Falcon MBB Looks for Bounceback in Muncie

Losers of two straight and facing their first meaningful adversity of the season, BG's MBB team returns to action Tuesday against Ball State.  CMU will be at the Stroh on Saturday.

This is why conference play is so tough.  You lose in OT to Kent, you lose @UT and before you can blink an eye, you have some pressure on you.

Ball State was picked 8th in the MAC poll and 9th in Blue Ribbon.  That's pretty much where they are.  They came out of the gate 0-4, but @KS, CMU, UA and @UT, so four of the tougher teams in the MAC. Since then, they are 3-1...winning @EMU, @UB, NIU and losing at home to MU....so four of the lesser teams in the MAC.

We will see which team we get.  And which team we give.  We have been resilient to date.

The teams have split the last 10 meetings, but BSU has won the last four. BG's last win in Muncie was in 2021 (and in the series overall). Turner with 27, Metheny with 21. 

BG is playing at 70 possessions a game, BSU at 68.

BG is #4 in offense and Ball State is #6, while BS is #5 in offense and BG has slipped to #9 in defense.  That's largely influenced by allowing over 1.2 PPP to UT and KSU in a small sample size.  This is an opportunity against a good but not great offensive team to flex some muscle.

Ball State is #5 in shooting and BG is #10 defending the shot.  They take 40% from 3FG and make 37%, which is #3 in the MAC.  BG has been poor defending the 3FG, #10 in the MAC.  So that represents the first challenge. Both teams are average on 2FGs.

The Cards do turn the ball over, but BG doesn't force turnovers. They are not good at offensive rebounding and BG is excellent on the defensive boards.

They do get to the line....and they make 83% which is top in the MAC. They are 2nd in percentage of points from FTs and BG is 1st.

Shooting and turnovers are pretty even.  The key battle will be on the offensive boards, where BS is the top defensive rebounding team in the MAC and BG is 2nd in offensive rebounding.  BG does get to the line, but makes only 69.8% and will probably need more in this one

They are led by Basheer Jihad.  He's a 6'9" JR who made a huge jump this year.  He scored 7 PPG last year and is scoring 21.3 PPG this year, which is #3 in the MAC. He's shooting 47% from 2FG, which is OK, but 46% from 3FG.  He is 4th in rebounding with 8.6 per game. He also makes 82% of his FTs.  He's also 3rd in blocked shots.  He's playing really well.

Jalin Anderson is their 2nd leading scorer.  He's 6'3" Jalin Anderson, a transfer from Loyola-Marymount.  He's scoring 14.8 PPG, making 58% and 31%.  He leads the MAC in assists and steals and makes 82% of his FTs.  He has played 95% of their MAC minutes.

Davion Bailey is scoring 13.6 PPG, making 48% and 40% and 89% at the line. Mickey Pearson is scoring 10.9 PPG on at 47% and 30%, but is the MAC's leading FT shooter.  He is 28 out of 29.

They play a very short rotation.  They are 360th in the nation in bench minutes.