Ball State, KSU’s opponent on Saturday, is a hard team to figure out.
Katie Shumate averages 10 points a game and is third in the MAC in 3-point shooting percentage at 56.3% and free-throw percentage 93.8%.
In their preseason poll, MAC coaches picked the Cardinals to finish third in the league. But, playing without all-MAC forward Oshlynn Brown, Ball State lost its first three games.
In early conference play, BSU lost to Eastern Michigan at home without Brown, then won by seven at Akron.
Last Saturday, Bowling Green, which has the MAC’s best record at 8-1, destroyed the Cardinals in Muncie 89-55. But at home on Wednesday, Ball State beat Toledo 93-78. The Rockets had had the second-best record in the MAC.
So the Cardinals come into the Kent State game 4-4, 2-2 in the MAC. Kent State is 4-2 and 3-0 in the conference. Its Wednesday game against Northern Illinois was postponed after KSU coach Todd Starkey tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the week.
Associate head coach Fran Recchia will direct the team while Starkey is in quarantine.
The game starts at noon Saturday at the M.A.C. Center. No fans are allowed because of COVID protocols. The team will be streamed on ESPN+, which costs $5.99 a month. The link will direct you to how to sign up. Audio starts at 11:45 a.m. on Tune-In Radio.
Ball State (2-2, tied for 5th in MAC, 4-4 overall) at Kent State (3-0 and 4th in MAC, 4-2 overall)
Team comparisons
NET: Kent State 148th of 358 Division I teams. Ball State 169. (The NET is the NCAA’s statistical measure to compare teams and is based on:
- A team’s “net efficiency” — offensive points per possession minus opponents’ points per possession, adjusted for opponents’ net efficiency and game locations (home/away/neutral).
- A team’s “value index” — which rewards teams for playing and beating other good teams, adjusted for location. Link to NET rankings for MAC teams on WarrenNolan.com.)
RPI: Kent State 25th of 358 Division I teams. Ball State 136. RPI, used by the NCAA until this season, is based on a team’s record and schedule strength. I usedRealTimeRPI.com. (Link is to MAC rankings.)
Schedule strength: Kent State 39. Ball State 138. (From RealTimeRPI.)
Kent State home record: 2-0. Ball State road record: 3-1.
Scoring average: KSU ninth in MAC at 66.0 points per game. Ball State eighth at 66.8.
Defensive average: KSU eighth at 72.3. Ball State fifth at 67.5.
Field-goal percentage: KSU 10th at 38.2% (first on 3-pointers at 39.4%). Ball State eighth at 40.0% (10th on 3s at 26.9).
Field-goal defense: KSU seventh at 42.3% (11th on 3s at 35.8%). Ball State fifth at 39.8% (sixth on 3s at 30.5%).
Free throw shooting: Kent State 11th at 62.2%. Ball State ninth at 70.7%.
Rebounding margin: KSU fourth at +2.5 per game. Ball State fifth at -1.5.
Turnover margin: KSU 10th at -4.3 per game. Ball State eight at -1.6. KSU last in steals at 5.0 per game. Ball State seventh at 6.5.
Assists: Kent State 10th at 11.8 per game. Ball State ninth at 12.0.
Blocked shots: Kent State first at 3.5 per game. Ball State second at 3.1.
Key Kent State players
- 6-2 sophomore forward Nila Blackford (14.5 points, second in MAC at 10.0 rebounds per game).
- 5-0 junior guard Mariah Modkins (10.8 points, 3.5 assists, 1.3 steals).
- 5-11 sophomore guard Katie Shumate (10.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, third in MAC in free throw percentage at 93.8%, third in MAC in 3-point percentage at 56.3%).
- 6-2 junior forward Lindsey Thall (10.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocked shots).
- 5-10 sophomore guard Clare Kelly (6.5 points, 3.2 rebounds).
- 6-4 junior center Linsey Marchese (4.5 points, 4.7 rebounds)
- 5-4 freshman guard Casey Santoro (5.8 points)
Key Ball State players
- 6-1 senior forward Oshlynn Brown (14.8 points, 10.8 rebounds).
- 5-8 junior guard Essence Booker (12.8 points. 2.1 steals)
- 5-8 freshman guard Sydney Freeman (11.- points, 4.0 assists. 2.1 steals).
- 6-0 senior forward Thelma Dis Augstsdottir (10.4 points, 5.8 rebounds).
Links
Kent State website, with links to roster, statistics schedule and more.
Ball State website, with links.