2016–17 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team

The 2016–17 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team represented Ball State University during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cardinals, led by fourth-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 21–13, 11–7 in MAC play to finish in a tie for the West Division title. As the No. 4 seed in the MAC Tournament they defeated Western Michigan in the Quarterfinals to advance to the Semifinals where they lost to Akron. They were invited to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament where they lost in the First Round to Fort Wayne.

2016–17 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball
MAC West division co-champions
CIT, First Round
ConferenceMid-American Conference
DivisionWest Division
2016–17 record21–13 (11–7 MAC)
Head coachJames Whitford (4th season)
Assistant coaches
  • Jason Grunkemeyer
  • Danny Peters
  • Brian Thornton
Home arenaWorthen Arena
2016–17 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
East
Akron144 .778  279  .750
Ohio117 .611  2011  .645
Buffalo117 .611  1715  .531
Kent State108 .556  2214  .611
Bowling Green711 .389  1319  .406
Miami (OH)414 .222  1121  .344
West
Ball State117 .611  2113  .618
Western Michigan117 .611  1616  .500
Toledo99 .500  1717  .500
Eastern Michigan711 .389  1617  .485
Northern Illinois711 .389  1517  .469
Central Michigan612 .333  1616  .500
2017 MAC Tournament winner

Previous season

The Cardinals finished the 2015–16 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 before losing to Columbia.

Departures

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Naiel Smith1G6'4"200JuniorBrooklyn, NYGraduate transferred to Texas Wesleyan
Rocco Belcaster5F6'7"221RS JuniorBerwyn, ILLeft the team due to personal reasons
Bo Calhoun12F6'6"245SeniorSouth Bend, INGraduated
Gill Bik21F6'7"227SeniorToronto, ONGraduated
Jeremiah Davis24F6'4"210RS SeniorMuncie, INGraduated
Nate Wells52C7'1"247RS SeniorDavenport, IAGraduated

Incoming Transfers

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious School
Jontrell Walker1G6'1"188JuniorAurora, ILTransferred from Incarnate Word. Under NCAA transfer rules, Walker will have to sit out for the 2016–17 season. Will have two years of remaining eligibility.
Doudou Gueye35C6'10"250SeniorDakar, SenegalTransferred from South Carolina. Will eligible to play since Gueye graduated from South Carolina.

Recruiting class of 2016

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Kyle Mallers
#32 SF
Fort Wayne, IN Carroll High School 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Oct 15, 2015 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 78
Zach Hollywood
SF
Bourbonnais, IL Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) N/A May 4, 2016 
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:

  • "2016 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 6, 2016.

    Recruiting class of 2017

    Roster

    2016–17 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, ON
    G 1 Jontrell Walker (I)  6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)182 lb (83 kg) JrWest Aurora
    Incarnate Word
    Aurora, IL
    G 2 Tayler Persons 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)220 lb (100 kg) RS SoKokomo
    Northern Kentucky
    Kokomo, IN
    G 3 Josh Thompson (W) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)201 lb (91 kg) RS FrLawrence North Indianapolis, IN
    G 11 Kaleb Mallory (W) 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)168 lb (76 kg) SrMuncie Central Muncie, IN
    F 14 Kyle Mallers 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)225 lb (102 kg) FrCarroll Fort Wayne, IN
    F 15 Franko House 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)248 lb (112 kg) SrConcord HS Elkhart, IN
    F 22 Jermaine Tyler 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)170 lb (77 kg) JrArsenal Tech Indianapolis, IN
    F 24 Zach Hollywood 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)192 lb (87 kg) FrBradley-Bourbonnais Bradley, IL
    F 25 Tahjai Teague 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)195 lb (88 kg) RS FrPike Indianapolis, IN
    G/F 33 Ryan Weber 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)226 lb (103 kg) RS SrRoncalli HS
    Youngstown State
    Indianapolis, IN
    F 34 Sean Sellers 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)208 lb (94 kg) JrGreensburg Greensburg, IN
    C 35 DouDou Gueye 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)230 lb (104 kg) SrSEEDS Academy
    South Carolina State
    Dakar, Sengal
    F/C 41 Trey Moses 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)245 lb (111 kg) SoEastern Louisville, KY
    Head coach
    Assistant coach(es)

