Like it did three years ago in the Maui Invitational, Ball State's men's basketball team faces a perennial national powerhouse on a neutral court for its season opener. The Cardinals tangle with ninth-ranked Kentucky tonight at 7 p.m. in Cincinnati's U.S. Bank Arena.
In Maui, Ball State nipped No. 3 Kansas and stomped No. 4 UCLA before falling to No. 1 Duke in the championship. Last season, BSU opened with a home win over Xavier, who later advanced to the Elite Eight. Taking down the Wildcats, who opened their season Saturday with a 77-46 rout of Coppin State, will require an effort of similar proportion, head coach Tim Buckley said.
"Our guys know the tradition of Ball State basketball and the wins we've had before," he said. "Lots of times when you play teams like Kentucky, you're beat before you get off the bus. We won't let that happen with our guys."
Kentucky returns two starters from last year's SEC champion -- 6-foot-6 senior forward Chuck Hayes and 6-5 junior swingman Kelenna Azubuike. Against Coppin State, Hayes scored 12 points and snagged 13 rebounds. Patrick Sparks, a transfer guard from Western Kentucky, also scored 12.
Two freshman -- point guard Rajon Rondo and 6-11 center Randolph Morris -- round out UK's probable starting lineup.
While Kentucky's backcourt is new, Buckley feels that matching up with those players is a big key for the Cardinals.
"Kentucky pressured and forced Coppin State into a lot of uncomfortable situations," Buckley said. "We have to have good guard play and not turn the ball over."
Ball State returns its starting backcourt from last season -- point guard Peyton Stovall and wings Matt McCollom and Dennis Trammell, last season's leading scorer at 13.2 points per game. However, Skip Mills is listed on the starting lineup instead of McCollom.
Junior college transfer Anthony Kent is listed at center and senior forward Terrance Chapman at forward. The 6-6 Chapman, who started 15 of 29 games last season, notched 21 points and nine rebounds in BSU's 79-51 exhibition victory over Taylor last week.
Stovall had 17 points and six rebounds in the win, while Trammell added 14 points.
After Tuesday's matchup. Ball State travels to Detroit on Saturday to take on the Titans. Detroit visited Muncie for one of ESPN's Bracket Buster games and handed the Cards a 70-49 defeat.
Detroit won its season opener on Saturday, beating Southwest Missouri State, 75-65. The Titans travel to Purdue on Tuesday before Saturday's game with the Cards.
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