With senior forward Terrance Chapman's return still in question, Ball State prepares for the first of five games in 11 days -- a Saturday bout with Northern Illinois in Worthen Arena.
The 6-foot-6-inch Chapman, who averages 14.6 points and 9.1 rebounds, is listed as day-to-day after suffering a left shoulder injury at Western Michigan on Saturday. He was also listed as such before Tuesday's loss at Akron, and the team did not find out until game time that he would be unavailable.
The Zips shot out to an 11-0 lead and forced 19 BSU turnovers in a 79-64 drubbing, but head coach Tim Buckley said the defeat was brought on more by the team's mindset rather than Chapman's absence.
"We stumbled because we didn't handle the Western game (a 66-65 upset win) like we had to," Buckley said.
Buckley is hopeful his leading rebounder will be able to go, adding that Chapman has made progress.
"You don't want to put him in a situation where he could injure it to the point where he couldn't play again," he said.
At Akron, 6-3 senior guard Matt McCollom started in Chapman's place.
Even without Chapman, Buckley feels the Cardinals (9-6, 4-3 Mid-American Conference) matchup with the Huskies (7-10, 3-6) better than with Akron, which overpowered the Cards inside.
"Whereas Akron tried to get the ball down on the block, Northern plays on the block, but they are very perimeter-oriented," Buckley said. "We've just got to do a better job defensively. I want to say in the three [MAC] games we were beaten, our field goal percentage [defense] was very poor. We've got to eliminate that weak link defensively."
Forward Todd Peterson leads the Huskies with 11.7 points per game, and guard Mike McKinney is just behind at 11.5. Six other players average at least 5.8. Northern has made 41 percent of its three-pointers this season, including 45 of 90 from Peterson.
"I think they're a transition team," Buckley said. "They can get out and score baskets. They're an excellent drive-and-kick team."
Sophomore point guard Peyton Stovall continues to pace the Cardinals with 17.6 points per game, while senior guard Dennis Trammell is next with 15.1.
Ball State also welcomes Eastern Michigan on Monday.
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