Well, it has been another drab year in athletics at Ball State University.
Last season, only two teams (men's tennis, baseball) won MAC titles. This year saw the same number (soccer and women's basketball) reach the top of the hill in the MAC.
Of course, the soccer team abruptly lost in its opening game of the MAC Tournament to Miami University 2-1, three days after defeating the Redhawks 4-2. Props to the women's basketball team, however, for reaching the Women's National Invitational Tournament after winning the MAC West.
There's room for improvement, however. With so much young talent coming back in all sports, there's nowhere to go but up for these teams. Without further ado, here's what to look for in the 2007-08 season.
FOOTBALL
Outlook: This is the year coach Brady Hoke and his staff have looked forward to since he came to Muncie in 2003. Apparently, Tom Collins believes this as well after giving Hoke a contract extension last year. As long as the defense plays as it did in the past three MAC games, all the pieces are in place for a run at the MAC title. Luckily, there is no running back in the conference like Garrett Wolfe.
Key player:MiQuale Lewis or Frank Edmonds, running backs. Quarterback Nate Davis is going to produce; that isn't an issue. This team will go as far as Lewis or Edmonds can take it. No team can win without a running game, and the running backs will be expected to carry a heavy burden. Last year, the Cardinals averaged just 91.5 yards per game. They'll need at least 130 yards from the running back position.
Key game:Ball State vs. Central Michigan, Oct. 6. Forget the non-conference foes. The two best teams in the MAC (Central and BSU) also possess the two best QBs (Dan LeFevour and Davis). Whoever wins this game will have the inside track to the MAC West title and will prove just how far the Cardinals have come.
Prediction:Ball State probably doesn't have enough to hang with Nebraska (the Huskers won't rest their players like Michigan did). Navy, Illinois and Indiana are all winnable games. Look for the Cardinals to finish 9-3 at best (losses to Nebraska, Illinois and either Navy or Central Michigan) and possibly play for the MAC title. A 9-3 record would easily get them into a bowl game.
WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Outlook:How do you replace CVU.com National Libero of the Year Amanda McCormick? Good question. First-year coach David Boos will have to do that quickly. The most likely candidate is Alyssa Rio, who will not step foot onto campus until the fall. This past season was the first losing season in then-coach Randy Litchfield's 18 years at Ball State. To most, Litchfield IS Ball State women's volleyball. Boos has some big shoes to fill, but his experience at Minnesota should have prepared him well.
Key Player:Julie Breivogel. As a freshman, she led the team in kills with 377. With outside attacker Kelly Cochran graduated, she'll play an even bigger role in the offense. She should have help inside with Brittany May.
Key game:Ball State vs. Ohio. When isn't playing Ohio a big game? The schedule hasn't been announced, but each team circles this one with a big red marker. It has been awhile since Ball State has defeated the Bobcats, and Ohio sits at the top of the pedestal in the MAC, a position Ball State held in the mid-'90s.
Prediction:There's no reason this team shouldn't play above .500. Replacing McCormick is going to be difficult; she took up a lot of space on the court. If Rio can play half as well as McCormick, second place in the MAC West isn't out of reach.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Outlook:Even the most pessimistic fans usually give a coach two or three years to produce a winner. However, it looks as if people have already turned on Ronny Thompson. In his first season, the team showed no progress. Peyton Stovall never reached 2004-05 form; Skip Mills, although hobbled by injuries, never showed the spark from 2005-06 when he carried the entire team on his shoulders. The offense looks more stagnant than when Tim Buckley was the coach. Steve Horton started about 23 more games than he should have as point guard. It's not very often when you get a point guard at the Division I-A level who can't shoot, penetrate through the lane or distribute the ball, but, by golly, Horton accomplished that.
Key Player:Stovall. Quite simply, Stovall needs to regain his form from 2004-05 when he was the point guard. With Horton gone and Stovall likely to retake the point position, the Cards will need him at 100 percent to reach maximum potential in 2007-08.
Key game:Ball State vs. Georgetown. Since this is the only non-conference game I can remember, I'll choose this. Expect the Cardinals to get blown out, but hey, at least the Hoyas are coming to Muncie, and "The Nest" should be rocking. And also the fact that Thompson's brother, John Thompson III, is the Hoyas coach should make it interesting.
Prediction:Pain. For the Ball State fans who have to watch this product. For the second straight year, there is a major overhaul of the players -five new ones -¡-with three coming via the junior college/community college route. If Stovall regains the form of old, and Newell makes another huge leap in production, finishing in the top half of the MAC West is possible. Until these guys can prove it on the court, look for something in the 12-14 win range.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Outlook:Nearly every key player for Bowling Green graduates, so there is no reason Ball State shouldn't take care of business in the MAC. Collins is expecting this as well, considering you normally don't give head coaches 76 percent raises unless you're expecting big things. Point guard Kelsey Corbin and top bench player Tina Bolte depart, but every other key contributor is back.
Key Player:Lisa Rusche. When defenses double team on Julie DeMuth, Rusche is the one expected to clean up the garbage, and she hasn't disappointed. She averaged 11.2 points and 6.9 rebounds a game last year and will combine with DeMuth as the top interior twosome in the league.
Key game:Ball State vs. Bowling Green. Duh. The Cardinals didn't really come all that close to beating the Falcons in either match-up this year, but 2007-08 is clearly the year for Ball State. And the way to make an emphatic statement would be a 30-point trouncing of BG.
Outlook:Bowling Green went 31-4 last year and made it to the Sweet 16. It isn't far-fetched to believe Ball State can do something similar in 2007-08. Look for the Cardinals to either go undefeated or lose only one game in the MAC and punch a ticket to the Big Dance next year. Anything less would be considered a failure.
Write to Phil at prfriend@bsu.edu
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