Ball State University Athletics
Men's Basketball To Play Purdue At Conseco Fieldhouse
October 14, 2009 | Men's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State men's basketball team will be part of one of the nation's premier college basketball events this season as the Cardinals will meet instate foe Purdue in the 10th annual John R. Wooden Tradition held at Conseco Fieldhouse December 19 at 4 p.m., and will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network. The two teams were originally scheduled to play at Purdue (Dec. 5), but moved the contest to be part of the prestigious event.
"We are very excited to have the opportunity to participate in the Wooden Tradition," head coach Billy Taylor said. "This tournament is associated with John Wooden, college basketball's greatest coach of all-time. The accomplishments coach Wooden had both on and off the court is astounding and only adds to his legacy. It is phenomenal for our program to be associated with such a prestigious event."
The contest will mark the Cardinals' third game all-time at Conseco Fieldhouse and second meeting with the Boilermakers in the building. Ball State and Purdue played the first collegiate game all-time in Conseco Fieldhouse history December 18, 1999. In that game, the Cardinals took home a 72-52 victory over the Boilermakers in front of a crowd of 17,752 fans. Former Cardinal Theron Smith posted a double-double in the victory as he scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as part of the Boilermaker Challenge event.
"The opportunity to play Purdue in Conseco Fieldhouse will be terrific for our program," Taylor said. "We want to continue to take our program to higher levels and this certainly shows our commitment to play the best. Playing in a major market of Indianapolis and a first class facility like Conseco Fieldhouse is a great opportunity and experience for our student-athletes."
This year's meeting will be the 10th meeting all-time between Ball State and Purdue. It also marks the third straight season in which the teams have met. Last season, nationally ranked Purdue took home a 68-39 victory at Worthen Arena.
Established in 2000, the John R. Wooden Tradition is an annual tribute to the legendary former coach and the excellence he personifies. Similar to the standards established by the Wooden Classic, its California-based sibling founded in 1994, the events host college basketball's elite programs. The Wooden Tradition is a celebration of the game of basketball. In addition to the game, this year's event activities included the Wooden Tradition Golf Tournament played in September and the Wooden Tradition Coaches Luncheon scheduled for Dec. 18 at the Conseco Fieldhouse, both of which benefit Special Olympics Indiana.
Tickets for the event range in price from $15-$60 per seat. Tickets will be available for purchase beginning Saturday Oct. 17 at the Conseco Fieldhouse Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, online at www.Ticketmaster.com or www.ConsecoFieldhouse.com and by phone at (317) 239-515.
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