Even when scoring lacks, a physical competitor takes the floor.
First-year head coach James Whitford has utilized the play of senior center Majok Majok in his new-look offense.
“Everybody is used to it,” Majok said. “It’s just a matter of us clicking together to get some wins going.”
Wins have been tough to find for Majok and the rest of the team. Ball State is currently sitting at 4-13 overall and 1-5 in the Mid-American Conference.
Lately, when Ball State has struggled to score from the perimeter, Majok also has struggled to put up points.
Against Miami, Ball State shot 33.3 percent and Majok scored 8 points. Against Western Michigan, Ball State made 30 percent of its shots. Majok again struggled, shooting 4-of-10 from the field.
The script was flipped against Buffalo, however. Majok scored 12 points in Ball State’s nearly 50 percent shooting effort despite being guarded by potential MAC Player of the Year Javon McCrea.
“[Strong outside shooting] helps me a lot because when you have great shooters, the defense isn’t as packed in the paint,” Majok said. “It works to my advantage.”
Before Thursday’s win against Buffalo, Majok failed to score double digits in two consecutive games. That was after a four-game stretch with point totals of 18, 25, 16 and 14 points.
“What [the other teams] are doing is making us beat them outside the paint,” Majok said. “All they’re doing is crowding the paint to try to take me away.”
Majok is a constant focus for opposing defenses, especially when Ball State isn’t making outside shots. Occasionally, the opposing center will front him, making passes more difficult for perimeter players.
Even if the pass successfully goes over the defender’s head and reaches Majok, multiple defenders will move toward him in an attempt to stop Majok’s scoring.
Majok said he is able to capitalize on transition plays because opposing defenses are unable to utilize double teams.
One new wrinkle to Whitford’s system is the offense’s increased tempo. When Ball State forces a turnover, the defense will focus on stopping the fast break instead of keying on Majok.
While Majok usually won’t get up the floor for the fast break, he can still catch the defense off guard by getting in position while the defense is setting up.
“When we are getting stops … and we run, they don’t really double as much,” he said.
He isn’t known as a particularly tall player, not even the tallest on the team. But Majok knows how to use his 6-foot-9, 220-pound frame to fight down low to get rebounds and score.
“There are 10 post players in the league as skilled as Majok,” Whitford said. “But there’s none as powerful. … Majok has to play like a power player.”
He has averaged 10.2 rebounds this season, up from his 9.8 rebounds per game last season. His average is currently best in the MAC, and no other player is in double digits.
“One of Majok’s key stats is rebounds,” Whitford said. “Not just because it’s good for our team, but it’s really a sign of how physical he’s playing.”
Ball State is tied for sixth in the MAC’s rebounding offense with 35.9 rebounds per game.
“He’s at his best when he’s catching the ball really close to the rim,” Whitford said. “It’s easy to get him the ball 12 feet out and have him dribble in. But that’s also what a lot of people will bait us into.”
Whitford said when Majok gets the ball too far away from the rim, it’s more likely for him to travel or turn the ball over.
Majok is tied for third in turnovers on Ball State with freshman Mark Alstork. Ball State turns the ball over more than any other MAC team, averaging 16.9 turnovers per game. The second-worst team, Bowling Green, averages 14.4 turnovers per game.
“What I can do [to get better] is catch it deep in the paint, so the other teams can’t double,” Majok said. “I can get a quick shot. It’s kind of hard, too, because when they crowd [the paint] it’s hard to get a pass inside.”
No matter where Majok is when he gets the ball, Whitford wants him to do what he’s done throughout his Ball State career — play physical.
“When he sets a ball screen, [Majok should] run to the rim and smash a guy,” he said.
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