2018–19 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team

2018–19 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball
ConferenceMid-American Conference
DivisionWest Division
Record16–17 (6–12 MAC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaWorthen Arena
Seasons
2018–19 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
East
No. 15 Buffalo 16 2   .889 32 4   .889
Bowling Green 12 6   .667 22 12   .647
Kent State 11 7   .611 22 11   .667
Akron 8 10   .444 17 16   .515
Miami (OH) 7 11   .389 15 17   .469
Ohio 6 12   .333 14 17   .452
West
Toledo 13 5   .722 25 8   .758
Central Michigan 10 8   .556 23 12   .657
Eastern Michigan 9 9   .500 15 17   .469
Northern Illinois 8 10   .444 17 17   .500
Ball State 6 12   .333 16 17   .485
Western Michigan 2 16   .111 8 24   .250
2019 MAC tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2018–19 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team represented Ball State University during the 2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cardinals, led by sixth-year head coach James Whitford, played their home games at Worthen Arena as members of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 16–17, 6–12 in MAC play to finish in fifth place in the West Division. They defeated Eastern Michigan in the first round of the MAC tournament before losing in the quarterfinals to Bowling Green.

Previous season

The Cardinals finished the 2017–18 season 19–13, 10–8 to finish in third place in the MAC West division. They lost in the quarterfinals of the MAC tournament to Kent State.

Offseason

Departures

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for departure
Francis Kiapway 0 G 6'3" 190 Senior Hamilton, ON Graduated
Jontrell Walker 1 G 6'1' 182 RS Junior Aurora, IL Graduate transferred to Jackson State
Tyler Leedy 11 G 6'0" 146 Freshman Zionsville, IN Walk-on; left the team for personal reasons
Sean Sellers 34 G/F 6'6" 216 Senior Greensburg, IN Graduated

Incoming Transfers

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous School
Miryne Thomas 1 F 6'8" 190 Sophomore Cleveland, OH Transferred from Maryland Eastern Shore. Under NCAA transfer rules, Thomas will have to sit out for the 2018–19 season. Will have three years of remaining eligibility.
Austin Nehls 20 G 6'3" 185 Senior Tucson, AZ Transferred from Central Connecticut. Will be eligible to play immediately since Nehls graduated from Central Connecticut.

Recruiting class of 2018

College recruiting information
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Jarron Coleman
SG
Indianapolis, IN Cathedral High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Apr 26, 2017 
Star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN grade: NR
Kani Acree
SF
Carbondale, IL Carbondale Community High School 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jul 13, 2017 
Star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: NR
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2018 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved November 1, 2018.

Recruiting class of 2019

College recruiting information (2019)
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Lucas Kroft
SG
Fort Wayne, IN North Side High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Jun 22, 2018 
Star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN grade: NR
Luke Bumbalough
SG
New Castle, IN New Castle High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Jun 24, 2018 
Star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN grade: NR
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

