If ever there were a time when Ball State would be playing an opponent much like itself, perhaps Thursday night's game between Ohio and the Cardinals would be just that.
Ball State and Ohio's comparisons however, come mostly in the way of preseason hopes and expectations, most of which have drifted into the horizon.
Prior to the season's opening tip, Ohio, like Ball State, was looked at by many as a team that would play exceptionally well this season. Ball State was picked to win the Mid-American Conference West Division and Ohio was the team picked to win the East Division.
Since those preseason nods, both squads have stumbled.
Ohio heads into tonight's game in Worthen Arena with a Mid-American Conference record of 3-5 and an overall record of 6-10.
"I also thought Ohio was a team that could contend for it," Ball State coach Tim Buckley said. "I also think the way things shake out, they could be the team hoisting the trophy in Cleveland because I think they still have the talent to do that."
Ball State's record mirrors that of Ohio standing at 3-6 in the MAC and 8-11 overall.
"Things happen during the course of the season," Buckley said. "Even in life things don't always go the way you want them to. You have to try to be adaptable to change. For us, this is a big game for us because it's our next game."
Tonight's game will be the beginning of a three game home stand for Ball State. After Ohio, the Cards are scheduled to face Miami and then Kent State in the coming week. If the Cardinals win all three games, it will mark the first time Ball State has been able to tally a .500 record since beginning conference play in January.
Before the season began, this game had more advertisement value than just holding the top two teams of the MAC. The marquee was supposed to name the top two players as well.
Ohio plays home to Brandon Hunter who ranks third in the MAC, just below Ball State's Chris Williams, in scoring.
Up against Hunter was supposed to be Ball State's Theron Smith, the player picked at the beginning of the season to win MAC Player of the Year. And much like the two team's preseason expectations, this matchup has also fallen by the wayside. Smith has since applied for medical red shirt due to a knee injury and will watch Hunter from the sidelines.
Ohio however, still has Hunter.
The senior leads Ohio with almost 22 points a game
"You have to keep him from trying to get deep post touches and scoring the ball down low," Buckley said.
Aside from his scoring, it is on the backboards where Hunter is putting up the nation's top rebounding numbers. Hunter averages 13 boards a game, an average that places him as the leading rebounder in both the nation and the MAC.
Hunter also leads the nation for the largest number of rebounds in a single contest, 26 against Akron on Jan. 8. He is also tied for the second most in the nation with 24 rebounds against St. Bonaventure on Dec. 31.
"He's a vacuum," Buckley said of Hunter's rebounding ability. "He's a guy who can go get the ball. He's taller than what he is actually listed as because he has great length and reach. He's a guy that can control the game on the backboards."
Hunter heads into Thursday night's game as the Co-MAC East Player of the week after averaging 30 points and 15 rebounds in the Bobcats last two contests. The MAC has recognized him two other times this season, on Jan. 5 and Jan. 12.
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