2015–16 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team

The 2015–16 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team represented Ball State University during the 2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cardinals, led by third year head coach James Whitford, played their home games at Worthen Arena as members of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 21–14, 10–8 in MAC play to finish in a tie for the West Division championship. They lost to Miami (OH) in the first round of the MAC Tournament. They were invited to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament where they defeated Tennessee State and UT Martin to advance to the quarterfinals where they lost to Columbia.

2015–16 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball
MAC West Division co–champions
CIT, Quarterfinals
ConferenceMid-American Conference
DivisionWest Division
2015–16 record21–14 (10–8 MAC)
Head coachJames Whitford (3rd season)
Assistant coaches
  • Jason Grunkemeyer
  • Danny Peters
  • Brian Thornton
Home arenaWorthen Arena
2015–16 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
East
Akron135 .722  269  .743
Ohio117 .611  2312  .657
Kent State108 .556  1913  .594
Buffalo108 .556  2015  .571
Miami (OH)612 .333  1320  .394
Bowling Green513 .278  1618  .471
West
Ball State108 .556  2114  .600
Central Michigan108 .556  1716  .515
Northern Illinois99 .500  2113  .618
Eastern Michigan99 .500  1815  .545
Toledo810 .444  1715  .531
Western Michigan711 .389  1319  .406
2016 MAC Tournament winner

Previous season

The Cardinals finished the previous season 7–23, 2–16 in MAC play to finish in last place in the West Division. They lost in the first round of the MAC Tournament to Bowling Green.

Departures

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Zavier Turner1G5'9"170SophomoreIndianapolis, INTransferred to Manhattan
Matt Kamieniecki2F/C6'8"238RS SeniorClarkston, MIGraduated
Tye Wilburn3G5'11"185FreshmanSchererville, INTransferred to Kilgore College
Rashaun Richardson32F6'8"190FreshmanIndianapolis, INTransferred to John A. Logan College
Mading Thok44C6'11"222RS SophomoreBoyden, INTransferred to Minnesota State

Incoming Transfers

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious School
Tayler Persons2G6'3"230SophomoreKokomo, INTransferred from Northern Kentucky. Under NCAA transfer rules, Persons will have to sit out for the 2015–16 season. Will have three years of remaining eligibility.
Naiel Smith3G6'4"190JuniorBrooklyn, NYJunior college transferred from San Jacinto College
Nate Wells52C7'1"260RS SeniorDavenport, IATransfer from Bradley. Will be eligible to play immediately since Wells graduated from Bradley.

Recruiting class of 2015

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Tahjai Teague
#37 PF
Indianapolis, IN Pike High School 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Oct 14, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 80
Trey Moses
PF
Louisville, KY Eastern High School 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Sep 23, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2015 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved September 21, 2015.

    Roster

    2015–16 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
    G 0 Francis Kiapway 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)190 lb (86 kg) FrSt. Thomas More (CT) Hamilton, Ontario
    G 1 Naiel Smith 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)200 lb (91 kg) JrQueen City Prep (NC)
    San Jacinto College
    Brooklyn, NY
    G 2 Tayler Persons (I)  6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)213 lb (97 kg) SoKokomo
    Northern Kentucky
    Kokomo, Indiana
    F 5 Rocco Belcaster 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)221 lb (100 kg) RS JrMorton HS Berwyn, IL
    G 11 Kaleb Mallory (W) 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)160 lb (73 kg) JrMuncie Central HS Muncie, IN
    F 12 Bo Calhoun 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)245 lb (111 kg) SrWashington HS South Bend, IN
    F 15 Franko House 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)247 lb (112 kg) JrConcord HS Elkhart, IN
    F 21 Gill Bik 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)227 lb (103 kg) SrAscension of Our Lord Secondary School
    Owens CC
    Toronto, ON
    F 22 Jermaine Tyler 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)172 lb (78 kg) SoArsenal Tech Indianapolis, IN
    F 24 Jeremiah Davis 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)210 lb (95 kg) RS SrHuntington Prep
    Cincinnati
    Muncie, IN
    F 25 Tahjai Teague 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)195 lb (88 kg) FrPike Indianapolis, IN
    G/F 33 Ryan Weber 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)226 lb (103 kg) RS JrRoncalli HS
    Youngstown State
    Indianapolis, IN
    F 34 Sean Sellers 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)208 lb (94 kg) SoGreensburg HS Greensburg, IN
    F/C 41 Trey Moses 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)245 lb (111 kg) FrEastern Louisville, KY
    C 52 Nate Wells 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)247 lb (112 kg) RS SrWest
    Bradley
    Davenport, IA
    Head coach
    Assistant coach(es)

    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • (W) Walk-on

    Roster

    Schedule

    Source:

