Last year the women's basketball team was nearly perfect at home, winning 13 in a row before falling to Valparaiso in the second round of the National Invitational Tournament.
Saturday Ball State hopes to keep its perfect home record (2-0) intact as it plays host to Ohio in a doubleheader with the men's basketball team.
"The MAC is a lot different than it was last year," head coach Tracy Roller said. "We didn't have the target on our backs, but now we have to come ready to play every game.
"We're really excited," she said of the doubleheader. "I think that some of the guys' fans who have seen that we have gotten off to a good start will come out and notice that we are pretty good and worth watching."
Ohio has struggled thus far, as the loss of its top two players, Lori Moorman and Cathy Szall, has the Bobcats (4-10, 0-3 Mid-American Conference) struggling to find a true identity on offense. Nonetheless, Roller said Ohio is still talented and provides more than enough firepower to do damage.
"They're really athletic top to bottom," Roller said. "They are led by an extremely talented point guard and (Tamara) Bowie is really going to have her work cut out for her inside. (Ohio) is not afraid to get in there and be physical."
The Cardinals (9-4, 3-0) are coming off of a win at Central Michigan. However Roller said the team cannot afford to have another letdown like the team had on offense against the Chippewas, when it turned the ball over 25 times.
"It makes me nervous because Ohio is prone to cause more turnovers," Roller said. "I'm worried, but I also know that when our kids have mental breakdowns, it's just that, and I just don't expect anything like that to happen again."
One thing Roller is most intent on seeing go right is the team's defense. The Cards struggled to stop the Chippewas' outside shooting, giving up more than 70 points for the eighth time this season.
"We had trouble guarding against dribble penetration against Central, and Ohio is more athletic than they are," Roller said. "But our kids are more focused and determined than I have ever seen them. They are really driven, and I know they will come out ready to play."
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