Cardinals
CardinalsNCAAB Ball State Cardinals
General Team Information
NCAA Division: Division I
Conference: Mid-American Conference
Past Conferences: MAC, Ind
City: Muncie, Indiana
Stadium: Worthen Arena
Championships:
- National Championships: 0
- Conference Titles: 7
- NCAA Tournaments: 1981, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995, 2000
Ball State Cardinals Basketball Team History
The Ball State Cardinals men’s basketball team commenced in the 1920-21 season. The team competed in Division II in 1964 and had a 0-2 record in the tournament. The program found some success during its early years, but much of its success came when the school joined the Mid-American Conference under Steve Yoder in 1975-76.
Something finally clicked during the 1980-81 season as it culminated in a 20-10 record and a 10-6 conference record. As the 12th seed in the program’s first NCAA Division I Tournament, it wasn’t a storybook beginning. Unfortunately, the Cardinals lost to the Boston College Eagles in a tight 93-90 game.
In the 1985-1986 season, the Memphis State Tigers blew Ball State out. It would take another three years before the program got another chance in the dance.
With a 29-3 record and 14-2 conference record, the 1988-1989 team had its best season in program history. Throughout the years, the program used its shortcomings as motivation, since they were the ninth seed, which is the highest-ranked seed in program history.
As a result, they notched their first major tournament victory against the eighth-seeded Pittsburgh Panthers with a score of 68-64. However, good things must come to an end; the one-seed Illinois Fighting Illini proved to be too much for them.
In Comes Coach Dick Hunsaker
Rick Majerus left the program for a job at Utah and turned over the reins to Dick Hunsaker the following season. The momentum didn’t stop there; the program had a better result. Odds in terms of the record weren’t better, but the team still had a 26-7 overall record.
In the 1989-90 season, the Ball State Cardinals standings showed they can play under bright lights. During the first two rounds, the Cardinals beat the No. 4 Oregon State Beavers (also star Gary Payton’s last collegiate game) and the No. 5 Louisville Cardinals by one and two points, respectively.
In the Sweet 16, Ball State advanced to face the top-seeded UNLV Runnin’ Rebels. In the final seconds, Ball State had a chance to win against one of the greatest offenses in college basketball history. With Cards down by two, they tried to tie or take the lead with a deep pass, but it was intercepted and ended their magical run as a 12th seed, just like in 1981.
The program punched its ticket to the tournament three more times in 1993, 1995, and 2000 but lost in the first round each time. From 1981 to 2000, Ball State won a record seven MAC titles. The program had a few more runs in the NIT and CIT but strives to go back to the biggest stage.
James Whitford will be in a tough spot, since he has a negative record with the program entering his 10th season. The team will have some long NCAAB odds once again.
All-Time Records
Points Scored
- Bonzi Wells 2,485
- Ray McCallum 2,108
- Larry Bullington 1,747
Rebounds
- Randy Boarden 1,000
- Jarrod Jones 981
- Tahjai Teague 960
Assists
- Jim Hahn 573
- Tayler Persons 447
- Randy Davis 446
Steals
- Bonzi Wells 347
- Duane Clemens 249
- Mickey Hosier 172
- Ray McCallum 172
