Ball State University Athletics
Men's Basketball Unveils Non-Conference Schedule
August 26, 2016 | Men's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Coming off its best season in more than a decade, the Ball State men's basketball team will play seven regular-season home games and a set of challenging road contests during the non-conference portion of its 2016-17 schedule.
The slate at Worthen Arena includes a Nov. 3 exhibition game against UIndy, the home opener Nov. 15 against Indiana State and a six-game homestand near the end of the calendar year.
Meanwhile, three of the Cardinals' four true road games will come against teams that played in the NIT last season – Valparaiso, Alabama and North Florida. Valpo made it all the way to the tournament's championship game.
The Cardinals will open the season Nov. 11 at Saint Louis as part of the MGM Grand Main Event. As announced earlier this month, the event also includes a game Nov. 18 at Alabama and a pair of contests in Las Vegas – Nov. 21 against Coppin State and Nov. 23 versus Southern Utah.
"I'm excited about our non-conference schedule," Ball State coach James Whitford said. "I feel like it's going to be a great challenge for us, in particular the month of November.
"We have the opportunities on the road at Saint Louis, Alabama and Valpo, three great programs. Those are challenges that will test us and that our players will love. Add to that the Vegas tournament, which is a great opportunity for us to play neutral site games. In many respects, it simulates what you do in the conference tournament."
In the week between the opening games of the Main Event, Ball State will return to Muncie to renew its longest-standing rivalry. The Nov. 15 home opener will mark the 131st meeting with Indiana State in a series that dates back to 1922.
Upon returning from Las Vegas, Ball State will take on another in-state rival, traveling to Valparaiso for a Nov. 27 contest. The Cardinals defeated Valpo 69-66 last year in Muncie in one of the most impressive victories of their 21-win season.
Ball State will then return to Muncie for six games in a row, starting with a Nov. 29 matchup against IU Kokomo. The stretch also includes games with IUPUI (Dec. 3), Bradley (Dec. 6), Eastern Kentucky (Dec. 10), Longwood (Dec. 19) and Alabama State (Dec. 22).
Much of that stretch is familiar for the Cardinals. They played IUPUI at home and Longwood at a neutral site last season, and they also played road games at Bradley and Eastern Kentucky.
Ball State will wrap up the non-conference portion of its schedule Dec. 29 at North Florida. The Ospreys mark the fourth first-time opponent on the Cardinals' schedule, joining Saint Louis, Alabama and Alabama State.
"All in all, it's a good schedule," Whitford said." It's challenging and yet gives us enough opportunities to play at home, which is always critical."
The Mid-American Conference schedule will begin the first week of January and is expected to be unveiled in the coming weeks.
Ball State finished last season 21-14 and shared the MAC West Division championship at 10-8 in league play. The Cardinals played in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) and reached the quarterfinals. The program tallied the fourth-largest turnaround in the country while reaching the 20-win mark and the postseason for the first time in 14 years.
2016-17 NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Home games in BOLD CAPS; ^ MGM Grand Main Event; All times listed as EasternÂ
| Day        | Date             | Opponent                                              | Location                       | Time                    |
| Thurs. | Nov. 3Â | UINDY (Exhibition) | Muncie, Ind. | 7:00 p.m. |
| Fri. | Nov. 11 | at Saint Louis^ | St. Louis, Mo. | TBA |
| Tues. | Nov. 15 | INDIANA STATE | Muncie, Ind. | 7:00 p.m. |
| Fri. | Nov. 18 | at Alabama^ | Tuscaloosa, Ala. | TBA |
| Mon. | Nov. 21 | vs. Coppin State^ | Las Vegas, Nev. | 3:30 p.m. |
| Wed. | Nov. 23 | vs. Southern Utah^ | Las Vegas, Nev. | 3:30 p.m. |
| Sun. | Nov. 27 | at Valparaiso | Valparaiso, Ind. | TBA |
| Tues. | Nov. 29 | IU KOKOMO | Muncie, Ind. | 7:00 p.m. |
| Sat. | Dec. 3 | IUPUIÂ | Muncie, Ind. | 2:00 p.m. |
| Tues. | Dec. 6 | BRADLEY | Muncie, Ind. | 7:00 p.m. |
| Sat. | Dec. 10 | EASTERN KENTUCKY | Muncie, Ind. | 2:00 p.m. |
| Mon. | Dec. 19 | LONGWOOD | Muncie, Ind. | 7:00 p.m. |
| Thurs. | Dec. 22 | ALABAMA STATE | Muncie, Ind. | 7:00 p.m. |
| Thurs. | Dec. 29 | at North Florida | Jacksonville, Fla. | 7:00 p.m. |
