Ball State takes a short break from Mid-American Conference play when Detroit visits Worthen Arena for a Bracket Buster contest at 1 p.m.
ESPN's Bracket Buster is a set of games that pits mid-major schools against each other in an attempt to boost their profiles for the selection committee of the NCAA Tournament. The teams for the second-year event were selected before the season, but the matchups were decided a few weeks ago.
"I think the concept is really good," Ball State coach Tim Buckley said. "There's a lot of quality teams involved. It helps us ensure there's a good quality non-conference game."
If their current five-game winning streak is any indication, the Detroit Titans (14-10 overall, 8-6 Horizon League) will be a quality opponent. Perry Watson's team starts four seniors, which includes leading scorer Elijah Warren (11.6 points) and rebounder Willie Wallace (6-foot-7, 5.0 boards). Six players average at least eight points.
Senior forward Robert Owens feels the Titans will look familiar to him and his teammates.
"They play like everybody else in the conference," said Owens, "so it'll be a good game for us to get momentum and finish strong."
Momentum is exactly what the Cardinals (10-12, 7-7 MAC), who have lost six of their last eight, could use. With a bye to the MAC Quarterfinals next to impossible following Monday's 62-55 loss to Miami, the Cards are focused on securing a first-round game at home.
"If it's not a possibility for us to get directly to Cleveland, than we definitely want a home game," Owens said. "We don't want to go on the road."
Ball State is shooting 41.4 percent from the field and 34.8 from 3-point range, good for just 11th and 10th in the MAC, respectively. In their last eight games, the Cards' highest shooting percentage is just 44.4 percent. Despite all those struggles, Buckley remains confident in his team's ability.
"(The poor percentage) reflects on rushing our shots and hoping it goes in," he said. "We have good shooters; we're manufacturing good shots."
Ball State played Miami just two days after a trip to Northern Illinois, so having four days off should have the Cards "fresh and ready to go," according to Buckley.
"We had a tough stretch. With the extra break, I think we'll be better prepared," Owens added.
"I think we had positive energy," Buckley said of Monday's game. "But I think we had tired people, more tired mentally than physically.
"They've come to play every night, you can't dispute that. We just have to make what we call winning plays."
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