They put the madness in March: this year’s underdogs and why they pose a threat
By Gabi Glass / March 19, 2019It’s upset season in college basketball, and there are a few underdogs who may surprise you this March.
It’s upset season in college basketball, and there are a few underdogs who may surprise you this March.
From last season to this, Zion Williamson has played a huge role in the Blue Devils' success. Making a run to the Midwest Regional Championship last season, Duke is a favorite to win the entire tournament this season.
Every year, people fill out their brackets in a wide variety of ways. Whether you pick the teams close to your heart, the best of the best or you simply like the team name, here are some strategies for you to try to perfect your bracket or leave it covered in red.
After a successful 2018 season, in which the team upset No. 9 Notre Dame and picked up 19 wins along the way, expectations were high for the Cardinals heading into the 2019 season.
With 57 seconds left and the game all but over, redshirt senior guard Tayler Persons headed to the bench one last time. The final buzzer sounded, and Bowling Green celebrated a 99-86 win over Ball State to send the Falcons to the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament. It put an end to not only the Cardinals’ season, but a couple Cardinals’ careers as well.
Bowling Green (21-11, 12-6 MAC) took advantage of the Cardinals exhaust to hand Ball State Men's Basketball (16-17, 6-12 MAC) a season ending loss in the Mid-American Conference quarterfinals, 99-86.
From as little as one season to as many as 132 games, these three players have impacted and been impacted by the Ball State and Muncie communities in their time as athletes and students. When the final buzzer sounds, these are their final remarks in dawning the cardinal and white.
Despite a record with just eight wins and a roster featuring six freshmen, Ball State Women's Basketball saw immense growth throughout the 2018-2019 season.
Heading into the NCAA Tournament, it was no question the team's opponent, the Tennessee Volunteers, would present a challenge in the first round. But the outcome was anything but predictable.
Well, one more game has turned into another one more game. Ball State (16-16, 7-12 MAC) took down higher-seeded Eastern Michigan (15-17, 9-9 MAC) 61-43 on the road Monday in the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament.
Another game involving Ball State Women's Basketball (8-23, 3-15 MAC) and Toledo (20-10, 12-7 MAC) came down to the wire and the Rockets were able to sneak away with the victory for the third time this season against the Cardinals,
While Ball State (8-23, 3-15 MAC) managed to outscore Toledo (20-10, 12-7 MAC) in every quarter apart from the first, the early deficit gave the Rockets enough headway to come out victorious to advance to the second round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament, sending the Cardinals back to Muncie and ending their season.
Outscoring the Eagles 38-14 in the second half, Ball State Men's Basketball (16-16, 7-12 MAC) took off to upset sixth seeded Eastern Michigan (15-17, 9-9 MAC) 61-53.
One more game. There could be more pending a win, but at the moment, Ball State has one more game.
Ball State Women's Basketball (8-22, 2-15 MAC) was not able to keep control of the game as they gave up a 13-point lead and fell short in the regular season finale to Eastern Michigan (13-16, 6-12 MAC), 67-57.
There’s a reason it’s called “March Madness.” “It’s March,” Ball State redshirt senior guard Tayler Persons said. “Anything can happen.” Along with Persons, Ball State (15-16, 6-12 MAC) honored seniors Trey Moses and Austin Nehls prior to its contest with Northern Illinois (15-16, 8-10 MAC) for senior night Friday.
It was senior night for Northern Illinois (17-12, 9-8 MAC) Wednesday, but Huskie senior guard Mikayla Voigt’s 30 points and seven 3-pointers weren’t enough to give Ball State Women’s Basketball (8-21, 3-14 MAC) its 11th consecutive loss.
Ball State (15-15, 6-11 MAC) has allowed an opposing player to score 20 points and grab 20 rebounds twice this season. Neither occurred in the Cardinals’ first 28 games.
Déjà vu? For the second time in its last three games, Ball State has gone down to the wire when it led by double digits in the second half.
A slow start for Ball State (7-21, 2-14 MAC) damaged its hopes of getting back in the win column as the Cardinals fell to Western Michigan (10-17, 4-12 MAC), 72-54.
