2021–22 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team

2021–22 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball
ConferenceMid-American Conference
Record14–17 (9–10 MAC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Ben Botts (4th season)
  • Linc Darner (1st season)
  • Khristian Smith (1st season)
Home arenaWorthen Arena
Seasons
2021–22 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Toledo 17 – 3   .850 26 – 8   .765
Kent State 16 – 4   .800 23 – 11   .676
Ohio 14 – 6   .700 25 – 10   .714
Akron † 14 – 6   .700 24 – 10   .706
Buffalo 13 – 6   .684 19 – 11   .633
Ball State 9 – 10   .474 14 – 17   .452
Miami (OH) 8 – 12   .400 14 – 18   .438
Central Michigan 6 – 12   .333 7 – 23   .233
Bowling Green 6 – 14   .300 13 – 18   .419
Northern Illinois 6 – 14   .300 9 – 21   .300
Eastern Michigan 5 – 15   .250 10 – 21   .323
Western Michigan 4 – 16   .200 8 – 23   .258
† 2022 MAC tournament winner

The 2021–22 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team represented Ball State University in the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cardinals, led by ninth-year head coach James Whitford, played their home games at Worthen Arena in Muncie, IN as members of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 14–17, 9–10 in MAC play to finish in sixth place. They lost to Ohio in the quarterfinals of the MAC tournament.

On March 14, 2022, the school fired head coach James Whitford.[1] On March 25, UCLA assistant coach Michael Lewis was named the team's new head coach.[2]

Previous season

In a season limited due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Cardinals finished the 2020–21 season 7–11, 5–8 in MAC play to finish in a tie for eighth place. The Cardinals lost to Toledo in the quarterfinals of the MAC tournament.

Offseason

Departures

Departures
Name Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes
Jarron Coleman G 6'5 205 Redshirt Sophomore Indianapolis, IN Transferred to Missouri
Ishmael El-Amin G 6'3 180 Senior Minneapolis, MN Transferred to Rhode Island
Zach Gunn F 6'6 210 Redshirt Senior Fishers, IN Transferred to IUPUI
Brachen Hazen F 6'8 210 Redshirt Senior Columbia City, IN Transferred to Lipscomb
Chris Robinson G 6'2 185 Sophomore Indianapolis, IN
K.J. Walton G 6'3 200 Redshirt Senior Indianapolis, IN Transferred to Akron

Incoming transfers

Transfers
Name Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous school
Tyler Cochran G 6'2 220 Junior Bolingbrook, IL Northern Illinois
Demarius Jacobs G 6'2 185 Senior Chicago, IL Saint Louis
Mickey Pearson Jr. F 6'7 210 Junior Lincoln, AL TCU

Recruiting class

College recruiting information
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Basheer Jihad
PF 		Farmington Hills, MI North Farmington High School 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Apr 14, 2021 
Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Jaylin Sellers
SG 		Columbus, GA George Washington Carver High School 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Nov 11, 2020 
Star ratings: Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Payton Sparks
C 		Winchester, IN Winchester Community High School 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (110 kg) Jul 17, 2020 
Star ratings: Rivals: N/A   247Sports:2/5 stars    ESPN grade: NR
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2021 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

Roster

2021–22 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Hometown
F 0 Miryne Thomas 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 200 lb (91 kg) RS Sr Cleveland, Ohio
G 1 Demarius Jacobs 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Sr Chicago, Illinois
G 2 Luke Bumbalough 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Jr New Castle, Indiana
G 3 Teemu Suokas 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) So Helsinki, Finland
G 4 Josh Bryan 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Jr Muncie, Indiana
C 5 Payton Sparks 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Fr Winchester, Indiana
F 11 Basheer Jihad 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Fr Detroit, Michigan
G/F 12 Jaylin Sellers 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Fr Columbus, Georgia
G 13 Kani Acree 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg) RS Jr Carbondale, Illinois
F 14 Mickey Pearson Jr. 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Jr Lincoln, Alabama
G 23 Tyler Cochran 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Jr Bolingbrook, Illinois
G 24 Jalen Windham 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Jr Indianapolis, Indiana
C 34 Ben Hendriks 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Jr Mississauga, Ontario
C 44 Blake Huggins 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 245 lb (111 kg) RS Sr Union City, Tennessee
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: November 30, 2021

