Bo Calhoun leads Ball State men's basketball in home-opening victory
By David K. Jones / November 17, 2015Senior forward Bo Calhoun played like a man who wanted to snap the Ball State men's basketball team’s 18-game losing streak on Nov. 16.
Senior forward Bo Calhoun played like a man who wanted to snap the Ball State men's basketball team’s 18-game losing streak on Nov. 16.
Ball State defeated the Eastern Illinois Panthers 73-56 Monday night in Worthen Arena.
The Ball State men’s basketball team etched their first win of the season on Monday night, 73-56 over Eastern Illinois. Senior Bo Calhoun came off the bench under three minutes into the game after Franko House got into early foul trouble and led the team in scoring with 17 points.
Points were hard to come by in Ball State’s season opener at Bradley on Friday, Nov 13. The Cardinals made 20 field goals on 55 attempts, good for a 36.4 percent from the field.
The Ball State women’s basketball team dropped its season opener in Charlotte, N.C., 72-66, marking the ninth straight season-opening loss for the Cardinals.
One year removed from winning the Mid-American Conference West Division women’s basketball title with a 13-5 conference record (17-14 overall), Ball State was picked to finish second in the division in the MAC coaches’ preseason poll.
The men’s basketball program has the tools to compete for a Mid-American Conference championship this year.
Ball State women’s basketball team unofficially opened its season with a resounding 79-point exhibition victory against Division-II Urbana University 151-72.
On Oct. 28, the Mid-American preseason conference polls were released. After a 7-23 (2-16) finish last season, the Ball State men's basketball team is projected to finish last in the conference for a second consecutive season.
After finishing atop the Mid-American Conference West Division standings last season with a 13-5 conference record (17-14 overall), the preseason MAC coaches’ poll projects the Ball State women's basketball team to finish in second.
Practice has begun for the Ball State men's basketball team, and it's clear there is one part of the game it is focused on improving. Last season, the Cardinals ranked 244th in the country on total team defense, allowing 69 points per game and a 46 percent shooting percentage. Head coach James Whitford is looking to drastically improve that number toward the top of the Mid-American Conference.
The Mid-American Conference released its league schedule for the upcoming men's basketball season last week, and Ball State now has its full slate of games for 2015-16.
The Ball State women's basketball program has announced its schedule for the upcoming season in conjunction with the Mid-American Conference.
Athletic director Mark Sandy said the video board will add "flavor" to contests through fan experience and keep facilities up to date with other Mid-American Conference schools. But the biggest improvement may come in recruiting.
On Saturday, the Ball State forward will hear his name called as he walks across the stage to graduate.
Ball State was higher than the national average, as it brought in 1,660 patrons per contest through 15 home games. The Cardinals averaged 782 fans per home game in 2013-14, according to ballstatesports.com
NCAA men's basketball experienced a boost in attendance this season, as 32,510,647 fans came to watch games across all three divisions in 2014-15.
Athletic director Mark Sandy announced that Sallee's extension will run through the 2019-20 season. Sallee has led Ball State to a 52-47 record during his tenure.
When the Ball State men's basketball team takes a foreign tour to the Bahamas in August, head coach James Whitford is looking forward to more than game experience.
Ball State women's basketball coach, Brady Sallee, announced that assistant coach Rachel Galligan will leave the team to pursue other career opportunities.
