On a national stage like the Mid-American Conference Tournament, opponents expose the little deficiencies in a team.
Ball State's 79-68 loss to Kent State last season proved that.
The Golden Flashes used their interior size and strength to push the Cardinals around and gain an advantage. Ball State's late offensive adjustments weren't enough to hang with Kent State's high-powered attack.
Coach Billy Taylor spent Wednesday's Media Day showing his basketball team addressed both of those issues this summer.
In the one hour media members had floor access for practice, a stronger physical presence from all the players was noticeable. Sophomore forward Matt Kamieniecki and senior forward Jarrod Jones had thicker frames and looked like they added significant weight. It was a contact-filled practice and bodies were flying around. Even the guards like Jauwan Scaife were leaner and more cut.
"I give a lot of credit to Jason Roberson, our strength and conditioning coach," Taylor said. "He did a fantastic job with them this summer. Obviously the guys have to buy into it, but it's something we talked about—getting bigger and stronger. We've seen substantial gains in not only the weights they're carrying, but the weights they're moving. We are bigger and stronger than we've ever been."
Taylor said the physical nature of teams like Kent State and current-MAC Tournament Champion Akron factored into the decision to get bigger this season.
Kamieniecki, Jones and freshman forward Aaron Adeoye are all listed at 238, 234 and 253 pounds, respectively, on the Ball State Sports website to give Ball State a good base inside to work with.
Those big bodies fit well into the new sets run on offense in practice, as well. Harder screens are needed for the faster paced offense this season. Taylor drew up more pick-and-rolls and dribble-drive plays in the Kent State game and said he carried that over to this season.
"Once you get into the MAC Tournament and see those teams, two to three times, you've got to have that change of pace," Taylor said. "Putting guys like Tyrae Robinson, Randy Davis and Jesse Berry in pick-and-rolls opens up the floor to play and make plays. That was something we wanted to use and build upon that. We still have the core parts of our offense — our set plays. But using that dribble-drive offense, that pick-and-roll, is something that needs to be a priority for us."
At times, the offense seemed stagnant and three-happy last season. In the sets Ball State ran Wednesday, increased player and ball movement was apparent. It wasn't just movement on the baseline, but players screening and cutting off each other all over the court.
Taylor said after the rough start the program was in when he got here, the mindset and culture of Ball State basketball is coming around. Entering his fifth year as coach, Taylor said the expectations are growing as the program and players experience success.
"I like where we're at," Taylor said. "We have experience, we have depth and we have guys who understand our system. Expectations are always greater when you have success the year before... I want to see improvement."
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