Location: Muncie, In. | Founded: 1918 | Enrollment: 17,285 | Colors: Cardinal and White
Coach: Billy Taylor | Home Court: Worthen Arena | Capacity: 11,500 Record:
(6-24, 5-11
Mid-American)
For all the feel-good attitude Ball State's basketball team brought out this season, spurred by its gritty, never-quit presence, one thing couldn't be denied.
The Cardinals didn't know how to win games.
Ball State suffered through a 6-24 season, breaking its record for losses in a season one year after breaking the mark with 22 defeats. For all the losing it did, it was a competitive group that earned plaudits for its play.
Ohio coach Tim O'Shea said he believed Cardinals coach Billy Taylor should be the Mid-American Conference coach of the year. Taylor took over a program that was in shambles after it quickly deteriorated during Ronny Thompson's one year on the bench.
Thompson resigned during the summer, and Taylor was hired in August. Taylor literally hit the ground running and watched the program fall apart as two players left and four others were dismissed. Ball State began the season with just eight scholarship players and four walk-ons on its roster.
Predictably, the Cardinals lost their first 11 games. But instead of folding, the players rallied and played competitive basketball throughout the MAC season. They finished 5-11 in the MAC, and had a legitimate chance to win half of the games they lost.
Proof of Ball State's improvement came in the final month of the season. The Cardinals played each of the league's top four seeds one time. They lost each of those games, but they fell to No. 1 Kent State by only three points in overtime, to No. 2 Western Michigan by four, to No. 3 Akron by nine and No. 4 Ohio by two.
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I never see the 1990 BSU team on any of these lists. Gary Payton was on the cover of SI that year and said, 'Ball State Who?" If I remember right we got fouled with nothing on the clock, and hit two free throws to throw Oregon State out of the tourney. Next against Louisville we won by one, and then played UNLV. Dicky V. went nuts when Chandler Thompson dunked over the
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Taylor booted four guys to start the season. I'm sure it had nothing to do with Thompson overlooking some transgressions, but what do we have coming in. Any good things on the horizon....freshman.....or JUCO's??
Well........ this season has drawn to a close. I'm really going to miss watching Peyton Stovall play and I wish we could've extended his career with a win. He's left a huge impression on the program and I have to add that I feel better about what Billy Taylor and the guys have done with this season versus what Thompson did with last year's season.
Don't forget to Vote for Peyton Stovall every day for the Lowe's Senior Class award. Just go to ballstatesports.com and click on the Vote for Stovall link on the right hand side and the rest is self explanatory.
Cards got their 5th MAC win by beating NIU last night. This win equals Ronnie Thompson's MAC win total from last year. Also we send Peyton Stovall out with a win in his last game at Worthen Arena.
Great job guys! And thanks to all the fans that came out despite the bad weather!
