The formula to the Ball State University men's basketball team winning a Mid-American Conference West Division title and earning a No. 2 seed in next week's MAC Tournament is simple.
Win one of the two remaining regular season games, and you're in.
The West-leading Cardinals feel an urgency to get the job done tonight as they travel to Western Michigan University to face the MAC West No. 2 Broncos, which is one game behind Ball State in the divisional standings.
If the Cardinals lose, they will have to win on Sunday at home against Eastern Michigan University to secure the West title.
"You never want to play it easy because it's a really big game," senior guard Brandon Lampley said. "We can take care of business now and wouldn't have to worry about having to win a final game at home."
Coach Billy Taylor said on Monday that he could feel a heightened sense of excitement and focus in his team in practice as they attempt to win the program's first divisional title since the 2001-02 season.
"You're turning the calendar, so you're into March," Taylor said. "You're into March Madness, and again, at this point of the season, every game counts significantly towards what you're trying to achieve as a basketball team - we looked like a team that was hungry to finish the right way."
Taylor said the urgency tonight will be on both ends as the Broncos face a must-win situation of their own.
"At this point in the year, both teams have to have it," Taylor said. "You're going to see a lot of tenacity on both sides, heavy intensity, physicalness and two teams really getting after it."
The Cards (13-14, 7-7 MAC) will face a slightly different Western Michigan team than the one Ball State defeated 50-44 on Jan. 20 in Worthen Arena.
In that game, Ball State out-rebounded the Broncos 43-39 and had a 18-8 scoring advantage in the paint as Western Michigan (9-19, 6-8 MAC) was playing without its starting center, junior Donald Lawson, who was out this season due to an irregular heartbeat.
Taylor said Lawson adds experience to what would be a younger Western Michigan front line.
"[With Lawson] you bring a junior into their starting rotation who can block shots, who can rebound, understands their system, is going to play with a level of physicalness and toughness that's typically associated with a Western Michigan team," Taylor said. "They're definitely going to play better with him, and as he gets into more and more shape, he'll be more impactful to their team."
Guard David Kool leads the Broncos' offense. Kool, whose 17.9 points per game average is second in the MAC.
Senior guard Rob Giles said Kool is a great, versatile player.
"[Kool] tries to do it from the post, from the perimeter, driving, so he is a match up problem," Giles said. "But we play team defense, so everybody will get a chance to guard him and there's going to be help everywhere, so we should be able to contain him."
All-time seriesBall State and Western Michigan are tied at 54 wins apiece in their series history. The Cardinals defeated the Broncos 35-31 in Muncie in the first-ever meeting on Jan. 16, 1932.
MAC standings
West1. Ball State - 13-14 (7-7)2. Western Michigan - 9-19 (6-8)3. Northern Illinois - 10-17 (5-9)3. Central Michigan - 9-18 (5-9)5. Toledo - 6-23 (4-10)5. Eastern Michigan - 6-23 (4-10)
East1. Buffalo - 18-9 (10-4)1. Bowling Green - 17-11 (10-4)3. Akron - 18-11 (9-5)3. Miami - 16-11 (9-5)5. Kent State - 16-13 (8-6)6. Ohio - 14-14 (7-7)
Current MAC seedingIf the season ended today, the MAC Tournament seeding would be as follows, according to Matt McCollester, assistant director of communications for Ball State:
1. Bowling Green (17-11, 10-4)2. Ball State (13-14, 7-7)3. Buffalo (18-9, 10-4)4. Miami (16-11, 9-5)5. Akron (18-11, 9-5)6. Kent State (16-13, 8-6)7. Ohio (14-14, 7-7)8. Western Michigan (9-19, 6-8)9. Central Michigan (9-18, 5-9)10. Northern Illinois (10-17, 5-9)11. Eastern Michigan (6-23, 4-10)12. Toledo (6-23, 4-10)
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