Ball State University Athletics
Men's Basketball Gearing Up for 2023-24 Season
October 26, 2023 | Men's Basketball
2023-24 Schedule | 2023-24 Roster
The Ball State men's basketball is gearing up for its second season under the direction of head coach Michael Lewis with a schedule featuring a neutral site game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse against Indiana State and a trip to Minnesota in addition to an 18-game Mid-American Conference schedule.
Ball State features a young group headlined by junior forwards Mickey Pearson Jr. (7.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in 2022-23) and Basheer Jihad (7.1 points and 3.6 rebounds), who account for the bulk of the returning production. Five true freshmen and a trio of transfers have been added to the group to bolster a team that went 20-12 (11-7 MAC) a season ago.
"I like what we have in this group," Lewis said about the Cardinals. "I like their coachability. I like their fire. There's a youthful energy to this group, and they have a strong desire to be good."
Exhibition
The 2023-24 Cardinals ramp up to the regular season with a 7 p.m. exhibition on Nov. 2 against Rose-Hulman at Worthen Arena.
Nonconference
Ball State's official season opener is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. vs. Goshen College in Worthen Arena. The Cardinals will host Old Dominion the following Saturday at 2 p.m. in the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge and Oakland City on Nov. 14 at 7 p.m.
"I want to get quality games here at home," Lewis said on how he's approaching nonconference scheduling. "I want to play in front of our fans. I think we generated some excitement and saw our crowds grow (last season)."
A trip to Evansville on Nov. 18 at 1 p.m. serves as the Cardinals' first official competition away from Muncie on the schedule. Ball State then hosts games with USC Upstate (Nov. 21) and Arkansas – Pine Bluff (Nov. 24) as part of the Midwest Madness: Cardinal Classic.
The basketball Cardinals emerge from the Thanksgiving holiday weekend alternating road and home games, traveling to Little Rock on Nov. 28 and Detroit Mercy on Dec. 6 while hosting Bellarmine on Dec. 2 and SIUE on Dec. 10.
The nonconference slate concludes with an in-state battle against Indiana State on Dec. 16 in Indianapolis for the Indy Classic and a road trip to Big Ten Conference member Minnesota on Dec. 21. There will be one more nonconference game at a yet-to-be-determined Sun Belt Conference foe on Feb. 10 in the second half of the MAC-SBC Challenge.
"I like in-state rivalries," Lewis continued on his nonconference schedule. "I love our series with Evansville. I like our series with Indiana State. We want to stay regional. I think that the fans recognize the regional programs, and it generates a little bit more interest. Ultimately you're trying to get yourself in a position to when you get into MAC play in January that you feel like you're prepared for your conference schedule.."
Conference
Ball State's home-and-road MAC opponents include Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Miami (Ohio), Northern Illinois and Western Michigan.
Akron (Jan. 9) and Ohio (Feb. 6) are the Cardinals' single-play opponents at Worthen Arena while Ball State faces Toledo (Jan. 13) and Buffalo (Jan. 23) once also in the regular season, both away.
Schedule Breakdown
Conference – 18
Nonconference – 13
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Home – 16
Road – 14
Neutral – 1
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State
Indiana – 18
Ohio – 4
Michigan – 4
Arkansas – 1
Illinois – 1
Minnesota – 1
New York – 1
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Night (7 p.m. or later) – 17
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Roster Breakdown
Freshmen – 7
Sophomores – 1
Juniors – 5
Seniors – 0
Graduate Students – 1
The Ball State men's basketball is gearing up for its second season under the direction of head coach Michael Lewis with a schedule featuring a neutral site game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse against Indiana State and a trip to Minnesota in addition to an 18-game Mid-American Conference schedule.
Ball State features a young group headlined by junior forwards Mickey Pearson Jr. (7.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in 2022-23) and Basheer Jihad (7.1 points and 3.6 rebounds), who account for the bulk of the returning production. Five true freshmen and a trio of transfers have been added to the group to bolster a team that went 20-12 (11-7 MAC) a season ago.
"I like what we have in this group," Lewis said about the Cardinals. "I like their coachability. I like their fire. There's a youthful energy to this group, and they have a strong desire to be good."
Exhibition
The 2023-24 Cardinals ramp up to the regular season with a 7 p.m. exhibition on Nov. 2 against Rose-Hulman at Worthen Arena.
Nonconference
Ball State's official season opener is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. vs. Goshen College in Worthen Arena. The Cardinals will host Old Dominion the following Saturday at 2 p.m. in the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge and Oakland City on Nov. 14 at 7 p.m.
"I want to get quality games here at home," Lewis said on how he's approaching nonconference scheduling. "I want to play in front of our fans. I think we generated some excitement and saw our crowds grow (last season)."
A trip to Evansville on Nov. 18 at 1 p.m. serves as the Cardinals' first official competition away from Muncie on the schedule. Ball State then hosts games with USC Upstate (Nov. 21) and Arkansas – Pine Bluff (Nov. 24) as part of the Midwest Madness: Cardinal Classic.
The basketball Cardinals emerge from the Thanksgiving holiday weekend alternating road and home games, traveling to Little Rock on Nov. 28 and Detroit Mercy on Dec. 6 while hosting Bellarmine on Dec. 2 and SIUE on Dec. 10.
The nonconference slate concludes with an in-state battle against Indiana State on Dec. 16 in Indianapolis for the Indy Classic and a road trip to Big Ten Conference member Minnesota on Dec. 21. There will be one more nonconference game at a yet-to-be-determined Sun Belt Conference foe on Feb. 10 in the second half of the MAC-SBC Challenge.
"I like in-state rivalries," Lewis continued on his nonconference schedule. "I love our series with Evansville. I like our series with Indiana State. We want to stay regional. I think that the fans recognize the regional programs, and it generates a little bit more interest. Ultimately you're trying to get yourself in a position to when you get into MAC play in January that you feel like you're prepared for your conference schedule.."
Conference
Ball State's home-and-road MAC opponents include Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Miami (Ohio), Northern Illinois and Western Michigan.
Akron (Jan. 9) and Ohio (Feb. 6) are the Cardinals' single-play opponents at Worthen Arena while Ball State faces Toledo (Jan. 13) and Buffalo (Jan. 23) once also in the regular season, both away.
Schedule Breakdown
Conference – 18
Nonconference – 13
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Home – 16
Road – 14
Neutral – 1
Â
State
Indiana – 18
Ohio – 4
Michigan – 4
Arkansas – 1
Illinois – 1
Minnesota – 1
New York – 1
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Night (7 p.m. or later) – 17
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Roster Breakdown
Freshmen – 7
Sophomores – 1
Juniors – 5
Seniors – 0
Graduate Students – 1
Players Mentioned
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