A fresh mix of talented newcomers and upperclassman leaders was a key issue as the Ball State men's basketball team hosted its annual media day with coach Billy Taylor.
Although the team is only a couple of practices into the season, Taylor said Thursday he's made sure the practices are as fast paced as possible, going from one drill to the next, trying to implement plays both offensively and defensively with a sense of urgency.
"Our guys are very excited. We have a lot of new faces on the roster that we're trying to get up to speed and learn our system," Taylor said. "We've been very competitive in practice. We certainly have more depth than in years past, and that's something very exciting for me as a coach to be able to go with a number of different options in lineups."
A six-member recruiting class, made up of five freshmen and a sophomore transfer from Wright State, has brought depth to the Cardinals after years of short benches.
As the team prepares for its season opener Nov. 14 against Eastern Illinois, Taylor said having seven returning players, including five who started a game last year, lifts a huge burden off the younger players' shoulders. He said having extra experience on the floor from his juniors and senior Malik Perry helps make the transition smoother.
Taylor said just like his older players, the young guys on the roster want minutes, and they're coming in and battling for minutes right away.
"We have very talented freshmen that can compete for minutes and certainly will get on the court for us," Taylor said. "It's a really nice mix to have [upperclassman] that understand what we're doing and what we're trying to accomplish."
Junior point guard Randy Davis, who led the team in free throw and 3-point percentage last season, has done his best to make his new teammates comfortable.
"The younger guys are looking pretty good," Davis said. "Coming in, they all show some strengths and weaknesses, but right now I'm just trying to help each one as much as I can. It's not just me, it's Jarrod [Jones] or Malik taking over the big guys and I'm trying to help the guards."
Davis said he's trying to get the newcomers up to the same speed he and the other more experienced players are. The best way for that to happen is for them to soak it all in at practice, he said.
Over the past couple of years, Ball State has been placed near the bottom half of the MAC in preseason polls. This year Ball State is near the top, ranked in the top-two spots by many preseason publications. To live up to those expectations they'll need contributions from all players — young and old.
"Everyone wants to win a championship and go to the NCAA Tournament, but it's the journey along the way," Taylor said. "It's the practices and conditioning and extra work you do, even the film sessions. It's the commitment to each other that makes it fun."
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