Roster

2018–19 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
F 0 Miryne Thomas Current redshirt 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 199 lb (90 kg) So Central Catholic
Maryland Eastern Shore
Cleveland, OH
G 1 K. J. Walton 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) RS Jr Brownsburg
Missouri
Indianapolis, IN
G 2 Tayler Persons 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 196 lb (89 kg) RS Sr Kokomo
Northern Kentucky
Kokomo, IN
G 3 Josh Thompson (W) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 194 lb (88 kg) RS Jr Lawrence North Indianapolis, IN
G 5 Ishmael El-Amin 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 195 lb (88 kg) So Hopkins Minneapolis, MN
G 11 Jarron Coleman 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 208 lb (94 kg) Fr Cathedral Indianapolis, IN
F 12 Brachen Hazen 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 211 lb (96 kg) RS So Columbia City
Arkansas
Columbia City, IN
G/F 13 Kani Acree 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Fr Carbondale Community Carbondale, IL
F 14 Kyle Mallers 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 217 lb (98 kg) Jr Carroll Fort Wayne, IN
F 15 Zach Gunn 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) So Hamilton Southeastern Fishers, IN
G 20 Austin Nehls 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 182 lb (83 kg) Sr Cheshire Academy
Central Connecticut State
Tucson, AZ
C 24 Trey Moses 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Sr Eastern Louisville, KY
F 25 Tahjai Teague 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) RS Jr Pike Indianapolis, IN
C 44 Blake Huggins 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 245 lb (111 kg) RS Fr Obion County Central Union City, TN
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV
Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
Nov 2, 2018*
7:00 pm
Indianapolis W 92–76 
Worthen Arena (3,214)
Muncie, IN
Non-conference regular season
Nov 6, 2018*
7:00 pm, ESPN+
Indiana State W 86–69  1–0
Worthen Arena (4,022)
Muncie, IN
Nov 10, 2018*
8:00 pm, BTN
at No. 24 Purdue
Charleston Classic non-bracket game
L 75–84  1–1
Mackey Arena (14,804)
West Lafayette, IN
Nov 15, 2018*
11:30 am, ESPN2
vs. No. 16 Virginia Tech
Charleston Classic quarterfinals
L 64–73  1–2
TD Arena (2,648)
Charleston, SC
Nov 16, 2018*
1:30 pm, ESPNU
vs. Alabama
Charleston Classic consolation 2nd round
L 61–79  1–3
TD Arena (2,752)
Charleston, SC
Nov 18, 2018*
11:00 am, ESPN3
vs. Appalachian State
Charleston Classic 7th place game
W 94–86 OT 2–3
TD Arena (2,862)
Charleston, SC
Nov 24, 2018*
2:00 pm, ESPN3
Evansville W 82–72  3–3
Worthen Arena (3,224)
Muncie, IN
Nov 27, 2018*
7:00 pm, ESPN+
Tiffin W 108–62  4–3
Worthen Arena (3,609)
Muncie, IN
Dec 1, 2018*
1:00 pm, ESPN3
at IUPUI W 85–75  5–3
Indiana Farmers Coliseum (2,150)
Indianapolis, IN
Dec 5, 2018*
9:00 pm, NBCSCH/ESPN+
at Loyola–Chicago W 75-69  6-3
Joseph J. Gentile Arena (2,831)
Chicago, IL
Dec 9, 2018*
3:00 pm, ESPN+
at Evansville L 77-89  6-4
Ford Center (5,672)
Evansville, IN
Dec 17, 2018*
8:00 pm, ESPN+
at Valparaiso W 77-61  7-4
Athletics–Recreation Center (3,636)
Valparaiso, IN
Dec 20, 2018*
7:00 pm, ESPN+
Howard W 98–71  8–4
Worthen Arena (3,324)
Muncie, IN
Dec 29, 2018*
2:00 pm, ESPN3
Delaware State W 116–57  9–4
Worthen Arena (3,424)
Muncie, IN
MAC regular season
Jan 4, 2019
7:00 pm, CBSSN
at Toledo W 79–64  10–4
(1–0)
Savage Arena (5,023)
Toledo, OH
Jan 8, 2019
7:00 pm, ESPN+
Eastern Michigan W 84–82 2OT 10–5
(1–1)
Worthen Arena (4,248)
Muncie, IN
Jan 12, 2019
12:00 pm, ESPN+
Ohio W 70–52  10–6
(1–2)
Worthen Arena (4,076)
Muncie, IN
Jan 15, 2019
7:00 pm, ESPN+
at Bowling Green W 79–78  10–7
(1–3)
Stroh Center (1,507)
Bowling Green, OH
Jan 19, 2019
4:30 pm, ESPN3
at Central Michigan W 83–72  11–7
(2–3)
McGuirk Arena (2,204)
Mount Pleasant, MI
Jan 22, 2019
7:00 pm, ESPN+
Miami (OH) W 71–65  11–8
(2–4)
Worthen Arena (3,742)
Muncie, IN
Jan 26, 2019
2:00 pm, ESPN3
at Ohio L 74–78  11–9
(2–5)
Convocation Center (6,556)
Athens, OH
Jan 29, 2019
7:00 pm, ESPN3
at No. 18 Buffalo L 59–83  11–10
(2–6)
Alumni Arena (4,747)
Amherst, NY
Feb 2, 2019
12:00 pm, CBSSN
Kent State W 83–80 OT 11–11
(2–7)
Worthen Arena (4,024)
Muncie, IN
Feb 5, 2019
8:00 pm, ESPN+
at Northern Illinois W 72–71  12–11
(3–7)
Convocation Center (462)
DeKalb, IL
Feb 9, 2019
2:00 pm, ESPN+
Western Michigan W 79–59  13–11
(4–7)
Worthen Arena (4,312)
Muncie, IN
Feb 16, 2019
2:00 pm, ESPN3
Akron W 57–56  14–11
(5–7)
Worthen Arena (4,577)
Muncie, IN
Feb 19, 2019
7:00 pm, ESPN+
at Miami (OH) W 69–66  14–12
(5–8)
Millett Hall (1,871)
Oxford, OH
Feb 23, 2019
2:00 pm, ESPN+
Central Michigan L 57–64  14–13
(5–9)
Worthen Arena (4,834)
Muncie, IN
Feb 26, 2019
7:00 pm, ESPN+
Toledo L 72–80  14–14
(5–10)
Worthen Arena (4,691)
Muncie, IN
Mar 2, 2019
4:00 pm, ESPN+
at Western Michigan W 60–58  15–14
(6–10)
University Arena (2,441)
Kalamazoo, MI
Mar 5, 2019
7:00 pm, ESPN+
at Eastern Michigan L 61–68  15–15
(6–11)
Convocation Center (1,780)
Ypsilanti, MI
Mar 8, 2019
7:00 pm, ESPN+
Northern Illinois W 64–57  15–16
(6–12)
Worthen Arena (5,524)
Muncie, IN
MAC tournament
Mar 11, 2019
7:00 pm, ESPN+
(11) at (6) Eastern Michigan
First Round
W 61–43  16–16
Convocation Center (1,265)
Ypsilanti, MI
Mar 14, 2019
9:00 pm, ESPN+
(11) vs. (3) Bowling Green
Quarterfinals
L 86–99  16–17
Quicken Loans Arena (2,499)
Cleveland, OH
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Eastern Time Source[1][2].

See also

References