Senior guard Dennis Trammell will miss the rest of the season because of severe tendinitis in his left Achilles tendon, ending his Ball State career.
Trammell started Sunday's game at Northern Illinois, but played just five scoreless minutes as his heel flared up. He had missed the previous two games because of the injury. He had been the team's leading scorer prior to Sunday's loss, and he finished with 15.9 points per game.
Trammell said first felt the pain in his heel during practice on Feb. 17. The day before, he scored 21 points on seven-of-seven shooting in a 70-69 loss at Bowling Green. Time is the best healer for Trammell's ailment, and with just two regular-season games left plus at least Mid-American Conference Tournament game, he obviously doesn't have the time he needs.
Trammell and Ball State coach Tim Buckley declined further comment.
In 23 games this season, Trammell shot 46 percent from the field, including 48 percent from three-point range, and 81 percent from the free-throw line. Against Marshall on Feb. 6, he made eight of nine 3-pointers (a Ball State record) on his way to a career-high 38 points.
Trammell, a Chicago native, transferred to Ball State after two seasons at New Mexico State. He then sat out the 2002-03 season, per NCAA regulations. As a junior last season, Trammell started all but one game (which he missed due to the flu) and led the Cardinals with 13.2 points per game. In his two-year career, the 6-foot-3 guard scored in double figures 40 out of 51 games played.
However, his role has been courtside instead of on the court of late.
For two years, he's been an unquestioned leader in the Ball State locker room. Buckley has referred to him more than once as the team's "heart and soul."
"He's the kind of guy you want your daughter to marry, and the kind of guy you want on your bench and in your program," Buckley said after Sunday's 70-67 loss.
Trammell was valedictorian of his class at Westinghouse High School (where his teams went 100-3 in three seasons), and in December, he received his bachelor's in business management after compiling a 3.42 GPA.
According to Director of GameDay Experience Chris Taylor, Trammell will be named Third-Team Academic All-America by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
Sophomore Darren Yates started in Trammell's place Feb. 19 against Drexel, and senior Matt McCollom got the call in Thursday's win over Toledo.
Ball State has lost five of its last six and is 13-12 (8-8 MAC) heading into tonight's game at Eastern Michigan.
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