Helena Frye
The Ball State Cardinals, also known as the Cardinals, are a Division I men's basketball team in the Mid-American Conference. The team is based in Muncie, Indiana, and plays in the NCAA Division I. The Cardinals have a strong roster with four sixth-year seniors and seven student-athletes who have transferred from different college basketball conferences. In their season opener against Georgia State, the Ball State men's basketball team took on a Sun Belt Conference opponent in what was one of twelve games in the MAC-SBC Challenge.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Ball State Cardinals |
| Division | I |
| Conference | Mid-American |
| Nickname | Cardinals |
| Colors | Cardinal & White |
| Season Opener | Game at Georgia State |
| Season | 2024-25 |
| Roster | Deep in experience with four sixth-year seniors |
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What You'll Learn
Ball State Cardinals play in the Mid-American Conference
The Ball State Cardinals play in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) of Division I NCAA basketball. The team's nickname is the Cardinals, and their colours are cardinal red and white. The Cardinals' roster is deep in experience, with four sixth-year seniors: Ethan Brittain-Watts, Ben Hendriks, Jeremiah Hernandez, and Mickey Pearson Jr. Ball State has the most student-athletes in their sixth year of college of any men's basketball team in NCAA Division I.
The Cardinals opened their 2024-25 season with a game against Georgia State, which was the first of 12 games in the MAC-SBC Challenge, pitting Mid-American Conference teams against Sun Belt Conference opponents. The game was streamed on ESPN+ and broadcast on radio by WMUN 1340AM and 92.5FM.
The Cardinals have had a successful recent history, with several of their players receiving accolades. For example, Payton Sparks was recently picked First Team All-MAC in the preseason poll after being a two-time Second Team selection in his first two seasons. Hernandez has also been an All-Conference performer, averaging 17.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per game last season at USI to be named First Team All-Ohio Valley Conference.
The Cardinals were picked to finish sixth in the Mid-American Conference by the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook and seventh by the league's head coaches in a preseason poll released in late October. Their roster features several tall and physically imposing players, including Sparks (6-foot-10), Hendriks (6-foot-10), and Doughty (6-foot-9). Joining them in the frontcourt are Jones, Zagorsak, and Pearson Jr., who are all 6-foot-7 or taller.
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The team colours are Cardinal and White
The Ball State Cardinals, with their distinctive Cardinal and White team colours, compete in the Mid-American Conference. The men's basketball team has a strong and experienced roster, featuring four sixth-year seniors: Ethan Brittain-Watts, Ben Hendriks, Jeremiah Hernandez, and Mickey Pearson Jr. The team also boasts a number of talented transfers from various college basketball conferences.
The Cardinals have a deep bench, with several players standing over 6 feet tall, including Sparks (6-foot-10), Hendriks (6-foot-10), and Doughty (6-foot-9). These players provide a strong physical presence on the court. The team has had a successful start to the 2024-25 season, playing in the MAC-SBC Challenge, which pits Mid-American Conference teams against Sun Belt Conference opponents.
The Cardinals have had some notable wins and close games, including a victory over Bowling Green with a score of 61-52, and a narrow loss to Toledo, who took the game with a final score of 67-66. The team was predicted to finish sixth in the Mid-American Conference by the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, and seventh by the league's head coaches in the preseason poll.
Ball State's student-athletes have a wealth of experience, with 603 games and 254 starts at the Division I level. The team has also produced All-Conference performers, including Hernandez, who was named First Team All-Ohio Valley Conference, and Sparks, who was picked First Team All-MAC in the preseason poll. The Cardinals' combination of experienced players, talented transfers, and strong team colours of Cardinal and White, make them a force to be reckoned with in the Mid-American Conference.
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The team has four sixth-year seniors
The Ball State Cardinals, representing Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, compete in the Mid-American Conference. The team has four sixth-year seniors, which is the most of any men's basketball team in NCAA Division I. These players are Ethan Brittain-Watts, Ben Hendriks, Jeremiah Hernandez, and Mickey Pearson Jr. Their experience contributes to the depth of the Cardinals' roster.
