Earlier this week, there was a lot of talk surrounding the men's basketball team and it's starting five. Would junior guard Chris Williams sit out the start in an effort to bring some fire to the Cardinals' slow starts? Or would another change take place?
Neither scenario happened and Ball State picked up its sixth-straight win Wednesday night, 74-61. The familiar lineup of Williams, Petie Jackson, Matt McCollom, Lonnie Jones and Theron Smith took the floor and jumped out to an early 12-4 lead.
"I wasn't really concerned with (a lineup change)," Williams said. "Coach and I talked. He wasn't going to change the lineup. He just wanted me to be more active out there. He believes that when I decided to play hard and play defense the team goes with me."
Williams caught fire late in the first half, scoring on four-straight shots - three of which were from behind the three-point line. He finished with a team-high 19 points.
"I don't think I felt that I had something to prove, but I play a part in our success and I don't want to let my teammates down," Williams said.
Head coach Tim Buckley said not making a change in the lineup was his decision and that talks of a switch was not a mind-game with his junior captain.
"I don't play games," he said. "I say what I mean. I felt Chris was one of the guys we were going to take a look at. Starters have to get you off to a great start. We were taking a look at every phase of the program.
"Chris and I sat down and had a talk; we had a great conversation about what we felt he needed to do to become a better player. I took his input as well. I thought he showed a lot of that tonight; I was really proud of them."
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