If history were on the Ball State University men's basketball team's side, the experts would pick the Cardinals as the favorites tonight against No. 14 Purdue University.
In the eight all-time meetings between the schools, the home team has won every time. The exception was in 1999, when the Cardinals defeated the Boilermakers 72-52 in the only neutral meeting of the series played at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
But that's why they call it history, as the 4-3 Cardinals enter tonight's game against the 6-2 Boilermakers, the Big Ten Conference preseason favorites, as double-digit underdogs in the eyes of many.
Coach Billy Taylor said his squad is ready to show the Worthen Arena crowd exactly what it is made of.
"Our guys are really excited about the opportunity to take on Purdue," Taylor said. "I think it's an exciting time, [and] I think you always look forward [to] that."
Tonight's game features the third time in the past four seasons that the Cardinals have hosted a ranked team. Last season, Ball State lost 57-48 to then-No. 5 Georgetown University. In 2005 Ball State fell to No. 17 Indiana University, 80-56.
The Cardinals come into the game off of a 73-63 loss at the University of Evansville where they had a season-high 19 turnovers. Senior guard Brandon Lampley said one of his team's top priorities against Purdue is taking care of the ball.
"[Limiting turnovers is] probably priority number one or two," said Lampley, who is averaging 9.4 points and a team-high 4.1 assists per game this season. "I thought that it hurt us against Evansville a certain amount of times when we could've gotten back into the game."
Defensively, Purdue guard Chris Kramer. Kramer, a 2007-08 Third Team All-Big Ten selection, is the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
Lampley said taking care of the ball becomes even more important with a player like Kramer, who comes into tonight's game averaging 2.4 steals per game, roaming the court.
"Kramer is a tough defender on the ball," Lampley said. "So I think it's going to be really important to know where he's at and be cautious with the ball and make good decisions."
The Boilermakers could be without Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year selection Robbie Hummel. Hummel was sidelined Saturday night in Purdue's 90-42 home win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff with back spasms.
Mark Leddy, Purdue assistant sports information director, said the sophomore forward's playing status will be a "game time decision."
"Hummel did practice [Sunday], but not fully," Leddy said. "As of right now, [Purdue] coach [Matt Painter] anticipates that he will play."
Last season, Hummel became the only freshman in school history to lead the team in scoring and be selected as a First Team All-Big Ten selection. If he is able to play, Taylor said Hummel brings much to the table.
"He is a high-level player," Taylor said. "He shoots the ball with great range playing the power forward spot, handles the basketball - he's basically a guard out there who's 6'8" and can do it all. He's very talented, and he's tough, hard-nosed and an intense competitor."
The Boilermakers, whose two losses this season came against No. 7 Duke University and in overtime against the No. 5 University of Oklahoma, are led in scoring this season by sophomore guard E'Twaun Moore. Moore averages 15.6 points per game, but also leads Purdue with a 3.8 assists-per-game clip.
"Moore is someone who scores the ball with perimeter jump shots, quick drives, transition," Taylor said. "[He] is a very talented, good ball handler and also another tough, hard-nosed kid."
One area statistically that could favor the Cardinals is on the boards. Ball State averages 36 rebounds per game this season, and Purdue is allowing 40.8 rebounds per game this season. The area is a "double-edged sword," Taylor said, due to the Boilermakers' ability to run a quick transition offense.
"They are extremely fast, and Hummel and Moore, when they get defensive rebounds, they push with an unbelievable pace and tempo," Taylor said. "So you want to go to the glass, you want to get easy second-chance points, but they're very physical, they're very fast in transition, so we've got to be smart and selective about how we run in there and not just recklessly attack the glass and leave ourselves open for transition opportunities for Purdue."
Senior forward Anthony Newell, who leads the team in rebounding (10.4 per game) and scoring (15.3 points per game), said he is looking forward to extra chances to crash the boards tonight.
"Any extra chances you can get on offense are great," said Newell, one of only two players in the Mid-American Conference averaging a double-double this season. "You got to try to get extra possessions, especially against a team like that, because extra possessions can really help out at the end of the game."
Ball State freshman center Jarrod Jones, who leads the team with 1.4 blocks and is second in scoring with 12.4 points and rebounding with 6.9 rebounds per game, should be paired with Purdue sophomore center JaJuan Johnson. Johnson, who averages 11.4 points, 3.8 boards and 1.9 blocks per game, scored 20 points Saturday in Hummel's absence against Arkansas Pine-Bluff.
"I hope that Jarrod really comes and brings a high-level effort and energy to the game," Taylor said. "Getting a chance to play against Johnson, who's got great size and athleticism, will just test him in different ways, and hopefully they'll be allowed to play somewhat physical within the rules in the low post so we can see very good big guys go at each other."
The other expected starter for Purdue, junior guard Keaton Grant, returns after being voted as the team's Most Valuable Player last season. Grant averages 8.4 points and 3.1 rebounds per game this season.
The potential starting five of Kramer, Grant and Moore in the front court and Hummel and Johnson down low - as well as four seniors off the bench -ยก- gives Taylor plenty to worry about when preparing for tonight's game.
"There are not many things that you're going to exploit with a team like Purdue," Taylor said. "They're well-coached, they're disciplined, they're talented. You just try to play good, solid basketball and take advantage of the opportunities when they arise."
Scouting Purdue
- Preseason No. 10 national ranking by coaches. Currently No. 14 in Associated Press Poll.
- Preseason Big Ten favorites.
- Two losses are to No. 7 Duke University (76-60) on Tuesday and No. 5 Oklahoma (87-82) in overtime of the NIT Season Tip-Off.
- Junior guard Chris Kramer returns as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year; two-time Big Ten All-Defensive Team selection and 2007-08 Third Team All-Big Ten Selection.
- Sophomore forward Robbie Hummel missed the Boilermakers' last game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff with a back injury. Purdue won the game 90-42, and Hummel is expected to be a "game time decision" against Ball State, according to Mark Leddy, Purdue assistant sports information director.
- Hummel was named Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year this season. He was the first freshman in school history to be selected as a First Team All-Big Ten selection last season. He was also one of 10 finalists for the Oscar Robertson National Player of the Year Award.
- Sophomore guard E'Twaun Moore was named a Second Team All-Big Ten selection last season. He was also picked as a 2008-09 Preseason All-Big Ten Team selection.
- Tonight's game will be the ninth matchup all-time in the series. Purdue owns a 6-2 all-time record against Ball State
- Both teams are undefeated at home in the series. Purdue is 6-0, while Ball State is 1-0.
- The Cardinals defeated the Boilermakers 72-52 on Dec. 18, 1999, in the only neutral-site meeting between the schools. The game was the first-ever collegiate basketball game at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
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