Fans received a taste of what the men's basketball teamwill look like this season at the Halloween HOOP-la on Fridaynight. The team takes to the court against Team Nike today in thefirst of two exhibitions games.
Head coach Tim Buckley said the primary goal for the team is towin the game.
"It's a chance to give our guys a real gamesituation," he said. "With the influx of new people wehave, six in our program, it's going to give them a chance toplay under a little bit of game pressure."
Two players new to Ball State are junior college transfersTerrance Chapman and Jesse McClung. Dennis Trammell enters theprogram after transferring from New Mexico State where he averagedfive points per game in his sophomore season.
Buckley said his young team needs to experience more gamecompetition to gain maturity.
"The more game competition we have, and the more settledinto rotations we get, maybe the more comfortable and confidentpeople will feel," Buckley said.
Team Nike enters tonight's fight already having played anexhibition game against Bradley on Friday, a game Team Nike lost104-78. Jermaine Brown, who played for Bradley three years ago, ledTeam Nike with 17 points.
Buckley said he wouldn't know the starting lineup untilgametime, but the team will be without center Kevin Cates due to amedical condition. Michael Bennett and Tom Howland are bothrecovering from knee surgery.
"We don't necessarily have an exact target date foreither one of them," Buckley said, referring to Bennett andHowland. "It's just a matter of how they continue toprogress, but at this point in time we haven't had anysetbacks with their progression."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