The Cardinals' season opener for 2024-25 was against Georgia State, part of the MAC-SBC Challenge, which pits Mid-American Conference teams against Sun Belt Conference opponents. The game was streamed on ESPN+ and broadcast on radio by WMUN.
Ball State's student-athletes have a wealth of experience, with 603 games and 254 starts at the Division I level. Among the sixth-year seniors, Hernandez has been a strong performer, averaging 17.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per game last season at USI, earning him a First Team All-Ohio Valley Conference selection. Additionally, Payton Sparks, another key player for the Cardinals, was chosen as First Team All-MAC in the preseason poll.
The Cardinals have a physically imposing frontcourt, with Hendriks and Sparks both standing at 6-foot-10 and weighing over 240 pounds, alongside Doughty at 6-foot-9. They are joined in the frontcourt by Jones, Zagorsak, and Pearson Jr., who are all 6-foot-7 or taller. The team also boasts a diverse group of seven transfers from different college basketball conferences.
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The Cardinals' season started with a game against Georgia State
The Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team plays in the Mid-American Conference, and the 2024-25 season started with a game against Georgia State. This game was one of 12 in the MAC-SBC Challenge, which sees teams from the Mid-American Conference compete against opponents from the Sun Belt Conference.
The Cardinals' roster for the season included four sixth-year seniors: Ethan Brittain-Watts, Ben Hendriks, Jeremiah Hernandez, and Mickey Pearson Jr. With seven student-athletes transferring into the program from different college basketball conferences, the team had a deep bench of experienced players.
Among the returning players, Payton Sparks and Hernandez had been All-Conference performers. Sparks, at 6-foot-10 and over 240 pounds, was a physical interior presence for the Cardinals, and his performance earned him a First Team All-MAC selection in the preseason poll. Meanwhile, Hernandez averaged 17.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per game the previous season, earning him a First Team All-Ohio Valley Conference selection.
The Cardinals' season opener against Georgia State was streamed on ESPN+ and broadcast on radio by WMUN 1340AM - 92.5FM. With a strong roster and experienced players, the Cardinals looked to make an impact in the Mid-American Conference and beyond during the 2024-25 season.
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The team has seven student-athletes who transferred from different conferences
The Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team competes in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The team has a strong roster with four sixth-year seniors, the most in any men's basketball team in NCAA Division I. In addition, the Cardinals have seven student-athletes who transferred from different college basketball conferences. This diverse group of transfers brings a range of experiences and skills to the team.
One notable transfer is Jeremiah Hernandez, a sixth-year senior who averaged 17.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per game in the previous season at USI, earning him the title of First Team All-Ohio Valley Conference. Another key transfer is Payton Sparks, a physical presence on the court at 6-foot-10 and over 240 pounds. Sparks was recently selected as First Team All-MAC in the preseason poll and has been a strong performer for the Cardinals.
The Cardinals' depth and experience were recognised by the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, which predicted a sixth-place finish for the team in the Mid-American Conference. The league's head coaches also acknowledged Ball State's potential in the preseason poll, ranking them seventh. The team's season opener against Georgia State, streamed on ESPN+, was one of 12 games in the MAC-SBC Challenge, showcasing the team's competitiveness in the Mid-American Conference.
The Cardinals' roster, bolstered by the transfers from various conferences, aims to make an impact in the 2024-25 season. With their height, physicality, and seasoned players, the team is poised to challenge their opponents and make a strong showing in the Mid-American Conference and beyond. The blend of experienced transfers and returning student-athletes positions the Cardinals as a formidable force in NCAA Division I men's basketball.
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Frequently asked questions
Ball State University's men's basketball team is in the Mid-American Conference.
Division I.
Cardinal and white.
The Cardinals.
Mid-American Conference.