    Date
    time, TV
    Opponent Result Record Site (attendance)
    city, state
    Non-conference regular season
    11/13/2015*
    8:00 pm, ESPN3
    at Bradley L 53–54  0–1
    Carver Arena (6,553)
    Peoria, IL
    11/16/2015*
    7:00 pm, ESPN3
    Eastern Illinois W 73–56  1–1
    Worthen Arena (2,864)
    Muncie, IN
    11/20/2015*
    6:00 pm
    at Eastern Kentucky
    EKUHoops Classic
    L 81–89  1–2
    Alumni Coliseum (2,150)
    Richmond, KY
    11/21/2015*
    4:30 pm
    vs. Longwood
    EKUHoops Classic
    W 78–67  2–2
    Alumni Coliseum (500)
    Richmond, KY
    11/22/2015*
    4:30 pm
    vs. South Carolina State
    EKUHoops Classic
    W 72–60  3–2
    Alumni Coliseum (500)
    Richmond, KY
    11/25/2015*
    7:00 pm, ESPN3
    IU Kokomo W 90–54  4–2
    Worthen Arena (2,129)
    Muncie, IN
    11/28/2015*
    2:00 pm, ESPN3
    Valparaiso W 69–66  5–2
    Worthen Arena (2,447)
    Muncie, IN
    12/01/2015*
    7:00 pm, ESPN3
    IUPUI W 61–58  6–2
    Worthen Arena (2,397)
    Muncie, IN
    12/05/2015*
    2:00 pm, ESPN3
    New Orleans W 66–52  7–2
    Worthen Arena (2,528)
    Muncie, IN
    12/12/2015*
    1:00 pm, ESPN3
    Pepperdine L 63–72  7–3
    Worthen Arena (2,816)
    Muncie, IN
    12/22/2015*
    7:00 PM, ESPN3
    at Indiana State L 61–73  7–4
    Hulman Center (3,256)
    Terre Haute, IN
    12/29/2015*
    7:00 pm, ESPN3
    Alabama A&M W 63–62  8–4
    Worthen Arena (2,356)
    Muncie, IN
    12/31/2015*
    2:00 pm, ESPN3
    Chicago State W 73–48  9–4
    Worthen Arena (2,251)
    Muncie, IN
    MAC regular season
    01/06/2016
    7:00 pm, ESPN3
    Toledo W 87–69  10–4
    (1–0)
    Worthen Arena (2,152)
    Muncie, IN
    01/09/2016
    2:00 pm
    at Ohio L 73–79  10–5
    (1–1)
    Convocation Center (6,703)
    Athens, OH
    01/12/2016
    7:00 pm, ESPN3
    at Western Michigan W 74–64  11–5
    (2–1)
    University Arena (1,901)
    Kalamazoo, MI
    01/16/2016
    2:00 pm, ESPN3
    Miami (OH) W 48–46  12–5
    (3–1)
    Worthen Arena (3,218)
    Muncie, IN
    01/19/2016
    7:00 pm, ESPN3
    Kent State L 68–76  12–6
    (3–2)
    Worthen Arena (3,190)
    Muncie, IN
    01/23/2016
    11:30 am, ESPN3
    at Eastern Michigan W 88-87 2OT 13-6
    (4-2)
    Convocation Center 
    Ypsilanti, MI
    01/26/2016
    7:00 pm, ESPN3
    at Buffalo L 64–76  13–7
    (4–3)
    Alumni Arena (3,522)
    Amherst, NY
    01/30/2016
    1:00 pm, ESPN3
    Akron L 64–73  13–8
    (4–4)
    Worthen Arena (3,021)
    Muncie, IN
    02/02/2016
    7:00 pm, ESPN3
    at Bowling Green W 72–64  14–8
    (5–4)
    Stroh Center (2,593)
    Bowling Green, OH
    02/06/2016
    2:00 pm, ESPN3
    Western Michigan W 75–71 OT 15–8
    (6–4)
    Worthen Arena (3,346)
    Muncie, IN
    02/09/2016
    7:00 pm, ESPN3
    Ohio L 69–72  15–9
    (6–5)
    Worthen Arena (3,100)
    Muncie, IN
    02/13/2016
    4:30 pm, ESPN3
    at Central Michigan W 75–63  16–9
    (7–5)
    McGuirk Arena (3,351)
    Mount Pleasant, MI
    02/16/2016
    7:00 pm, ESPN3
    at Miami (OH) W 73–56  17–9
    (8–5)
    Millett Hall (1,706)
    Oxford, OH
    02/19/2016
    6:30 pm, CBSSN
    Northern Illinois W 63–59  18–9
    (9–5)
    Worthen Arena (5,160)
    Muncie, IN
    02/23/2016
    8:00 pm, ESPN3
    at Toledo L 67–77  18–10
    (9–6)
    Savage Arena (4,112)
    Toledo, OH
    02/27/2016
    2:00 pm, ESPN3
    Eastern Michigan W 115–79  19–10
    (10–6)
    Worthen Arena (3,353)
    Muncie, IN
    03/01/2016
    7:00 pm, ESPN3
    Central Michigan L 57–65  19–11
    (10–7)
    Worthen Arena (2,738)
    Muncie, IN
    03/04/2016
    7:00 pm, CBSSN
    at Northern Illinois L 69–80  19–12
    (10–8)
    Convocation Center (2,102)
    DeKalb, IL
    MAC Tournament
    03/07/2016
    7:00 pm, ESPN3
    Miami (OH)
    First round
    W 49–47  19–13
    Worthen Arena (2,245)
    Muncie, IN
    CIT
    03/15/2016*
    8:00 pm
    at Tennessee State
    First round
    W 78–73 2OT 20–13
    Gentry Complex (1,013)
    Nashville, TN
    03/20/2016*
    6:00 pm
    UT Martin
    Second round
    W 83–80 OT 21–13
    Worthen Arena (1,203)
    Muncie, IN
    03/23/2016*
    7:00 pm
    at Columbia
    Quarterfinals
    L 67–69  21–14
    Levien Gymnasium (1,397)
    New York City, NY
    *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
    All times are in Eastern.
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    References

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