On Tuesday night, Ball State University basketball fans got their first glance of first-year Cardinals' coach Billy Taylor and his 2007-08 men's basketball team at the "Fan Jam" at Worthen Arena.
On Sunday afternoon, fans will get a look at what that team can do on the floor as Ball State plays Division III Anderson University in an exhibition game.
The Cardinals tallest scholarship player is 6'5" junior Anthony Newell, but Taylor said he is not worried about having success without height.
"It's not unusual," Taylor said. "A number of teams have been successful playing with small lineups. We just have to figure out how to be successful."
Ball State has an 11-man roster after the recent additions of walk-on players Dexter Hinkley and Othello Banaci. Taylor said both players are excited to play for the Cardinals.
"Usually, we get some guys who are pretty excited about it," Taylor said of walk-ons. "We've got a couple of guys who are looking forward to try to be on the team."
Although the roster is predominantly guards, that does not necessarily mean that fans will see the Cardinals run a fast break offense against Anderson, as Taylor said he will attempt to keep his opponents off balance by going against their comfort zones.
"We've got to be flexible enough to play fast against an opponent who wants to play slower," Taylor said. "Or we can play slow against an opponent who wants to play fast."
The Ravens have two players that stand 6'6", both freshmen, but no one taller.
Ball State's offense will be led by preseason first team All-Mid-American Conference pick Peyton Stovall. He is two years removed from a knee injury that kept him out of action for his junior season and earned him a medical redshirt year for 2005-06. But Stovall said he won't look at his role as the sole offensive leader.
"I don't even think of it that way," Stovall said. "We've got so many guys that can score. The offense that we have kind of gives anyone playing defense a chance to score. We'll be able to score easily out of this set if we run it right."
Ball State tips off their season at 2 p.m. on Sunday at Worthen Arena, and Stovall predicts big things.
"It's going to be a good year if we pay attention," Stovall said. "And that's what we really need to do."
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