After eight semesters in Muncie and two years as the sports editor of The Ball State Daily News, I’ve learned sports at Ball State are about more than just winning. The Cardinals offered something the big schools didn’t when I went to each game: heart and familiarity.
Outside of cancellations due to the Coronavirus outbreak in March, both of Ball State's men's and women's programs has been extremely busy in welcoming players into the program, scouting players and seeing players depart from Muncie.
Coming off a career-high season, junior guard Ishmael El-Amin announced on Twitter Tuesday afternoon that he would be "opening his recruitment to find his future home".
Freshman guard Lucas Kroft announced via Twitter that he is planning to "transfer and pursue another opportunity elsewhere" on Monday. The freshman played 14 games with Ball State, recording 16 points, 11 rebounds and three assists in 122 minutes of playing time.
On March 12, the Mid-American Conference made the announcement it would be canceling regular season, championship and non-traditional competition for the rest of the 2019-20 academic school year in concern with the coronavirus (COVID-19). Here is how Ball State athletes and coaches reacted to the announcement.
Mid-American Conference commissioner Jon Steinbrecher announced at a press conference at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on March. 12 that the 2020 MAC Basketball Tournament has been canceled over concerns of Coronavirus (COVID-19).
With the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament in the books, the brackets for both the men's and women's tournaments have been set. In the women's bracket, No. 2 Ball State Women's Basketball will face No. 7 Eastern Michigan. In the men's bracket, No. 3 Ball State Men's Basketball will face No. 6 Kent State.
After a injury in the first half caused redshirt freshman guard Kani Acree to leave the game, his heart and drive to win would see him return to the game, helping Ball State Men's Basketball clinch a BYE in the upcoming Mid-American Conference Tournament.
In its first game of March, Ball State Women's Basketball got a sour taste of "March basketball" as Northern Illinois routed the Cardinals 70-62.
The Cardinals not only defeated the reigning MAC Champions on the road 195.800-195.750, but they set a program record for the overall score along the way.