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
November 3, 2021*
7:00 pm 		Michigan Tech L 69–70  0–0
  13 – Cochran   7 – Cochran   5 – Cochran  Worthen Arena (1,721)
Muncie, IN
Non-conference regular season
November 7, 2021*
7:00 pm, ESPN+ 		at Georgia Southern L 71–82  0–1
  21 – Bumbalough   12 – Sparks   3 – Tied  Hanner Fieldhouse (2,654)
Statesboro, GA
November 13, 2021*
12:00 pm, ESPN+/ESPN3 		Omaha W 73–69  1–1
  14 – Windham   6 – Tied   8 – Bumbalough  Worthen Arena (2,752)
Muncie, IN
November 18, 2021*
8:00 pm, CBS Sports 		vs. FIU
Jersey Mike's Classic 		L 60–73  1–2
  14 – Jihad   6 – Bumbalough   4 – Tied  McArthur Center (205)
St. Petersburg, FL
November 19, 2021*
5:30 pm, CBS Sports 		vs. Weber State
Jersey Mike's Classic 		L 74–85  1–3
  14 – Bumbalough   5 – Pearson   5 – Cochran  McArthur Center (375)
St. Petersburg, FL
November 21, 2021*
2:30 pm, CBS Sports 		vs. UMass
Jersey Mike's Classic 		W 89–86  2–3
  22 – Cochran   8 – Tied   4 – Tied  McArthur Center (376)
St. Petersburg, FL
November 27, 2021*
7:00 pm, ESPN+/ESPN3 		Indiana State W 97–75  3–3
  15 – Cochran   10 – Thomas   5 – Tied  Worthen Arena (3,017)
Muncie, IN
December 1, 2021*
7:00 pm, ESPN3 		at Western Illinois L 80–93  3–4
  17 – Bumbalough   9 – Bumbalough   5 – Sparks  Western Hall (998)
Macomb, IL
December 8, 2021*
6:30 pm, FS1 		at Xavier L 50–96  3–5
  10 – Tied   4 – Tied   2 – Tied  Cintas Center (9,865)
Cincinnati, OH
December 12, 2021*
1:00 pm, ESPN3 		IU Kokomo W 85–58  4–5
  19 – Cochran   7 – Sparks   5 – Tied  Worthen Arena (2,881)
Muncie, IN
December 18, 2021*
4:00 pm, ESPN+ 		at Illinois State L 64–85  4–6
  14 – Cochran   7 – Cochran   3 – Jacobs  Redbird Arena (2,704)
Normal, IL
December 21, 2021*
7:00 pm, ESPN3 		Eastern Illinois W 75–55  5–6
  16 – Sparks   10 – Cochran   6 – Cochran  Worthen Arena (3,279)
Muncie, IN
MAC regular season
January 1, 2022
6:00 pm, ESPN3 		Bowling Green W 81–80  6–6
(1–0) 		 21 – Bumbalough   14 – Thomas   4 – Bumbalough  Worthen Arena (2,160)
Muncie, IN
January 4, 2022
7:00 pm, ESPN3 		at Kent State L 65–66  6–7
(1–1) 		 23 – Cochran   9 – Tied   4 – Thomas  Worthen Arena 
Muncie, IN
January 8, 2022
3:30 pm, ESPN+ 		at Eastern Michigan W 78–72  7–7
(2–1) 		 20 – Bumbalough   6 – Tied   4 – Jacobs  George Gervin GameAbove Center (2,242)
Ypsilanti, MI
January 11, 2022
7:00 pm, ESPN3 		Akron L 74–84  7–8
(2–2) 		 23 – Sparks   10 – Sparks   6 – Jacobs  James A. Rhodes Arena (1,815)
Akron, OH
January 14, 2022
6:00 pm, CBS Sports 		Buffalo L 68–74  7–9
(2–3) 		 28 – Cochran   16 – Sparks   2 – Tied  Worthen Arena (3,563)
Muncie, IN
January 18, 2022
7:00 pm, ESPN3 		at Toledo L 70–83  7–10
(2–4) 		 17 – Sparks   14 – Sparks   4 – Jacobs  Savage Arena (3,635)