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

    Roster

    Schedule and results

    Date
    time, TV
    Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (attendance)
    city, state
    Exhibition
    11/03/2016*
    7:00 PM
    Indianapolis W 76–64 
    Worthen Arena (1,119)
    Muncie, IN
    Non-conference regular season
    11/11/2016*
    8:00 PM, FSMW
    at Saint Louis
    Men Who Speak Up Main Event
    W 85–64  1–0
    Chaifetz Arena (7,165)
    St. Louis, MO
    11/15/2016*
    7:00 PM, ESPN3
    Indiana State L 74–80  1–1
    Worthen Arena (3,845)
    Muncie, IN
    11/18/2016*
    9:00 PM, SECN
    at Alabama
    Men Who Speak Up Main Event
    L 59–77  1–2
    Coleman Coliseum (11,665)
    Tuscaloosa, AL
    11/21/2016*
    3:30 PM
    vs. Coppin State
    Men Who Speak Up Main Event
    W 79–77  2–2
    MGM Grand Garden Arena 
    Paradise, NV
    11/23/2016*
    3:30 PM
    vs. Southern Utah
    Men Who Speak Up Main Event
    W 94–83  3–2
    MGM Grand Garden Arena 
    Paradise, NV
    11/27/2016*
    2:30 PM, ESPN3
    at Valparaiso L 73–79  3–3
    Athletics–Recreation Center (3,166)
    Valparaiso, IN
    11/29/2016*
    7:00 PM, ESPN3
    IU Kokomo W 92–52  4–3
    Worthen Arena (3,039)
    Muncie, IN
    12/03/2016*
    2:00 PM, ESPN3
    IUPUI L 62–73  4–4
    Worthen Arena (2,994)
    Muncie, IN
    12/06/2016*
    7:00 PM, ESPN3
    Bradley W 80–63  5–4
    Worthen Arena (2,477)
    Muncie, IN
    12/10/2016*
    2:00 PM, ESPN3
    Eastern Kentucky W 91–86  6–4
    Worthen Arena (2,623)
    Muncie, IN
    12/19/2016*
    7:00 PM, ESPN3
    Longwood W 61–45  7–4
    Worthen Arena (2,115)
    Muncie, IN
    12/22/2016*
    7:00 PM, ESPN3
    Alabama State W 73–48  8–4
    Worthen Arena (2,543)
    Muncie, IN
    12/29/2016*
    7:00 PM, ESPN3
    at North Florida W 73–68  9–4
    UNF Arena (1,464)
    Jacksonville, FL
    MAC regular season
    01/03/2017
    7:00 PM
    at Kent State L 90–100  9–5
    (0–1)
    MAC Center (2,153)
    Kent, OH
    01/07/2017
    1:00 PM, ESPN3
    Bowling Green L 71–76  9–6
    (0–2)
    Worthen Arena (2,645)
    Muncie, IN
    01/10/2017
    7:00 PM, ESPN3
    Miami (OH) W 85–74  10–6
    (1–2)
    Worthen Arena (3,268)
    Muncie, IN
    01/14/2017
    2:00 PM, ESPN3
    at Buffalo W 92–77  11–6
    (2–2)
    Alumni Arena (3,007)
    Amherst, NY
    01/17/2017
    7:00 PM, ESPN3
    Central Michigan W 98–83  12–6
    (3–2)
    Worthen Arena (3,044)
    Muncie, IN
    01/21/2017
    2:30 PM, ESPN3
    at Bowling Green L 74–79  12–7
    (3–3)
    Stroh Center (2,953)
    Bowling Green, OH
    01/24/2017
    9:00 PM, ASN
    at Eastern Michigan W 88–80  13–7
    (4–3)
    Convocation Center (967)
    Ypsilanti, MI
    01/28/2017
    1:00 PM, ESPN3
    Western Michigan W 84–78  14–7
    (5–3)
    Worthen Arena (4,298)
    Muncie, IN
    01/31/2017
    7:00 PM, ESPN3
    Toledo W 81–80  15–7
    (6–3)
    Worthen Arena (3,058)
    Muncie, IN
    02/04/2017
    2:00 PM, ESPN3
    Buffalo L 69–96  15–8
    (6–4)
    Worthen Arena (3,326)
    Muncie, IN
    02/07/2017
    6:00 PM, ASN
    at Akron L 63–65  15–9
    (6–5)
    James A. Rhodes Arena (3,105)
    Akron, OH
    02/10/2017
    6:30 PM, CBSSN
    Ohio L 77–79  15–10
    (6–6)
    Worthen Arena (3,123)
    Muncie, IN
    02/14/2017
    8:00 PM, ASN
    at Northern Illinois W 81–72  16–10
    (7–6)
    Convocation Center (759)
    DeKalb, IL
    02/18/2017
    4:30 PM, ESPN3
    at Central Michigan W 109–100 OT 17–10
    (8–6)
    McGuirk Arena (5,412)
    Mount Pleasant, MI
    02/21/2017
    7:00 PM, ESPN3
    Eastern Michigan W 79–72  18–10
    (9–6)
    Worthen Arena (3,088)
    Muncie, IN
    02/25/2017
    2:00 PM, ESPN3
    at Western Michigan L 55–80  18–11
    (9–7)
    University Arena (2,857)
    Kalamazoo, MI
    02/28/2017
    7:00 PM, ESPN3
    at Toledo L 72–74  19–11
    (10–7)
    Savage Arena (3,958)
    Toledo, OH
    03/03/2017
    7:00 PM, ESPN3
    Northern Illinois W 87–82  20–11
    (11–7)
    Worthen Arena (4,457)
    Muncie, IN
    MAC Tournament
    03/09/2017
    2:30 PM, BCSN/ESPN3
    (4) vs. (5) Western Michigan
    Quarterfinals
    W 66–63  21–11
    Quicken Loans Arena (2,245)
    Cleveland, OH
    03/10/2017
    5:30 PM, CBSSN
    (4) vs. (1) Akron
    Semifinals
    L 70–74  21–12
    Quicken Loans Arena (6,065)
    Cleveland, OH
    CIT
    03/15/2017*
    7:00 PM, Facebook Live
    at Fort Wayne
    First Round
    Lou Henson Classic
    L 80–88  21–13
    Gates Sports Center (1,479)
    Fort Wayne, IN

    *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
    All times are in Eastern Time

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    See also

    References

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