Though Ball State's women's basketball team finished the 2006-07 season with its highest winning percentage in program history, the team wasn't invited to the NCAA Tournament largely due to its weak non-conference schedule.
Coach Tracy Roller announced the 2007-08 schedule Wednesday and said one of her primary concerns was improving her team's strength of schedule.
"We learned a good lesson last year," Roller said of the way the strength of schedule affects a team's NCAA Tournament chances. "I think you definitely have to have a good mix of games that will make you better and give you confidence to test your team. We knew we had the potential to have a very good team this season, and it will be good to be tested early in the season."
In its season opener, Ball State will host the University of Louisville, which finished last season 27-7 and won its first-round game in the NCAA Tournament 80-54 against Brigham Young University. They lost the second round of the tournament.
Louisville was originally committed to the Cardinals' annual Thanksgiving tournament, but when Ball State couldn't find a final team the tournament fell apart. In attempts to keep Louisville on the schedule, Roller entered a two-year agreement with the school. In the agreement, Ball State will play at Louisville next season, Roller said.
Instead of playing at home during Thanksgiving, the Cardinals will travel to Flagstaff, Ariz., to play three games in the La Quinta Inn & Suites Thanksgiving Tournament.
Though she's disappointed to not have the Thanksgiving tournament, Roller said it was worth it to keep Louisville on the schedule.
"We had teams, but not that last team and it got down to a decision of losing Louisville, so we added them as a single game," Roller said. "Hopefully we can get back our Thanksgiving tournament next season."
Ball State's other major non-conference opponents include a home game against in-state rival and Big Ten program Indiana University and trip to Philadelphia, to play Temple University. The Owls finished last season with a 25-7 record and won its first-round game of the NCAA Tournament 64-61 against Nebraska University. In the second round, Temple lost 62-52 to Duke, which advanced to the Elite Eight.
Senior forward Lisa Rusche said she's anticipating the opportunity to play teams that were in the NCAA Tournament last season.
"Playing these teams will help with our [Ratings Percentage Index]," Rusche said. "We lost a lot of games we shouldn't have last year, and playing those teams will help us out in the long run. But I don't see it as a stepping stone to the NCAA Tournament. They're just great teams to play."
Once the Cardinals begin the Mid-American Conference portion of their season, Rusche said her team will play a different role as it did last year. Ball State was runner-up to Bowling Green State University in last season's MAC Tournament, and the Cardinals returned all but three players and four of five starters. In contrast, the Falcons lost four of five starters and five of their top six scorers from last season.
Rusche said Ball State will be the favorites in the MAC during the upcoming season.
"Last year we kind of knew we had something to prove and this year everyone expects it," Rusche said. "But we wouldn't have it any other way. We feed off that pressure and we feel like we're going to be the team to beat this year."