Valentine Day Battle: Ball State Preview

I remember once BG played Miami at Anderson and BG was in the midst of a long losing streak.  This was the Cole Magner game.  Charlie Coles said that you didn't want to play a team on a long losing streak on the road because they will "do anything" to win.

BG travels to Muncie to play Ball State.  The Cardinals are in a bad, bad way.  After winning their first two MAC games, they have now lost 9 straight to sink to the bottom of the MAC.  They haven't had any major injuries, they are just in a really bad way.  Within the 9 games, there have not really been any real close calls, and four of the losses have been at home.

Ball State is an average offensive team.  They are 8th in offensive efficiency, with strong 3 point shooting but worst in the MAC turnovers.  They are average at offensive rebounds and 10th at getting to the line and 10th in FT%.  Given BG's success in holding teams below their offensive average, I'd like to think something similar could happen here.

Meanwhile, they are the 10th defensive team in the MAC.  They are 11th in opponent effective FG%, don't force many turnovers and are 10th in allowing free throws.  This is just a last place team with last place stats.

It is worth noting that Ball State is the youngest mean in the MAC and one of the 30 youngest teams in D1.  You'd expect that team to struggle.

BG played Ball State at the Stroh earlier this year.  The game was close until about 13 minutes left, when it was tied at 33.  From there BG went on a 10-0 to assert control and that led to a 25-13 run to put Ball State away.

College Basketball

Statistically, BG held Ball State .77 points per possession and scored .97.   BG did not shoot well that day at all, but Ball State was just as bad and also turned the ball over a little more.  The key to the game was free throws.  Ball State got to the line 13 times and made only 5 while BG got to the line 26 times and made 19.

NCAA Basketball Stats

Zack Denny double-doubled at 17 and 10.  Parker had 11.  Holmes had a rough 11 on 3 of 8 shooting and 7 rebounds.  Zavier Turner was the only double figure scorer for Ball State at 14 ponts.

That's the status.  BG needs to do what everyone else has done against Ball State...you just worry that this is when they bring it together enough to win.  No one loses forever.  They will be desperate to get a win and they are at home.  My guess is that if BG wins, this one will come with a pretty good struggle.