2018–19 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team

The 2018–19 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team represented Ball State University during the 2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cardinals, led by sixth-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 16–17, 6–12 in MAC play to finish in fifth place in the West Division. They defeated Eastern Michigan in the first round of the MAC Tournament before losing in the quarterfinals to Bowling Green.

2018–19 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball
ConferenceMid-American Conference
DivisionWest Division
2018–19 record16–17 (6–12 MAC)
Head coachJames Whitford (6th season)
Assistant coaches
  • Jason Grunkemeyer
  • Ben Botts (1st season)
  • Matt Crenshaw
Home arenaWorthen Arena
2018–19 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
East
No. 15 Buffalo162 .889  324  .889
Bowling Green126 .667  2212  .647
Kent State117 .611  2211  .667
Akron810 .444  1716  .515
Miami (OH)711 .389  1517  .469
Ohio612 .333  1417  .452
West
Toledo135 .722  258  .758
Central Michigan108 .556  2312  .657
Eastern Michigan99 .500  1517  .469
Northern Illinois810 .444  1717  .500
Ball State612 .333  1617  .485
Western Michigan216 .111  824  .250
2019 MAC Tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll

Previous season

The Cardinals finished the 2017–18 season 19–13, 10–8 to finish in third place in the MAC West division. They lost in the quarterfinals of the MAC Tournament to Kent State.

Offseason

Departures

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownReason for departure
Francis Kiapway0G6'3"190SeniorHamilton, ONGraduated
Jontrell Walker1G6'1'182RS JuniorAurora, ILGraduate transferred to Jackson State
Tyler Leedy11G6'0"146FreshmanZionsville, INWalk-on; left the team due to personal reasons
Sean Sellers34G/F6'6"216SeniorGreensburg, INGraduated

Incoming Transfers

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious School
Miryne Thomas1F6'8"190SophomoreCleveland, OHTransferred from Maryland Eastern Shore. Under NCAA transfer rules, Thomas will have to sit out for the 2018–19 season. Will have three years of remaining eligibility.
Austin Nehls20G6'3"185SeniorTucson, AZTransferred from Central Connecticut. Will be eligible to play immediately since Nehls graduated from Central Connecticut.

Recruiting class of 2018

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Jarron Coleman
SG
Indianapolis, IN Cathedral High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Apr 26, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:    ESPN grade: NR
Kani Acree
SF
Carbondale, IL Carbondale Community High School 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jul 13, 2017 
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:

  • "2018 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved November 1, 2018.

