The Ball State University men's basketball team takes on Northern Illinois University tonight for a 7 p.m. tipoff at Worthen Arena.
Obviously, the main focus for Cards fans is how the team will deal with the loss of senior forward, captain, leading scorer and rebounder Anthony Newell for the season due to a compound fracture to his right tibia and fibula suffered in Saturday's 46-42 win at Eastern Michigan University.
I'm predicting that senior guard/forward Rob Giles will replace Newell in the starting lineup for the time being. Giles is averaging 4.9 points and 2.9 rebounds this season, and averaged 2.9 points and 2.4 rebounds last season in 22 games.
But without further ado, here are my notes on tonight's matchup with the Huskies:
Ball State University Cardinals (6-7, 1-0 MAC) vs.Northern Illinois University Huskies (5-8, 1-0 MAC)Tuesday, January 13, 2009 - 7 p.m., Worthen Arena
Series History: 70th meeting all-time; Ball State holds a 40-29 advantage, including a 25-7 record in Muncie.
Northern IllinoisLast Game: 75-51 win against University of Toledo in MAC opener. Top scorer: Jake Anderson (20 points); top rebounder: Jake Anderson and Najul Ervin (7 rebounds)
Last Season: 6-22 (3-12 MAC)Last Season vs. BSU: 1-1; defeated Ball State 60-58 Jan. 22, lost to the Cardinals 69-63 on March 4.
2008-09 Offense:70.2 points per game.430 field goal percentage.357 3-point percentage.619 free throw percentage34.6 rebounds per game13.5 assists per game15.7 turnovers per game
2008-09 Defense:72.6 points per game allowed.459 field goal percentage allowed.373 3-point field goal percentage allowed.702 free throw percentage allowed35.2 rebounds per game allowed13.8 assists per game allowed8.6 steals per game3.2 blocks per game
Northern Illinois Notes- Picked to finish sixth (last) in the MAC West in the Preseason Polls.- 2007-08 MAC Freshman of the Year, Darion "Jake" Anderson was the first Northern Illinois freshman to lead the team in scoring since the 1995-96 season. Anderson averaged 12.2 points and 2.6 assists per game last season. He also scored a career high-tying 24 points on 10-of-18 shooting against Ball State on March 4.- Anderson was on the 2008-09 All-MAC Preseason Team.- Northern Illinois is looking for its first 2-0 start in MAC play since the 1980-81 season, when the Huskies were MAC regular season champions.- The Huskies defeated Toledo 75-51 on Jan. 10 in their best defensive game of the season. The Rockets were held to a season-low 34.7 percent field goal percentage and 51 points in the loss, and Northern Illinois out-rebounded Toledo 23-14.- When looking in the MAC statistics, as a team, Northern Illinois is first in steals (8.62 steals per game), second in scoring offense (70.2 points per game), fourth in field goal percentage (.430), fourth in 3-point percentage (.357), fifth in blocked shots (3.23 per game), third in assists (13.54 per game), fourth in turnover margin (+0.92), second in offensive rebounds (13.15 per game) and fourth in 3-point field goals made (6.62 per game).
Five NIU players appear in the MAC Individual Top Statistics:
Guard Jake Anderson: second in scoring at 18.2 points per game, 15th at 5.5 rebounds per game, 11th in free throw percentage at .689, third in steals at 1.92 per game, ninth in 3-point percentage at .379, 11th in 3-pointers made per game at 1.69, fifth in defensive rebounding at 4.38 per game and 11th in minutes played per game at 31.93.
Guard Mike DiNunno: 11th in scoring at 13.2 points per game, 14th in assists at 2.8 per game, 10th in free throw percentage at .704, fourth in 3-pointers made with 2.43 per game and 16th in minutes played at 30.23 minutes per game.
Guard Najul Ervin: 10th in steals at 1.54 per game, 12th in blocks per game with 0.85 and 10th in offensive rebounds with 2.31 per game.
Center Sean Kowal: 28th in scoring at 10.4 points per game, 18th in rebounding at 5.3 per game, first in field goal percentage at .588 and second in blocks per game with 1.31.
Forward Sean Smith: first in 3-point percentage at .591.
Projected Starters - Northern IllinoisGuard: #11 Mike DiDunno, freshman (5'11" 177) - 13.2 points, 2.8 assists, 2.4 rebounds per gameGuard: #32 Jake Anderson, sophomore (6'2" 201) - 18.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.9 steals per game; .379 percent 3-point shooterGuard: #2 Najul Ervin, junior (6'5" 214) - 4.7 points, 4.8 rebounds per game; 30 offensive rebounds this seasonForward: #12 Sean Smith, senior (6'7" 190) - 7.7 points, 3.4 rebounds; .591 3-point shooter this season (13-of-22)Center: #41 Sean Kowal, sophomore (6'11" 240) - 10.4 points, 5.3 rebounds; .588 percent from the field this season
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