Ball State game thread

[muskieman]

6:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Cintas Center
Halftime: Simon Sez (one note: Anti Homer will not be allowed to participate after last year's embarrassment.)

TV/Radio: FS1 with play-by-play from Matt Schumacher and analysis from Nick Bahe Radio 700WLW Sirius 135 XM 202


Ball State is coming off of a 93-80 loss against Western Illinois but has had a week to prepare for X. This will be the ninth meeting X and the cardinals, Xavier holds a 5-3 series lead, The Musketeers are 4-1 against the Cardinals in Cincinnati. The Cardinals are coached by former X assistant coach James Whitford under Sean Miller. the Third-winningest coach in program history. But it appears there is grumbling among some of the fans...that would never happen at X! They are put off by some of Whitford's coach speak. Additionally, Ball State's director of basketball Bill Comar was Xavier's former director of basketball operations and assistant coach Ben Botts was is a former Xavier graduate assistant coach.

Luke Bumbalough has for four straight games has finished in double digits. He also led the team with a game-high nine rebounds against WI. BS has had four double-figure scorers Miryne Thomas with, Jaylin Sellers, Demarius Jacobs in the last two games.

Payton Sparks leads the Cardinals with 6.0 rebounds per game, while Tyler Cochran is second with 5.4. The Cardinals record is 3-4 with the last two wins over UMass and Indiana State most recently. Ball State list 5 guys 6'10" or larger on their roster.

Tale of the Tape
BSU Category XU
77.7 POINTS PER GAME 72.4
80.4 OPP. POINTS PER GAME 61.0
.457 FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE .443
.452 OPP. FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE .382
.419 3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE .323
.368 OPP. 3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE .316
.667 FREE THROW PERCENTAGE .673
35.7 REBOUNDS PER GAME 40.4
-1.0 REBOUNDING MARGIN +7.6
14.1 ASSISTS PER GAME 14.1
13.9 TURNOVERS PER GAME 15.0
-2.6 TURNOVER MARGIN -1.1
5.7 STEALS PER GAME 8.3
1.7 BLOCKS PER GAME 5.8

Net ranking for Ball state is # 202

[skyhops]

Difference maker Hunter two three point bricks with no one under. We should be down 12 against a good team

[Anti-Homer]

Difference maker Hunter two three point bricks with no one under. We should be down 12 against a good team

That was Hunter? I thought I accidentally turned on a DVRed game from 3 yrs ago and was watching Gates. Hunter's stroke is so smooth. Personal injury attorneys are flocking Cintas again handing out business cards to those sitting in the first ten rows.

[Anti-Homer]

Oh no, Hunter made a three. That means more are coming.

Edit: Missed one sixty seconds later. Steele, "Keep shooting!"

[Anti-Homer]

Up by 40 with 10 to go, and all key guys still in the game.

Free's mobility has really improved, and he is also using his left hand very effectively. Will make him that much better in the post.

[muskieman]

Euro stepping Zach getting good minutes which will help his endurance

[Anti-Homer]

PUT THE WALK ONS IN COACH! Ya know, like Tandy and the others who work their asses off. I think Steele is trying to get the team's assist to To ratio up to 1:1. Astounding it is actually below that. Kind of an indictment of the AAU offense X employs. As I've predicted, talent will have to trump the "other" deficits for X to be successful, and their ridiculous depth and talent is proving that this year.

Steele can recruit!

[Sonoma Muskie]

Since Fremantle is “knocking off rust” what & speicically where was the foot injury that required surgery? It probably dictates what the recovery period & difficulty will be.

[Anti-Homer]

Since Fremantle is “knocking off rust” what & speicically where was the foot injury that required surgery? It probably dictates what the recovery period & difficulty will be.

Not sure,

But feel good because Steele said Free's foot is between 97.38% and 98.014% healed. He was very active tonight and showed some Kevin Mchale creativity around the rim. Even his missed three was wide open and he squared up, unlike his wing teammate.

[muskieman]

PUT THE WALK ONS IN COACH! Ya know, like Tandy and the others who work their asses off. I think Steele is trying to get the team's assist to To ratio up to 1:1. Astounding it is actually below that. Kind of an indictment of the AAU offense X employs. As I've predicted, talent will have to trump the "other" deficits for X to be successful, and their ridiculous depth and talent is proving that this year.

Steele can recruit!

Putting Tandy in tonight would have required a miracle because he was not on the bench tonight. He did not participate in shoot-around.