Ohio Basketball Topic
Topic: Official Game 23 Thread: Ball St.
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Ted Thompson
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Posted: 2/4/2024 11:51 AM

Use this thread to talk about anything game-related. For away games, we may have a separate travel thread.

Date: Tuesday February 6th, 2024 7:00 PM

Opponent: Ball St.  (12-10, 4-6 MAC)

Site: Worthen Arena

TV/Streaming: ESPN+

Radio: Ohio RadioThe Varsity Network App (free)

Ball St. statistics and roster 

Ball St. message board:  OverThePylon

M.D.W.S.T
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Posted: 2/4/2024 2:20 PM
No games will be easy, and we're always gonna struggle with dominant big men and Basheer Jihad will be no different (23.4 points, 8.4 boards in the last 5 games) but lock up everyone else and this should be a solid 10+ point W.

They've won 4 of their last 6, after losing 6 in a row.

Currently have the 2nd best scoring defense in the MAC. (OU is 3rd shockingly)
GraffZ06
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Posted: 2/4/2024 3:41 PM
This is a big one. Likely our most difficult roadie left that we have a realistic chance of winning.

This one could swing our final standing in Cleveland a spot or two.
bobcatsquared
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Posted: 2/4/2024 4:12 PM
This team was hit the hardest by the portal last spring. Starters lost include 6-9 Sparks (averaging 9 min, 3 pts, 2 reb at Indiana); Boogie Coleman (11 games, 13 min, 2 pts and 2 reb at Nebraska); and Sellers (team-high 17 pts at C. Fla).
Going just by minutes and stats, looks like 2 made the wrong decision and 1 made the correct one.
WxM
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Posted: 2/4/2024 9:20 PM
This game will tell us a lot about the 'Cats. This is the kind of game we need to win if we want to be at least a Top 4 MAC team. Yes, it's a road game, but a road game against a beatable team that's just good enough to beat us. If we lose, we will fall back towards the pack of mediocrity in the conference.
Last Edited: 2/4/2024 9:21:19 PM by WxM
WxM
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Posted: 2/4/2024 9:25 PM
M.D.W.S.T wrote:expand_more
No games will be easy, and we're always gonna struggle with dominant big men and Basheer Jihad will be no different (23.4 points, 8.4 boards in the last 5 games) but lock up everyone else and this should be a solid 10+ point W.

They've won 4 of their last 6, after losing 6 in a row.

Currently have the 2nd best scoring defense in the MAC. (OU is 3rd shockingly)

KenPom has us sixth defensively (immediately behind Toledo). Ball State is ninth. They have us third offensively (close behind Akron). Ball State is sixth.

By the way, Detroit Mercy (who we beat earlier this season) is now one of two 362 winless teams (Mississippi Valley State).
Last Edited: 2/4/2024 9:27:04 PM by WxM
Ted Thompson
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Posted: 2/5/2024 10:06 PM

 

GraffZ06
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Posted: 2/6/2024 12:25 AM
Torvik has this as a 1 pt loss 75-74.

Will our defense/defensive rebounding/not fouling travel well enough to keep them under 70? If so, and we aren't ice cold from 3, then we have a good chance.

This is a true toss-up/pick-em.
Andrew Ruck
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Posted: 2/6/2024 8:10 AM
Vegas has us as 1.5 point favorites.

Sidebar, CMU is a 15 point underdog at Akron. That's pretty wild. Vegas clearly thinks CMU has lucked their way to their 8-2 record.
M.D.W.S.T
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Posted: 2/6/2024 11:52 AM
Andrew Ruck wrote:expand_more
Vegas has us as 1.5 point favorites.

Sidebar, CMU is a 15 point underdog at Akron. That's pretty wild. Vegas clearly thinks CMU has lucked their way to their 8-2 record.
I also think Cinderella might be losing her slipper.

They don't scare me. I think we pass them in the standings. We're still terrible on the road, but think we can finish 5-3. 11-7 in the conference. Hang on to 4th. Similar to football, the bottom is b-a-d. And we're good enough to hang around and beat most teams any given night.

Outside Akron/Toledo, BG scares me. They're built for March. Strong guards, multiple good big men.
Last Edited: 2/6/2024 11:56:43 AM by M.D.W.S.T
GraffZ06
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Posted: 2/6/2024 6:49 PM
M.D.W.S.T wrote:expand_more
They don't scare me. I think we pass them in the standings. We're still terrible on the road, but think we can finish 5-3. 11-7 in the conference. Hang on to 4th. Similar to football, the bottom is b-a-d. And we're good enough to hang around and beat most teams any given night.

