MEN'S BASKETBALL: Ball State hopes for full house for Friday's opener
November 10, 2009Cardinals expect a more exciting style of play this year.
Cardinals expect a more exciting style of play this year.
The Ball State University men's basketball team will have at least three opportunities in the first two months of the season to show Indiana where it stands among the best college basketball programs in the state.
The Hoosier Lady Stars is a team of former college basketball players with ties to the Hoosier State. Recent changes in NCAA rules do not permit schools to play non-NCAA Division I four-year college institutions.
The Mid-American Conference released its preseason polls Wednesday, and the reigning MAC Tournament champion Ball State women's basketball team was predicted to finish second in the MAC West Division behind the University of Toledo. The Cardinals' men's team — co-MAC West champs last season — was predicted to finish in fourth place in the West this season.
Freshman forward Jarrod Jones scored eight points in Ball State University's 64-52 loss to the University at Buffalo in the Mid-American Conference Tournament Semifinals. It wasn't enough to propel the Cardinals into the finals, but Jones climbed to fourth place on Ball State's all-time freshman scoring list. With 28 points in two games in Cleveland, Jones finishes his first season with 346 points, moving ahead of Randy Boarden.
The MAC All-Tournament Teams were also announced following the game. Bowing Green State University's Nate Miller, Buffalo's Max Boudreau and Akron's Steve McNees, Brett McKnight and Linhart formed the five-man team, and Linhart took home Tournament MVP honors.
