Throughout the season all the talk regarding Ball Stat Basketball has been in regards to the team's chances at an NCAA Tournament bid. Tonight Ball State will start it's quest to earn a spot in the "big dance" by winning a Mid-American Conference Tournament crown.
To do so, the Cardinals must get by some regular season foes, first of which has been one of Ball State's biggest problem teams in recent history, Miami (Ohio).
No. 2 seed Ball State will face No. 7 seed Miami tonight at 7 in Gund Arena in Cleveland in the Cardinals first game of the tournament. Ball State sat out the first round after earning a bye.
According to Ball State coach Tim Buckley the fact that Miami is Ball State's first opponent isn't that much of a concern compared to if it were some other team.
"We thought anybody we would get would be a tough draw," Buckley said. "Anytime you play in a one and done environment it's going to be difficult."
Buckley did say that Miami is a tough team, especially when it comes to tournament play. According to Buckley it's Miami's control of the game's tempo that makes the RedHawks a tough opponent. Buckley said that his team will focus on not only setting the tempo, but playing tough defense.
"You got to go in there and play tough hard nose defense," Buckley said. "Some teams like to play keep it close to the vest, but we would like to get up and down and play. We don't want to change how we play."
There is one aspect of tonight's game that Buckley mentioned that Ball State may have over some of the other teams - shooting in a big arena. Gund Arena plays home to the Cleveland Cavaliers, thus containing more seating than any arena in the MAC. Worthen Arena however, is one of the biggest arena's in the MAC. With that in mind, Buckley mentioned that his team usually shoots the ball well in the Gund.
As he did against Miami when the two teams faced off on Feb. 23, Buckley said his starting lineup will depend on which players matchup best with Miami.
One player Ball State experimented with in the team's last meeting was playing Robert Owens on the wing. Buckley said that he foresees Owens doing the same tonight.
One question that has remained lately with the Cards lineup is Lonnie Jones. Jones sat out the final regular season game of the year for Ball State due to a knee injury. According to Buckley however, Jones will be read to play come tip-off time tonight.
Regardless of the lineup, Buckley said the team is going into tonight's game feeling good about the season.
"It's been a great feel they are really excited about it," Buckley said. "We talked Monday about smelling the roses a little bit. We are really proud of what we have done.
"They are times that things can seem negative but we have had a great year," he said. "It's my job and the coaches job to be critical but at the same time we are very proud."
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