Early in the season, Ball State's men's basketball team struggled with consistency and reliability.
Appearing to be a different team from game to game, the Cardinals often found themselves searching for more than one offensive threat.
More often than not, it was senior Chris Williams who would lead Ball State to a win. And in some cases even that was not enough, as was the situation against Akron. Williams scored a school record 48 points and Ball State still lost to the Zips.
Now, with a renewed team confidence, or what Ball State coach Tim Buckley has called a "will to win," Williams is getting more help.
"Guys have really stepped up," Williams said. "I think you have to credit Matt (McCollom) because he was really the first guy to step up.
"Early in the year we couldn't count on other guys," Williams said. "We didn't know what guy or two guys were going to step up with me. As of late guys are doing a tremendous job stepping up."
Ball State, 12-11 overall and 7-6 in the Mid-American Conference, has won its last four games. In those contests, all but one have included four players in double digits in scoring. Against Miami on Feb. 9, it was three Cardinals in double figures. In fact, Ball State has not lost a game this season when having four players in double-digits, completing such numbers in five of its last seven wins.
"Guys have been spending extra time after practice just trying to work on their game and it's really helping," Williams said.
In Ball State's winning streak, Williams is averaging 27 points a game. However, it has been his teammates who have made the difference.
Matt McCollom is averaging 17 points in the same time frame, while juniors Cameron Echols and Robert Owens have averaged 15 and 12 points respectively.
"I am very pleased with the progress of our guys," Buckley said. "The majority of the credit goes to the guys because they have stayed on course and followed the plan."
Wednesday night, Ball State will more than likely need to continue having four players in double digits as the Cardinals travel to Central Michigan.
Not only are the Chippewas second in the MAC West Division with a 9-3 conference record, Central (OVERALL) has also won nine of its last 11 games.
Leading the Chippewas most of the season has been a player who's name has been found in MAC Player of the Year discussions lately -- junior center Chris Kaman.
Kaman is averaging nearly 21 points a contest, ranking him No. 3 in the MAC in scoring and No. 1 in the conference in field goal percentage as the 7-footer shoots 63 percent from the field.
"They have a guy that is a lottery pick, there is no question in my mind," Buckley said. "There aren't many 7-footers out there that can do what he can do. He can score, he can run, he can block shots and he knows how to play."
Kaman also grabs 11 rebounds a game. The Chippewas center will head into Wednesday's contest as the MAC West Player of the Week after averaging 33 points and 15 rebounds in Central's wins over Western Michigan and Toledo.
Buckley explained the types of problems a player like Kaman can present for his team in its second of three straight road games.
"If he gets the ball and he's single covered, he can score," Buckley explained. "If he gets the ball and you bring help then somebody else is open. If they catch you in rotation and a shot is taken then that gives them offensive rebounding possibilities. There are a wealth of problems that they present for you and there in lies the challenge," Buckley said.
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