Ball State University Athletics
Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
Michael Lewis and Ball State Men's Basketball Open 2023-24 Practice Schedule
September 27, 2023 | Men's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State men's basketball team opens its 2023-24 practice schedule on Thursday, Sept. 28, in anticipation of the Cardinals' exhibition opener, Nov. 2, against Rose-Hulman. With six of its first seven games at Worthen Arena including a regular-season tipoff against Goshen College, Ball State hopes to re-capture some of the momentum it gained last season while making its home court a destination point for local fans and especially students.
Six players return from last season's club that finished 20-12, with head coach Michael Lewis guiding Ball State to its first 20-win season in six years. The Cardinals made a 96-point leap (267 to 171) in Kenpom rankings during Lewis' first season and rose 109 spots (265 to 156) in NCAA Net rankings from 2022 to 2023.
Ultimately finishing fourth in the Mid-American Conference, Ball State started 19-7 overall, which was its best start since the Cardinals started 1997-98 with a 21-7 record.
"We're excited to get started," said Lewis. "It's a new year, it's a new team. Our biggest challenge is to get eight new guys to mesh together."
Lewis plans to lean heavily on returning stars Mickey Pearson and Basheer Jihad, who averaged 7.7 and 7.1 points per game, respectively, last year. Gone from that club are the team's top four scorers in Jarron Coleman, Jaylin Sellers, Payton Sparks and Demarius Jacobs, but with a talented mix of incoming transfers and new freshmen, the Cardinals should be exhibit the same gritty style of play that Lewis inspired a year ago.
"Mickey's a guy who saw great growth last year and he's rock-solid night-in and night-out. He's someone we can lean on," said Lewis. "Basheer has the opportunity to see his production increase. He's worked hard and gotten better, and he's only 19-years-old. His future is bright and I'm really excited for what he can provide."
Top newcomers to watch are transfers Jalin Anderson, Ethan Brittain-Watts and Davion Bailey who add experience to the Ball State roster. Anderson is a Tennessee native who played at Loyola Marymount last year. Brittain-Watts is a former Indiana high school star at Culver Academies, who returns to the state as a grad transfer from Boston University. Bailey, a former standout at Pike High School in Indianapolis, played the past two seasons at Southeastern Community College.
Added to the mix are five freshman including Joey Brown, Zane Doughty and Mason Jones who enjoyed stellar prep careers at Indiana high schools. Trent Middleton was a late signing out of the Philadelphia area, and Jurica Zagorsak comes to Ball State out of Croatia.
"It's a new season," added Lewis. "Everyone's fresh. Everybody's at the same point. We're excited to get started."
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Six players return from last season's club that finished 20-12, with head coach Michael Lewis guiding Ball State to its first 20-win season in six years. The Cardinals made a 96-point leap (267 to 171) in Kenpom rankings during Lewis' first season and rose 109 spots (265 to 156) in NCAA Net rankings from 2022 to 2023.
Ultimately finishing fourth in the Mid-American Conference, Ball State started 19-7 overall, which was its best start since the Cardinals started 1997-98 with a 21-7 record.
"We're excited to get started," said Lewis. "It's a new year, it's a new team. Our biggest challenge is to get eight new guys to mesh together."
Lewis plans to lean heavily on returning stars Mickey Pearson and Basheer Jihad, who averaged 7.7 and 7.1 points per game, respectively, last year. Gone from that club are the team's top four scorers in Jarron Coleman, Jaylin Sellers, Payton Sparks and Demarius Jacobs, but with a talented mix of incoming transfers and new freshmen, the Cardinals should be exhibit the same gritty style of play that Lewis inspired a year ago.
"Mickey's a guy who saw great growth last year and he's rock-solid night-in and night-out. He's someone we can lean on," said Lewis. "Basheer has the opportunity to see his production increase. He's worked hard and gotten better, and he's only 19-years-old. His future is bright and I'm really excited for what he can provide."
Top newcomers to watch are transfers Jalin Anderson, Ethan Brittain-Watts and Davion Bailey who add experience to the Ball State roster. Anderson is a Tennessee native who played at Loyola Marymount last year. Brittain-Watts is a former Indiana high school star at Culver Academies, who returns to the state as a grad transfer from Boston University. Bailey, a former standout at Pike High School in Indianapolis, played the past two seasons at Southeastern Community College.
Added to the mix are five freshman including Joey Brown, Zane Doughty and Mason Jones who enjoyed stellar prep careers at Indiana high schools. Trent Middleton was a late signing out of the Philadelphia area, and Jurica Zagorsak comes to Ball State out of Croatia.
"It's a new season," added Lewis. "Everyone's fresh. Everybody's at the same point. We're excited to get started."
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