Beginning Monday, June 21st, 2004 CHN began unveiling 144 Team previews in 144 Days. CHN ranked the nations top 144 teams, and is unveiling one per day leading up until the opening day of the 2004-05 Season.

Bookmark the 144 Teams in 144 Days home page, and check back each day to see which team is previewed next.

Coach Tim Buckley is quietly building a MAC contender in Muncie, Indiana. The university agrees that Buckley is the future of Ball State and recently extended his contract through the 2008-2009 season. Peyton Stovall, just a sophomore, is one of the best point guards in the conference and will once again be the floor leader for the Cardinals. The pieces are there for Ball State to surprise a lot of people in the Mid-American Conference.

Who’s Out: Robert Owens and Cameron Echols will be missed in the Cardinals frontcourt. The forward duo combined for over 22 points and ten rebounds per game.

Who’s In: Plenty of newcomers are ready and able to fill in under the basket. Landon Adler led the entire state of Indiana in rebounding as a high school senior last year. Averaging 23.1 points per contest is no easy task either. Adler should be given the opportunity to make a big impact from day one. Anthony Newell comes from the famed Simeon High School in Chicago. At 6-6, he is very athletic and can play multiple positions. Newell is a solid rebounder averaging nine boards per game as a senior at Simeon. Even more frontcourt help comes in for of transfers Anthony Kent and Charles Bass. Kent is 6-11 and should see some minutes. Bass, a transfer from Ohio State, didn’t see much time for the Buckeyes, but has the makings of a solid player. He desperately needed to bulk up and has been doing a good job of that while sitting out the last semester. Bass will be eligible after the fall semester and at 6-10 and 215, he will be a presence to be dealt with in the MAC.

Who to Watch: Dennis Trammell is the senior leader for Ball State. As a junior he scored 13.2 points, grabbed four rebounds and dished out 2.9 assists per game. Trammell is the guy you want taking the shot at the end of the game. The 6-3 Chicago native led the Cardinals in three pointers made and is a reliable shooter from everywhere on the floor. If more scoring threats can keep opposing defenses off balance, then Trammell could have a huge season.

Projected Conference Rank: The big question is whether or not Owens and Echols can be replaced. It might take a little while to find those replacements, but there are plenty of worthy candidates. By the time the MAC season rolls around, all the pieces should be fitted together. A 5th place conference finish is a step in the right direction for Tim Buckley and Ball State.

Projected Post-season Tournament: none

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Email Joel Welser: jwelser_chn@ameritech.net

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