Toledo, OH
January 22, 2022
7:00 pm, ESPN3 		at Central Michigan Postponed due to COVID-19 issues McGuirk Arena 
Mount Pleasant, MI
January 25, 2022
7:00 pm, ESPN+ 		at Miami W 81–64  8–10
(3–4) 		 26 – Thomas   8 – Thomas   5 – Cochran  Worthen Arena (2,739)
Muncie, IN
January 27, 2022
8:00 pm, ESPN3 		at Northern Illinois
Rescheduled from December 29 		W 74–67  9–10
(4–4) 		 17 – Cochran   8 – Sparks   4 – Bumbalough  Convocation Center (613)
DeKalb, IL
January 29, 2022
3:30 pm, ESPN3 		Western Michigan W 83–72  10–10
(5–4) 		 18 – Thomas   10 – Sparks   3 – Tied  Worthen Arena (3,786)
Muncie, IN
February 1, 2022
7:00 pm, ESPN+ 		at Ohio L 63–87  10–11
(5–5) 		 17 – Windham   11 – Sparks   2 – Tied  Convocation Center (4,721)
Athens, OH
February 5, 2022
3:30 pm, ESPN+ 		Toledo W 93–83  11–11
(6–5) 		 18 – Sparks   11 – Sparks   5 – Thomas  Worthen Arena (3,321)
Muncie, IN
February 8, 2022
7:00 pm, ESPN3 		Central Michigan L 85–89 OT 11–12
(6–6) 		 17 – Thomas   13 – Sparks   5 – Bumbalough  Worthen Arena (2,628)
Muncie, IN
February 12, 2022
2:00 pm, ESPN+ 		at Buffalo L 74–80  11–13
(6–7) 		 19 – Sparks   12 – Sparks   8 – Cochran  Alumni Arena (3,014)
Amherst, NY
February 15, 2022
7:00 pm, ESPN+ 		Northern Illinois L 58–64  11–14
(6–8) 		 16 – Sparks   10 – Cochran   2 – Tied  Worthen Arena (2,918)
Muncie, IN
February 19, 2022
5:00 pm, ESPN3 		at Bowling Green W 91–82  12–14
(7–8) 		 18 – Thomas   11 – Sparks   4 – Cochran  Stroh Center (1,928)
Bowling Green, OH
February 22, 2022
7:00 pm, ESPN3 		Kent State L 82–93  12–15
(7–9) 		 19 – Thomas   6 – Sparks   8 – Jacobs  MAC Center (2,221)
Kent, OH
February 26, 2022
3:30 pm, ESPN3 		Eastern Michigan W 75–64  13–15
(8–9) 		 17 – Sparks   10 – Sparks   3 – Thomas  Worthen Arena (4,576)
Muncie, IN
March 1, 2022
7:00 pm, ESPN3 		Akron L 60–79  13–16
(8–10) 		 18 – Cochran   10 – Cochran   3 – Bumbalough  Worthen Arena (3,003)
Muncie, IN
March 4, 2022
6:00 pm, ESPN+ 		at Western Michigan W 64–63  14–16
(9–10) 		 16 – Sellers   10 – Sparks   3 – Sparks  University Arena (1,570)
Kalamazoo, MI
MAC tournament
March 10, 2022
5:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		(6) vs. (3) Ohio
Quarterfinals 		L 67–77  14–17
  20 – Sparks   14 – Sparks   3 – Cochran  Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 
Cleveland, OH
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Eastern Time.

Source[3]

References

  1. ^ "Sources: Ball State fires Whitford after 9 seasons". ESPN.com. March 14, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  2. ^ "Ball State hires Michael Lewis as men's basketball coach". Fox 59. March 25, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  3. ^ "2021-22 Men's Basketball Schedule". Ball State Sports.