By: Connor Onion | @Conion22
Play-by-play voice on SL Radio on WCRD
Member of Ball State Sports Link
The first place Ball State Cardinals (15-8, 6-4) host the Ohio Bobcats (14-8, 5-5) on Tuesday at 7:00 Eastern Time. Ball State Athletics is hosting its Second Annual Social Media Night.
If you can’t make to the game catch the call on Sports Link Radio.
Franko House Dominates
ESPN College Basketball Analyst Dan Dakich once referred to Franko House as a “warrior with skill.” That analysis was spot on Saturday. House was swarmed in the post by Western Michigan defenders opening up passing lanes. The 6-foot-6 junior dished out a career-high nine assists. None were more impressive than this one:
And the assist of the year goes to @FrankTheTank_DP. On the floor, around 2 defenders @BallStateMBB @BallStateSports pic.twitter.com/V95zzgtD5g
— Tricia Whitaker (@TriciaWhitaker) February 7, 2016
House’s facilitation was a major reason Ball State connected on 15 three’s, one shy of a school record on its way to a 75-71 victory over Western Michigan in overtime.
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Ohio A Stepping Stone
The recent history of Ohio basketball is rich. Each of the last two head coaches in Athens left the program due to receiving promotions at high-major programs.
From 2008-2012 John Groce guided Ohio to the NCAA Tournament on two separate occasions. Miraculously, the Bobcats entered the MAC Tournament in 2010 as the No. 9, won four straight games to capture the title, then defeated No. 3 seed Georgetown in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Two years later, Groce, powered by senior sensation D.J. Cooper won the MAC Tournament, upset No. 4 Michigan in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, then fell to North Carolina in the Sweet 16 in overtime.
The run led Groce to his current job at University of Illinois.
Groce’s successor was Jim Christian. Despite not leading the Bobcats to the Big Dance, a pair of 20+ win seasons in Athens was enough to land the head coaching job at Boston College.
After a 10-20 rookie campaign, second year head coach Saul Phillips has orchestrated a turnaround this season as the Bobcats sit at 14-8. Will he be the next in line?
If The Season Ended Today…
Ball State currently stands as the fourth seed in the Mid-American Conference, enough to earn an automatic berth to Cleveland for round two of the tournament.
However, with eight games to play, seeding is far from determined. There are currently six teams with either the same record or within a game of the Cardinals.
