Former Ball State coach and recently hospitalized Rick Majerus called it "Nut-Cuttin' Time."
Current boss Tim Buckley has downplayed it some, terming it more a time for "a sense of urgency."
Either way, the men's basketball team is rolling towards crunch time in the Mid-American Conference. With a 6-5 league record (9-10 overall), the Cardinals are not likely to catch tonight's opponent, Western Michigan, in the West Division. However, the Cards still have a chance to grab the third bye into the MAC Tournament Quarterfinals. That spot goes to the top second place, and BSU trails Toledo by 2 1/2 games for it.
After tonight's contest, four of Ball State's remaining six league contests will be on the road, where the Cardinals are 1-8 this season.
On the surface, it may seem a death march. But the four road trips are to schools with sub-.500 MAC records. The best of the remaining bunch, Miami, has to visit Worthen Arena still.
Also, remember that Ball State's four MAC road defeats have come by a total of 14 points, including just seven against division leaders. In three of the losses -- against Western, Toledo and Ohio -- they made second-half comebacks of eight or more points in the final minutes before falling.
"A lot of teams you see get into that and never come out of it," Buckley said. "We've been consistent in our approach to get back into games. I always think when we play the right way; we have a chance to win every game we play."
After his team pulled out an overtime victory over Ball State on Saturday, Ohio coach Tim O'Shea said he almost felt sorry for Buckley, given his team's bad breaks away from home.
"They've played much better on the road than we have," he said.
Come MAC Tournament time, those breaks could go BSU's way, especially on a neutral court.
That "right way" Buckley speaks of is something he's seen from this team more than any other in his four-year tenure. It includes dedication to defense (MAC-best 30.9 percent against 3-pointers) and a balanced offense (the team's top six scorers average between 12.9 and 7.1 points). More rebounding would help, as the Cards are second to last in MAC in that category, and that's where senior forwards Cameron Echols and Robert Owens need to be strong leaders.
Junior guards and captains Matt McCollom and Dennis Trammell have been strong leaders, though, and point guard Peyton Stovall is one of the conference's premier freshmen.
As Buckley hinted, Ball State is capable of beating any team in the MAC.
Hopefully fans will realize this and continue to support the Cards. Hopefully the BSU students will give Western a rude reminder of the atmosphere its student section, "The Zoo," creates.
Ball State still has plenty to play for, is quite capable of playing for it and could use support as it rolls into crunch time.T
Mike Genet is a junior journalism major and writes 'From the Cheap Seats' for the Daily News. His views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper.
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
