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LOCATION: Muncie, IN
CONFERENCE: Mid-American (West)
LAST SEASON: 16-11 (.593)
CONFERENCE RECORD: 10-8 (2nd)
STARTERS LOST/RETURNING: 2/3
NICKNAME: Cardinals
COLORS: Cardinal & White
HOMECOURT: University Arena (11,500)
COACH: Ray McCallum (Ball State '83)
record at school 104-67 (6 years)
career record 104-67 (6 years)
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ASSISTANTS: Jerry Francis (Ohio State '91)
John Fitzpatrick (Bowling Green '80)
Scot Bunnell (Ball State '96)
TEAM WINS: (last 5 years) 19-16-16-21-16
RPI (last 5 years) 73-105-108-77-117
1998-99 FINISH: Lost in conference first round.
ESPN.com Clubhouse
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The buzz around Ball State is about freshman recruit Theron Smith. Not to downplay anyone else on this talented club, but when the coach describes someone as a "Bonzi-type athlete," it's sure to stir folks up in Muncie, Ind. Smith, 6-8 and 215 pounds, is from Auburndale (Fla.) High School, and is about the same size as Bonzi Wells, the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year in 1996 and 1998. Wells was the MAC's all-time leading scorer and a first-round NBA draft pick. To be compared with someone as talented as Bonzi is, well, special. "He's an absolute steal for Ball State," said Clark Francis of Hoop Scoop scouting service. Smith, who averaged 24 points and 16 rebounds last season, made first team all-state and was a finalist for Florida's Mr. Basketball award. At the ABCD Camp before his senior year, Smith was ranked as the 26th-best player out of 150 and was the only player to average a double-double during camp.
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Blue Ribbon Analysis |
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BACKCOURT B+ BENCH/DEPTH C+
FRONTCOURT C+ INTANGIBLES B
Ball State returns three starters and lost only 15 points a game from graduated seniors Wayne Johnson (5.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg) and Marcus Mason (9.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg). If Theron Smith is as good as advertised, and there's no reason to think otherwise, and the 6-11 Lonnie Jones continues his improvement, the losses won't be as noticeable. "We are continuing to add to the solid base we have established for the program," coach Ray McCallum said. Better shooting is a must. This was a poor shooting team last season, ranking 10th in the MAC in field-goal percentage (.410) and 12th in free-throw percentage (.654). The Cardinals shot a miserable .261 percent from the field against Miami (Ohio) in the MAC quarterfinals, the school's worst shooting performance in many years. The Cardinals scored only one more point per game (66.6) than they allowed (65.2). Ball State enjoys a tremendous homecourt advantage at University Arena (94-15 since 1992) and that will help keep the Cardinals near the top in the wide-open MAC West Division race. |
"Potentially, he's one of the best players I've recruited," said Ball State coach Ray McCallum, who also signed Wells. "He can really shoot the ball from the three-point line. He can do everything in the post with his left and right hand. I really couldn't believe how good he was." That's the buzz, but the truth is Ball State has all the ingredients for a successful season. Start with McCallum, who is 104-67 in his six seasons at his alma mater and is the second-winningest coach in school history. He trails only Jim Hinga's 154 wins from 1954 to 1968. Ball State extended McCallum's contract to keep him around for at least two more seasons. Then go to the players, especially senior guards Duane Clemens and Mickey Hosier, who will help their coach maintain his lofty level of success. The senior backcourt tandem played important roles last year when the Cardinals went 16-11 overall, 10-8 in the conference. Clemens, a starter in 80 of 85 games, is a 6-0 senior who made second-team All-MAC in a breakthrough season (16.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg). Clemens scored 20 or more in 10 games and hit double figures 21 times. He is Ball State's 20th player with 1,000 career points. And that's not all. Clemens also led the Cardinals in steals (67) and was second in assists (54). He's a decent shooter (.379 field-goal percentage, .352 percent from three-point range) and a strong defender. Hosier, the 5-11 senior point guard, also started every game (4.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg) and led the squad in assists (75). He was Ball State's best three-point shooter (.435 percent) and ranked second only to Clemens with 47 steals. "Duane and Mickey are veterans who have started for three years," McCallum said. "We expect them to lead this team on the court and off the court. They have playing experience that is equivalent to nearly everybody in the MAC, and they need to show the leadership qualities necessary for us to be successful." Forward Josh Murray, 6-7, 200, cracked last year's lineup as a freshman. Murray (5.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg) was Ball State's leading rebounder. He also was the best shooter, hitting 62 of 118 from the field (.525 percent). Murray started 14 of the last 15 games. "Josh took advantage of his playing time in his first season and was rewarded," McCallum said. "It has always been our philosophy to give the freshman an opportunity to grow and develop as players whether that be through practice or games." Although sophomore Lonnie Jones wasn't a starter, the 6-11, 215-pounder was an impact player as a freshman. Jones (3.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg) led the MAC in blocked shots with 52 (2.0 per game). Jones is extremely quick off his feet. He recorded five blocks on two occasions and had at least one rejection in 20 games. The Cardinals expect at least repeat performances by 6-5, 220-pound junior forward Jerome Davis (5.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg), 5-10 sophomore guard Patrick Jackson (4.9 ppg, 1.6 rpg) and 6-2 junior guard Cedric Moodie (7.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg), who started nine games. Other returning lettermen are 6-9, 260-pound junior center Brian Burns (1.7 ppg, 1.1 rpg), 5-11 senior guard Shane Franks (3.6 ppg, 0.6 rpg) and 5-9 junior guard Billy Lynch (5 games, 0.4 ppg). Lynch is the son of Ball State head football coach Bill Lynch. Sophomore forward David Galley, 6-7, 195, appeared in one game. "Our younger players gained valuable experience last year in practice and competition," McCallum said. "We had a very young group a year ago, and the experience they received needs to carry over this season for us to be successful." Corey Harris, 6-8 and 230 pounds, is a redshirt sophomore adding bulk to the inside game. Harris, out of Whitney Young High School in Chicago, was a member of last year's recruiting class that was ranked as the nation's best among mid-major schools by the High Potential Scouting Service. He averaged 10.5 points and 7.3 rebounds and helped lead his team to the Illinois' big schools state title and a No. 2 national ranking by USA Today. McCallum, a Muncie native, is successful at keeping local talent at home. Wells, by the way, was another Muncie product. Rob Robbins, a 6-4 freshman guard from Muncie Delta High School, is the third member of Delta's state runnerup team in 1997 the last year of single-class basketball in Indiana with the Cardinals, joining Lynch and Jackson. Robbins averaged 29.1 points and 7.2 rebounds as a senior. He also plans to play baseball for the Cardinals. "I've always said, if guys from Muncie and Delaware County can play Division I basketball, we want them here at Ball State," McCallum said. Mark Farris, 6-6, 185 of Pike Central High School in Indianapolis, Ind., is the other freshman recruit. Farris (9.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg) is a gifted athlete and comes from a good background. "His father is a minister," McCallum said.
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