Ball State is not looking ahead in the Mid-American Conference tournament. After entering the MAC as a second seed, the Cardinals all but knew they would have to face third-seeded Northern Illinois, whom they squeaked by with a 4-3 victory earlier in the year. Coach Bill Richards is expecting the same kind of match today.
"I think it will be a very tough match, and I'm not just saying that," he said. "Northern Illinois is a very good team, they've only lost five matches all year. It was a very tough match-up there, and I'm sure they're going to be ready.
"There is no possible way we can overlook Northern Illinois, or we won't be playing on Saturday, I can tell you that."
Winning the MAC Championship carries a lot of pride, and big reward. The champion will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.
"Anytime you're playing for a spot in the NCAA tournament, no one is more motivated than the other team. It's more of who handles the pressure the best," Richards said.
Unlike the regular season matches, tournament matches are only played to four points.
"I think that, while playing to four doesn't change the outcome of the match, I do think playing to four changes they dynamics," Richards said. "I think there's an attitude of, 'Where are the points going to come from?' It is far better to go into singles up 1-0 than going in down 0-1."
The Cardinals have always had success in the team tournament, which has been around since 1997. The Cardinals have never lost a tournament when they didn't win the regular season. The Cardinals have also been in
every championship match, win or lose, since the team format was instated.
Richards doesn't want to let overlooking Northern Illinois end that streak.
"We're just approaching tomorrow's match as if it's the championship, because if we don't, we won't get a chance to play for the championship," he said. "I think that's how we have to approach it, and hopefully my team buys into it."
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