Through most of the season, Ball State University's men's basketball team has persevered through many defeats and remained focused.
Now that the Cardinals are on their first winning streak of the year, coach Billy Taylor said he is sure that focus will intensify.
"I think the kids are still very driven, very hungry," Taylor said. "I think [they] are starting to feel a little more confident."
Ball State will need that focus down the home stretch of the regular season. The Cardinals will play four of their last five games of the regular season on the road, the first of which is at 7 p.m. at Central Michigan University.
The Cardinals beat the Chippewas in the teams' first meeting, an 82-71 win in which Ball State paraded to the free-throw line 51 times, a Worthen Arena record.
Taylor said he expects the rematch to be just as competitive.
"They've lost three in a row, so they're going to be very hungry and want to protect their home court," Taylor said. "We're going to have to play good basketball to win."
Ball State is in an unusual circumstance entering tonight's game.
The Central Michigan game will be Ball State's last Mid-American Conference contest for a week-and-a-half. The Cardinals' BracketBuster game is Saturday night, followed by a one-week break before the team returns to action.
Taylor said the scheduling quirk makes it easier for his team to stay focused on the Chippewas.
"You kind of lose perspective of what that next game is," Taylor said. "But we can really focus in on Central."
The Cardinals won their first road game of the season last Wednesday at University at Buffalo.
Taylor said after the team's previous competitive games on the road, the win at Buffalo helped its confidence immensely.
"There was a lot of excitement about getting that first road win," Taylor said. "Our kids had been very close but hadn't been able to break through. We've made huge progress on the road."
After Sunday's win against the University of Toledo, freshman forward Malik Perry, who had a career-high 14 rebounds in the game, said the team had gelled with everyone knowing their role. Taylor agreed with that assessment.
"I think his coaches were always telling him what we need to do; it's just a matter of time before they figure it out," Taylor said. "I think our kids are understanding what's necessary. Our identity is our defense and taking that defense and converting it into transition opportunities."
The Cardinals enter tonight's game 1-4 on the road in MAC play, but those four losses have come by a total of 11 points.
Taylor said he is confident in his team continuing to play well away from Muncie.
"If we can be competitive like we have been in the last few road games, I like our chances," Taylor said.
One game away from the third-place position in the MAC West Division, Ball State is in place to improve its league tournament seed before the season ends. Taylor, however, said he's not concerned with that.
"I haven't really looked at standings," Taylor said. "We're trying to focus our kids on one game at a time. If we can play well and do what we're supposed to do, the seedings will work itself out."
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