I think it's pretty safe to say that not many would've guessed that by Inauguration Day, this Ball State University men's basketball team would be playing a pivotal Mid-American Conference game with first place in the West Division on the line. The Cardinals (7-8, 2-1 MAC) host West-leading Western Michigan University (6-10, 3-0 MAC) tonight at Worthen Arena for a 7 p.m. tipoff.
A win for Ball State means the Cardinals are tied with the Broncos for first place in the West. A loss, and Western Michigan sits more comfortably in the driver's seat, while Ball State must claw to get back to the top.
Western Michigan had a 3-10 non-conference record heading into MAC play, including a 83-72 loss Nov. 16 to SIU-Edwardsville - which is in its first year playing in Division I basketball. Ball State defeated SIU-Edwardsville 67-55 at Worthen Arena on Nov. 22.
Since beginning MAC play on Jan. 11 against Central Michigan University, however, the Broncos have been able to return to form as probably the same team that was voted as the MAC West preseason favorites this year. Western Michigan beat the Chippewas 72-63, defeated the University of Toledo 70-52 on Jan. 14, and defeated Northern Illinois University 71-52 on Jan. 17.
Here are some numbers and notes about the Broncos:
Western Michigan Broncos (6-10, 3-0 MAC) atBall State University Cardinals (7-8, 2-1 MAC)Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009 - Muncie, Ind. (Worthen Arena)
Series History: 108th meeting all-time; Western Michigan leads 54-53 in the series, but Ball State is 31-20 all-time in Muncie.
Western MichiganLast Game: 71-52 win against Northern Illinois. Top scorer: forward Derek Drews with 17 points. Top rebounder: forward/center LaMarcus Lowe with eight rebounds.
Last Season: 20-12 (12-4 MAC)Last Season vs. BSU: 2-0; defeated Ball State 71-45 on Jan. 16 in Worthen Arena and 57-53 on March 9 in Kalamazoo, Mich.
2008-09 Offense:63.9 points per game.403 field goal percentage.315 3-point percentage.686 free throw percentage35.8 rebounds per game11.9 assists per game13.9 turnovers per game
2008-09 Defense:64.8 points per game allowed.415 field goal percentage allowed.317 3-point field goal percentage allowed.656 free throw percentage allowed35.1 rebounds per game allowed12.4 assists per game allowed5.1 steals per game2.9 blocks per game
Western Michigan Notes- Picked to finish first in the MAC West in the Preseason Polls.- The Broncos' guard David Kool was selected to the Preseason All-MAC team this season.- Kool, a junior, is the most accurate free throw shooter in MAC history at 88 percent. His .917 free throw percentage his freshman year was the fourth-best by a freshman in NCAA history. - Kool was a First Team All-MAC selection last season, as he led the MAC in scoring in conference-only games at 17.8 points per game; finished with a 16.3 points-per-game average, which was fourth overall in the MAC.- Western Michigan made 14 3-pointers in their 71-52 win over Northern Illinois last Saturday, which tied for second all-time in a game in program history.- When looking in the MAC-only statistics, as a team, through three league games, the Broncos are first in scoring defense (55.7 points per game allowed); scoring margin (+15.3), rebounding (37 per game), blocks (5 per game), turnover margin (+3.33 per game), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.26), defensive rebounds (25.33 per game) and 3-pointers made per game (9.67).
Seven WMU players appear in the MAC individual top statistics:
Guard David Kool: fourth in points per game (16.9), third in free throw percentage (.857), tied for 14th in steals per game (1.31), fifth in 3-pointers made per game (2.13) and fourth in minutes played per game (33.44).
Guard Shawntes Gary: 21st in points per game (10.8), eighth in rebounds per game (6.1), seventh in free throw percentage (.770) and sixth in defensive rebounds per game (4.38).
Center Donald Lawson: 10th in rebounds per game (6), 11th in blocks per game (0.85) and seventh in defensive rebounds per game (4.15).
Guard Michael Redell: seventh in assists per game (3.31), fifth in assists-to-turnovers ratio per game (1.47) and 26th in minutes played per game (28.19)
Forward Derek Drews: tied for tenth in 3-pointers made per game (1.63)
Forward/Center LaMarcus Lowe: second in blocks per game (1.46)
Forward Flenard Whitfield: 13th in offensive rebounds per game (2.06)
Projected Starters - Western Michigan Guard: #22 Michael Reddell, senior (6'0" 183) - 5.3 points, 1.6 rebounds per game; team-best 3.31 assists per gameGuard: #23 David Kool, junior (6'3" 205) - team-best 16.9 points to go with 3.5 rebounds per game; team-high .857 free throw percentageGuard: #34 Shawntes Gary, senior (6'2", 210) - 10.8 points and a team-high 6.1 rebounds per game; team-high 3.13 fouls per gameForward: #4 Derek Drews, senior (6'5" 214) - 8.8 points, 3.5 rebounds per game; 1.63 3-pointers made per gameForward: #33 Flenard Whitfield, senior (6'7", 222) - 5.3 points, 4.1 rebounds per game; team-best 2.06 offensive rebounds per game
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