In Ronny Thompson's ideal world, his basketball team would speed up and down the court out-hustling and out-working its opponents. But whether his style of play can work with the men's basketball team at Ball State University remains a mystery for the new coach.
When Thompson was named the 17th men's basketball coach in Ball State history on Tuesday, he said he'd like to bring an up-tempo style of play to the team.
Because the Cardinals' offense is usually dominated by the play of its guards, Thompson said he believes he can make the style work.
"I do want to get up and down the court," Thompson said. "A lot of that is contingent upon the horses that are in the stable, so to speak. You have to build on that."
With the departure of freshman point guard Maurice Acker to Marquette University Tuesday, Thompson has three scholarships to offer recruits. Former coach Tim Buckley had already offered the fourth scholarship to recruit Stephen Jones, who has signed a letter of intent to play for Ball State next season.
With the potential to begin filling the team with players who fit Thompson's style of play, Michael Bennett, director of basketball operations, said he expects the Cardinals to be ready to run beginning next season.
"I think the team we have last year liked to go up and down the court," Bennett said. "I think they will work well in that system and put their trust in what Thompson believes will work."
With one of the most potent scoring backcourts in the Mid-American Conference, Thompson said he hopes to utilize the speed of junior Peyton Stovall and senior Skip Mills. Mills averaged 18 points per game this year while Stovall put in 15 a game before suffering a season-ending injury in the second game.
"Your style of play is contingent upon the players and personnel that you have," Thompson said.
SCHEDULING
Thompson already has his eye on helping with the non-conference scheduling for next year's team. The best team the Cardinals played during this past season was a home game against Indiana University.
Thompson said he would like to see the team play a good mixture of small and big schools.
"Scheduling helps recruiting so you don't want to play a bunch of schools that no one has heard of," Thompson said. "You also don't want to play a lot of big schools where the kids get pounded on and morale gets low. So it's a fine line."
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