When the starting lineups are announced before Ball State University's game against Western Michigan on Wednesday, some new names may be read over the loudspeaker.
After a one-point loss to Tennessee State in Saturday's Bracket Buster, coach Tim Buckley said all five starting spots are open for competition during the two practices prior to Wednesday's game.
"I'm looking for the group that's going to get us off to the best start," Buckley said.
Ball State (9-14 overall, 5-9 Mid-American Conference) has trailed at halftime in the past five of six games, with only two resulting in Cardinal wins.
Because of the recent struggles of the starting group, Buckley said the positions would be decided during practices on Monday and Tuesday. After Monday's practice, Buckley said he was pleased with the Cards' focus.
"The nice thing about today was that all 13 guys came out and battled and competed hard," Buckley said. "I feel like we need that energy, we need that enthusiasm, we need that competition in practice to move forward and keep getting better as we get closer to the end of the season."
Freshman Maurice Acker said the team refocused for Monday's practice.
"We're coming off a bad loss but we still have to come better prepared to practice," Acker said. "It's just a matter of will to get back after a loss and play with some heart."
No starter scored in double-figures in Saturday's loss and freshman Anthony Newell, who scored a career-high 20 points, was the lone player to reach the mark.
Leading-scorer Skip Mills scored only nine points, tying his lowest total in a game this season. Buckley said junior D'Andre Peyton and Acker need to step up when Mills is down.
"We're in a position where Skip can never have a subpar game for us," Buckley said. "When he does, D'Andre has to be ready and Maurice has to be ready, and that wasn't evident on Saturday."
Acker has been playing through a shooting slump. He's shot 11-of-50 from the field (22 percent) in the last five games.
"My shooting has been off and I've been in the gym working on my shooting," Acker said.
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