Outside Akron/Toledo, BG scares me. They're built for March. Strong guards, multiple good big men.
Agree with this. Just finish in top 5 to avoid Akron/Toledo/BG in first round and we're playing in the semis.
bobcatsquared
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Posted: 2/6/2024 7:01 PM
Best EPSN+ color commentator among MAC schools tonight as Ball St. hosts Ohio. Can't think of his name, but he sounds like a former coach. Very fair and knowledgeable.

The worst? Although not a MAC school, but Ohio has played at Cleveland St. a couple of times in recent years. And the Vikings' color man is as bad as it gets.

Edit: If there was any doubt who the is premier ESPN+ color commentator among MAC schools, it was put to rest early in tonight's game when the Cardinal announcer shared that he's a fan of Curb Your Enthusiasm and mentioned the season premier from 2 nights ago.

"Pretty, pretty, pretty good."
Last Edited: 2/6/2024 8:06:32 PM by bobcatsquared
Cats5
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Posted: 2/6/2024 7:14 PM
Gabe pulls out two or three post moves that look amazing for someone his size. The way he tries to finish though…. looks like what we’d expect lol
Casper71
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Posted: 2/6/2024 7:16 PM
13 to 2 when the subs went in.

Wow, we can make some god-awful turnovers. Jumping up in the air, not knowing where we’re going, throwing about 30 feet over somebody’s head? Can we please value every possession.
Last Edited: 2/6/2024 7:52:18 PM by Casper71
LuckySparrow
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Posted: 2/6/2024 7:55 PM
Up +9 on the road at half. I'll take it.

Miles Brown getting his shot back is huge. Jaylin, too.

Fouls have kept Ball State in the game.
Casper71
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Posted: 2/6/2024 8:09 PM
My favorite defensive play again. Tripple on the lane leave the three-pointer wide-open at the top of the circle.

Where is Sharif?
Last Edited: 2/6/2024 8:43:42 PM by Casper71
LuckySparrow
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Posted: 2/6/2024 8:42 PM
Wiz at the line!!!

4 fouls though

Ball State getting a ton of quick attempts and draining shots this half.

Alpha Jaylin is out tonight
Last Edited: 2/6/2024 8:43:50 PM by LuckySparrow
Cats5
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Posted: 2/6/2024 8:44 PM
Ball state went from terrible shooters to can’t miss lol
Last Edited: 2/6/2024 8:44:22 PM by Cats5
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
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Posted: 2/6/2024 8:46 PM
Cool 18 offensive rebounds for Ball State.
LuckySparrow
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Posted: 2/6/2024 8:47 PM
We are getting KILLED on the boards.

The rare time they miss a shot seems like they are always getting the offensive rebound.
Cats5
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Posted: 2/6/2024 8:48 PM
Don’t see us winning this one
Casper71
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Posted: 2/6/2024 8:48 PM
If we don’t finish the way we started we are toast

God, our lack of size is just crushing us tonight
Last Edited: 2/6/2024 9:03:08 PM by Casper71
SBH
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Posted: 2/6/2024 8:49 PM
bobcatsquared wrote:expand_more
Best EPSN+ color commentator among MAC schools tonight as Ball St. hosts Ohio. Can't think of his name, but he sounds like a former coach. Very fair and knowledgeable.

The worst? Although not a MAC school, but Ohio has played at Cleveland St. a couple of times in recent years. And the Vikings' color man is as bad as it gets.

Edit: If there was any doubt who the is premier ESPN+ color commentator among MAC schools, it was put to rest early in tonight's game when the Cardinal announcer shared that he's a fan of Curb Your Enthusiasm and mentioned the season premier from 2 nights ago.

"Pretty, pretty, pretty good."
Not crazy about our own color man. Much prefer Dave Cecutti who has been doing tv games.
Last Edited: 2/6/2024 9:24:12 PM by SBH
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
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Posted: 2/6/2024 8:55 PM
Hunter is good again. Didn't want to jinx it after only a couple of games, but he's playing like a first team all MAC guy.

We only go as far as he goes, so it's a good thing to see.
LuckySparrow
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Posted: 2/6/2024 8:58 PM
Why does Boals insist on hoarding his timeouts at the end of close games???
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