    Recruiting class of 2019

    Roster

    2018–19 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
    F 0 Miryne Thomas  6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)199 lb (90 kg) SoCentral Catholic
    Maryland Eastern Shore
    Cleveland, OH
    G 1 K. J. Walton 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)200 lb (91 kg) RS JrBrownsburg
    Missouri
    Indianapolis, IN
    G 2 Tayler Persons 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)196 lb (89 kg) RS SrKokomo
    Northern Kentucky
    Kokomo, IN
    G 3 Josh Thompson (W) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)194 lb (88 kg) RS JrLawrence North Indianapolis, IN
    G 5 Ishmael El-Amin 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)195 lb (88 kg) SoHopkins Minneapolis, MN
    G 11 Jarron Coleman 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)208 lb (94 kg) FrCathedral Indianapolis, IN
    F 12 Brachen Hazen 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)211 lb (96 kg) RS SoColumbia City
    Arkansas
    Columbia City, IN
    G/F 13 Kani Acree 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)205 lb (93 kg) FrCarbondale Community Carbondale, IL
    F 14 Kyle Mallers 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)217 lb (98 kg) JrCarroll Fort Wayne, IN
    F 15 Zach Gunn 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)210 lb (95 kg) SoHamilton Southeastern Fishers, IN
    G 20 Austin Nehls 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)182 lb (83 kg) SrCheshire Academy
    Central Connecticut State
    Tucson, AZ
    C 24 Trey Moses 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)245 lb (111 kg) SrEastern Louisville, KY
    F 25 Tahjai Teague 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)215 lb (98 kg) RS JrPike Indianapolis, IN
    C 44 Blake Huggins 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)245 lb (111 kg) RS FrObion County Central Union City, TN
    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
    Nov 2, 2018*
    7:00 pm
    Indianapolis W 92–76 
    Worthen Arena (3,214)
    Muncie, IN
    Non-conference regular season
    Nov 6, 2018*
    7:00 pm, ESPN+
    Indiana State W 86–69  1–0
    Worthen Arena (4,022)
    Muncie, IN
    Nov 10, 2018*
    8:00 pm, BTN
    at No. 24 Purdue
    Charleston Classic non-bracket game
    L 75–84  1–1
    Mackey Arena (14,804)
    West Lafayette, IN
    Nov 15, 2018*
    11:30 am, ESPN2
    vs. No. 16 Virginia Tech
    Charleston Classic quarterfinals
    L 64–73  1–2
    TD Arena (2,648)
    Charleston, SC
    Nov 16, 2018*
    1:30 pm, ESPNU
    vs. Alabama
    Charleston Classic consolation 2nd round
    L 61–79  1–3
    TD Arena (2,752)
    Charleston, SC
    Nov 18, 2018*
    11:00 am, ESPN3
    vs. Appalachian State
    Charleston Classic 7th place game
    W 94–86 OT 2–3
    TD Arena (2,862)
    Charleston, SC
    Nov 24, 2018*
    2:00 pm, ESPN3
    Evansville W 82–72  3–3
    Worthen Arena (3,224)
    Muncie, IN
    Nov 27, 2018*
    7:00 pm, ESPN+
    Tiffin W 108–62  4–3
    Worthen Arena (3,609)
    Muncie, IN
    Dec 1, 2018*
    1:00 pm, ESPN3
    at IUPUI W 85–75  5–3
    Indiana Farmers Coliseum (2,150)
    Indianapolis, IN
    Dec 5, 2018*
    9:00 pm, NBCSCH/ESPN+
    at Loyola–Chicago W 75-69  6-3
    Joseph J. Gentile Arena (2,831)
    Chicago, IL
    Dec 9, 2018*
    3:00 pm, ESPN+
    at Evansville L 77-89  6-4
    Ford Center (5,672)
    Evansville, IN
    Dec 17, 2018*
    8:00 pm, ESPN+
    at Valparaiso W 77-61  7-4
    Athletics–Recreation Center (3,636)
    Valparaiso, IN
    Dec 20, 2018*
    7:00 pm, ESPN+
    Howard W 98–71  8–4
    Worthen Arena (3,324)
    Muncie, IN
    Dec 29, 2018*
    2:00 pm, ESPN3
    Delaware State W 116–57  9–4
    Worthen Arena (3,424)
    Muncie, IN
    MAC regular season
    Jan 4, 2019
    7:00 pm, CBSSN
    at Toledo W 79–64  10–4
    (1–0)
    Savage Arena (5,023)
    Toledo, OH
    Jan 8, 2019
    7:00 pm, ESPN+
    Eastern Michigan W 84–82 2OT 10–5
    (1–1)
    Worthen Arena (4,248)
    Muncie, IN
    Jan 12, 2019
    12:00 pm, ESPN+
    Ohio W 70–52  10–6
    (1–2)
    Worthen Arena (4,076)
    Muncie, IN
    Jan 15, 2019
    7:00 pm, ESPN+
    at Bowling Green W 79–78  10–7
    (1–3)
    Stroh Center (1,507)
    Bowling Green, OH
    Jan 19, 2019
    4:30 pm, ESPN3
    at Central Michigan W 83–72  11–7
    (2–3)
    McGuirk Arena (2,204)
    Mount Pleasant, MI
    Jan 22, 2019
    7:00 pm, ESPN+
    Miami (OH) W 71–65  11–8
    (2–4)
    Worthen Arena (3,742)
    Muncie, IN
    Jan 26, 2019
    2:00 pm, ESPN3
    at Ohio L 74–78  11–9
    (2–5)
    Convocation Center (6,556)
    Athens, OH
    Jan 29, 2019
    7:00 pm, ESPN3
    at No. 18 Buffalo L 59–83  11–10
    (2–6)
    Alumni Arena (4,747)
    Amherst, NY
    Feb 2, 2019
    12:00 pm, CBSSN
    Kent State W 83–80 OT 11–11
    (2–7)
    Worthen Arena (4,024)
    Muncie, IN
    Feb 5, 2019
    8:00 pm, ESPN+
    at Northern Illinois W 72–71  12–11
    (3–7)
    Convocation Center (462)
    DeKalb, IL
    Feb 9, 2019
    2:00 pm, ESPN+
    Western Michigan W 79–59  13–11
    (4–7)
    Worthen Arena (4,312)
    Muncie, IN
    Feb 16, 2019
    2:00 pm, ESPN3
    Akron W 57–56  14–11
    (5–7)
    Worthen Arena (4,577)
    Muncie, IN
    Feb 19, 2019
    7:00 pm, ESPN+
    at Miami (OH) W 69–66  14–12
    (5–8)
    Millett Hall (1,871)
    Oxford, OH
    Feb 23, 2019
    2:00 pm, ESPN+
    Central Michigan L 57–64  14–13
    (5–9)
    Worthen Arena (4,834)
    Muncie, IN
    Feb 26, 2019
    7:00 pm, ESPN+
    Toledo L 72–80  14–14
    (5–10)
    Worthen Arena (4,691)
    Muncie, IN
    Mar 2, 2019
    4:00 pm, ESPN+
    at Western Michigan W 60–58  15–14
    (6–10)
    University Arena (2,441)
    Kalamazoo, MI
    Mar 5, 2019
    7:00 pm, ESPN+
    at Eastern Michigan L 61–68  15–15
    (6–11)
    Convocation Center (1,780)
    Ypsilanti, MI
    Mar 8, 2019
    7:00 pm, ESPN+
    Northern Illinois W 64–57  15–16
    (6–12)
    Worthen Arena (5,524)
    Muncie, IN
    MAC Tournament
    Mar 11, 2019
    7:00 pm, ESPN+
    (11) at (6) Eastern Michigan
    First Round
    W 61–43  16–16
    Convocation Center (1,265)
    Ypsilanti, MI
    Mar 14, 2019
    9:00 pm, ESPN+
    (11) vs. (3) Bowling Green
    Quarterfinals
    L 86–99  16–17
    Quicken Loans Arena (2,499)
    Cleveland, OH

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

    Source[1][2].
    gollark: I am not going to spend two (5) minutes (Hz^-1) retrieving it.
    gollark: https://images-ext-1.discordapp.net/external/pRhCVGeVxDB6XqapPAGHKWIxvU6-ThzU4XPnq7Gvh1s/%3Fwidth%3D594%26height%3D654/https/media.discordapp.net/attachments/823603493989515316/888539564308844617/E_QDrxcXMAQ6ft3.png?width=566&height=623
    gollark: Just use a calculator in all cases.
    gollark: Yes.
    gollark: ↑ useful haskell guide

    See also

    References

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