc]

MMK!

Edited February 5, 2025 by zipinnc

[Illini Zip]

We have a battle on our hands. 

[Let'sGoZips94]

Just about everything went Balls' way that half, and we're still up by 2. I like our chances of pulling away in the second half. 

[Reslife4Life]

That end of half play out of the timeout was weird, we really drew up a Gray pull up 3 from the top of the key?

[clarkwgriswold]

Just now, Reslife4Life said:

That end of half play out of the timeout was weird, we really drew up a Gray pull up 3 from the top of the key?

Groce have him what looked like a " what in the hell was that?" on the way out.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Marvin brings energy! Need a little more of him in the second half.