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Our first ever visit to Ball State, coming up tomorrow at 7 on ESPN+

This is a near-must-win game if we want to qualify for Cleveland. Our margin for error is slim.

Ball is the worst team in the MAC, by NET anyway. They're also the only MAC team not to win a game above Quad 4.
https://bracketologists.com/team/ball-state-cardinals

They had won 3 straight in the MAC in January, but have regressed to losing their last 6 conference games. They picked up a win in the February 7 SBC Challenge game at an atrocious Louisiana Monroe team.

We beat Ball at home by 8 in January.
https://umasshoops.com/wiki/doku.php?id ... ball_state
That was our first MAC win, and our largest margin of victory so far in conference play.

I wonder how the travel is going to go. Whiteout conditions in Western Ma today with high winds. Maybe they can get out of town tonight as the storm winds down.

A near must win?

Um ... they lose this one, they are all but out of the Conference Tourney.

Juice Stand wrote: Mon Feb 23, 2026 11:41 am I wonder how the travel is going to go. Whiteout conditions in Western Ma today with high winds. Maybe they can get out of town tonight as the storm winds down.

Smooth sailing, left late afternoon from Hartford. No excuses, need a big win.

How cool would it be if the team goes on a tear & gets hot for the tournament? This is a good group of guys and I'd love to see them go out on a winning note

Ball State has averaged 64 points per game in MAC play. I need to do no further analysis.

Ball State is the last place team in the MAC right now.. this shouldn't be a big win. Should be an easy win if they're the last place team.

I predict a close game.

Floyd wrote: Mon Feb 23, 2026 8:43 pm How cool would it be if the team goes on a tear & gets hot for the tournament? This is a good group of guys and I'd love to see them go out on a winning note

That would be cool. There is a 0% chance that happens.

Only a 4.5 point favorite - I'd be shocked if we did not win this one by double digits.

Uminuteman wrote: Tue Feb 24, 2026 7:01 am

Floyd wrote: Mon Feb 23, 2026 8:43 pm How cool would it be if the team goes on a tear & gets hot for the tournament? This is a good group of guys and I'd love to see them go out on a winning note

That would be cool. There is a 0% chance that happens.

Would not say 0% chance - I have actually thought the same thing - you see all the time in conference tourneys, you get a guard or two get red hot for three days and they carry their teams to a championship - Parker and Banks have that ability.

^ yup, Parker, Banks, Leo get hot, DHS gets back to his double double self, & Danny continues his improved play, and we'd be tough. Need some solid bench play but I dont think that's unable to happen. I think these guys know they're better than the record and the time is now to show it.

MakeMullinsGreatAgain wrote: Tue Feb 24, 2026 8:19 am Only a 4.5 point favorite - I'd be shocked if we did not win this one by double digits.

Have you watched this team play? How many games have we won by double digits? 2? 3?

Floyd wrote: Tue Feb 24, 2026 8:29 am ^ yup, Parker, Banks, Leo get hot, DHS gets back to his double double self, & Danny continues his improved play, and we'd be tough. Need some solid bench play but I dont think that's unable to happen. I think these guys know they're better than the record and the time is now to show it.

Right on Floyd, but you have to play the right guys. After Parker, Clerc and Placide seem like they should be the next men up off the bench, but we know that probably won't happen. Maybe Frank has seen enough of Luka over the last few games and he goes back to Clerc*, but I doubt he's going to play Placide over Wimbley.

*To be clear, I'm not 100% on the Clerc train. I think he's marginally better than Luka, not a major upgrade, and there might be instances where Luka is the better option depending on the individual matchup. Overall though, I think Clerc is a minor upgrade, which might just be enough to push you over the line in these close games.

sbloombe wrote: Tue Feb 24, 2026 8:30 am

MakeMullinsGreatAgain wrote: Tue Feb 24, 2026 8:19 am Only a 4.5 point favorite - I'd be shocked if we did not win this one by double digits.

Have you watched this team play? How many games have we won by double digits? 2? 3?

I think it's 3. perhaps more relevant is how many MAC games have been won by double digits? Zero. OTOH, I don't recall any MAC losses by double digits either. Can't say that about Ball State.