Editor’s Note: This is part of a series checking on MAC teams before they enter Conference play. All rankings are MAC, unless otherwise noted.
COACH: James Whitford (3rd season)
2014 RECORD: 7-23 overall (2-16 MAC, 6th place MAC West). After starting the season 7-6, Ball State lost its last 17 games.
MAC TOURNEY:
Lost to Bowling Green 88-75 in first round play.
LEFT THE BUILDING
► Ball State lost one starter and two lettermen. Matt Kamieniecki, a 6-8, 228-pound forward who battled injuries in his career, averaged 8.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game last year.
BACK FOR MORE:
► Four starters are among 10 returning players from a team that was one of the 25 youngest teams in the country last year. Six of the returnees averaged at least six points per game.
Among those returning is MAC Freshman of the Year Sean Sellers, who averaged 12 ppg. and shot nearly 44 percent from 3-point range. Fellow sophomore Jeremie Tyler, who missed the second semester of last season, also averaged 12 ppg. during his time on the court.
Forward Franko House reached double figures with 10.3 ppg and also contributed 5.5 caroms per outing.
Bo Calhoun was close to double figures with a 9.6 ppg. average and led the team with an average of 6.0 rebounds per game.
2015-16 RECORD: 9-4
► The Cardinals have already . . .
COACH: James Whitford (3rd season)
2014 RECORD: 7-23 overall (2-16 MAC, 6th place MAC West). After starting the season 7-6, Ball State lost its last 17 games.
MAC TOURNEY:
Lost to Bowling Green 88-75 in first round play.
LEFT THE BUILDING
► Ball State lost one starter and two lettermen. Matt Kamieniecki, a 6-8, 228-pound forward who battled injuries in his career, averaged 8.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game last year.
BACK FOR MORE:
► Four starters are among 10 returning players from a team that was one of the 25 youngest teams in the country last year. Six of the returnees averaged at least six points per game.
Among those returning is MAC Freshman of the Year Sean Sellers, who averaged 12 ppg. and shot nearly 44 percent from 3-point range. Fellow sophomore Jeremie Tyler, who missed the second semester of last season, also averaged 12 ppg. during his time on the court.
Forward Franko House reached double figures with 10.3 ppg and also contributed 5.5 caroms per outing.
Bo Calhoun was close to double figures with a 9.6 ppg. average and led the team with an average of 6.0 rebounds per game.
2015-16 RECORD: 9-4
► The Cardinals have already . . .
. . . won more games than in all of 2014-15, and there won’t be a repeat of last season’s 17-game losing streak. BSU was on a six-game winning streak before losses to Pepperdine and Indiana State. A pair of late December games provided a chance to get back on the winning track, and Ball State took advantage by edging Alabama A&M 63-62 and drubbing Chicago State 73-48.
► Ball State’s 9-4 mark is tied for second-best among MAC West teams. Northern Illinois topped that group with an 11-2 non-conference record.
OTHER:
► The MAC Media preseason poll, conducted back in late October, predicted the Cardinals to finish last in the West.
► Ball State currently ranks 11th in scoring offense (69.5 ppg.) and is first in scoring defense (62.5 ppg.). The Cardinals are sixth in scoring margin (+7.1).
► BSU has connected on 43.0 percent (9th) of its shots from the field, 35.4 percent (7th) from beyond the arc, and 68.9 percent (7th) at the free throw line.
► The Cardinals are seventh in rebounding margin (+3.9), second in blocked shots (4.4 bpg), fifth in steals (6.6 spg) and seventh in turnover margin (0.00).
► Three Cardinals are currently scoring in double figures: House (12.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg), Ryan Weber (11.5 ppg., 4.3 rpg) and Calhoun (11.2 ppg, 8.4 rpg). Francis Kiapway (27) and Weber (24) lead the team in 3-point goals.
► Naiel Smith tops the team with 19 steals. Kiapway (12), Calhoun (11) and Jeremie Tyler (11) also lead the way. Moses and House are the top shot-blockers, totaling 27 between them.
► Ball State’s 9-4 mark is tied for second-best among MAC West teams. Northern Illinois topped that group with an 11-2 non-conference record.
OTHER:
► The MAC Media preseason poll, conducted back in late October, predicted the Cardinals to finish last in the West.
► Ball State currently ranks 11th in scoring offense (69.5 ppg.) and is first in scoring defense (62.5 ppg.). The Cardinals are sixth in scoring margin (+7.1).
► BSU has connected on 43.0 percent (9th) of its shots from the field, 35.4 percent (7th) from beyond the arc, and 68.9 percent (7th) at the free throw line.
► The Cardinals are seventh in rebounding margin (+3.9), second in blocked shots (4.4 bpg), fifth in steals (6.6 spg) and seventh in turnover margin (0.00).
► Three Cardinals are currently scoring in double figures: House (12.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg), Ryan Weber (11.5 ppg., 4.3 rpg) and Calhoun (11.2 ppg, 8.4 rpg). Francis Kiapway (27) and Weber (24) lead the team in 3-point goals.
► Naiel Smith tops the team with 19 steals. Kiapway (12), Calhoun (11) and Jeremie Tyler (11) also lead the way. Moses and House are the top shot-blockers, totaling 27 between them.
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