One big storyline of today's matchup is Butler's status as a mid-major. Neither team, however, was willing to consider this a "small school versus big school" matchup. In fact, Butler sophomore Shelvin Mack said it was a media creation.
Playing basketball in a football stadium like Lucas Oil can be challenging. Lucas Oil Stadium will provide a much deeper background than the Bulldogs see in Hinkle Fieldhouse. Shooters often rely on depth perception to line up and make shots, and a larger arena can wreak havoc on that effort.
The Cardinals (20-6) will also look for a little respect nationally. After receiving seven votes in last week's USA Today/National Fast Pitch Coaches Association Top 25 poll, Ball State didn't receive a single vote in this week's poll, despite defeating IUPUI 11-4 in its only game of the week on Tuesday.
The Cardinals (10-15) scored six in the fourth inning and coasted to their third-straight victory. Starting pitcher Cal Bowling (1-3) took advantage of the big inning for his first win of the season. RedHawks starter Brooks Fiala (2-2) took the loss.
Forget the last 19 matches. It is all just preparation at this point. Come today, the Ball State University men's tennis team will see if all the hours it put in have paid off. Ball State's Mid-American Conference campaign begins with a match at home against the University of Toledo.
Including today's match at Northern Illinois University, five of the last six matches of the season for Ball State will be played on the road. And for Ball State, which has gone an ice cold 0-4 on the road this season, the prospect of trying to get back to a winning record doesn't look bright.
Ball State has won back-to-back games for the first time this season. It will look to win its second consecutive series today at 1 p.m. with Cal Bowling on the hill.
After a solid performance at last week's Polar Bear Invitational at Indiana Wesleyan University, the Ball State University track and field team is looking to improve itself going into this weekend's meet at Purdue University.
Each week, The Ball State Daily News sports staff picks its PPQ — the player, play and quote of the week. And, with the help of our online readers, the weekly fan choice is also featured. To vote in next week's poll, be sure to visit Monday's online edition of The Ball State Daily News.
Some Butler students were considered "priority students" and given first dibs at noon on Monday to get their Final Four basketball tickets. Several of those students, however, ruined the slight chances of the other non-priority students to get their tickets by sharing the tickets link to their friends.
Since the season began Feb. 19, the Cardinals (8-15) have played all 23 games on the road, visiting teams in seven states. So the team is understandably excited about its home opener Friday at 3 p.m. against Miami University (11-12).
Check out the capsules of the Final Four teams as they embark on Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium for the 2010 Final Four.
The Ball State University gymnastics team is taking advantage of the extra week of preparation before it competes in the NCAA Central Regionals on April 10.
Ball State is coming off its first victory against a ranked team this season, sweeping No. 3 California State University Northridge on Saturday. Coach Joel Walton, however, doesn't want his team to stop there.
Some Butler students were considered "priority students" and given first dibs at noon on Monday to get their Final Four basketball tickets. Several of those students, however, ruined the slight chances of the other non-priority students to get their tickets by sharing the tickets link to their friends.
Ball State improved to 20-6 this year with an 11-4 victory at IUPUI on Tuesday.
The competition between Kelly Page and Aaron Mershman kicked off last week with the start of spring practice, it but is expected to continue into training camp in August so incoming freshman Keith Wenning can get in the mix.
Ball State University will send three gymnasts plus an alternate to the NCAA Central Regionals, as announced by the NCAA Monday afternoon.
The Cardinals (19-6) head to the IUPUI Softball Complex for a showdown with the Jaguars (6-19) in a game that will mark the end of Ball State's 26 consecutive games away from home to start the season.
