Despite the differences in personalities throughout the Mid-American Conference, it appears that one mode of thinking remains consistent with coaches and players -- within conference play, anybody can win anywhere.
It is with that same attitude that Ball State (5-7) will host Northern Illinois (5-8, 1-2 MAC) at 1 p.m. on Saturday to kick off a three-game homestand while trying to recover from losing its first two conference games.
Northern heads into the game as a team that Ball State coach Tim Buckley said reminds him of his own. On Wednesday the Huskies won their first conference game at Toledo, the same Toledo team that upset Michigan State earlier this season in East Lansing. Northern's win ended the Rockets' 13-game home win streak.
"They will come in here with some confidence after winning at Toledo," Buckley said. "They get a lot of inside-outside action. (Northern) is a team that is going to try to pound the ball inside. They have a very good point guard in (Jay) Bates."
Ball State, which has lost five in a row overall, will head into Saturday's game with the same mentality as always: play better.
"We always have a sense of urgency as far as playing better basketball," Buckley said. "I think with where we are right now, we have to play better. In the end, if that results in wins then that's what we will look at. And I think it will if we play better than we have over the past stretch."
By the numbers, Ball State should be able to handle Northern Illinois. The Huskies' leading scorer is junior P.J. Smith, who averages 11.9 points a game. The only other player averaging double figures in scoring for Northern is junior Marcus Smallwood with 11.6.
Heading up the Cardinals offensively is Chris Williams. He leads the MAC in scoring, averaging 24.4 points a contest, while Cameron Echols follows with 14.3 points per game.
Even with Williams' offensive explosions as of late, it continues to be inexperience that has plagued Ball State.
"We are asking guys who haven't played a lot of basketball to play at a high level for us," Buckley said. "And I think they are responding; I think they are getting better."
With the inexperience has come the need to continue to teach focus.
"(We need) to continue to get better, play with purpose, make the right decisions offensively and play as a team," Buckley said of the things he hopes for continued improvement in. "I think we are getting there but it's just taking some time."
And there may not be a more appropriate time to get some more minutes under the younger players' belts than this coming week.
Besides hosting Northern Illinois Saturday, the Cardinals will also host Western Michigan on Wednesday and Toledo on next Saturday.
"We have guys who are not as experienced as some of the older guys, so when you are at home it's a different place," Williams said of the home stand. "The comfort level is definitely higher. To get these three home games right now should be really good for us."
Buckley also explained that the home stand should be a time to get back into the swing of things, but cautiously.
"There is always a feeling of comfort at home, but at the same time, you have to play with intensity," he said. "This team has always responded well at home and I expect that again with this stretch."
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