SPORTS

Wes-Del head coach John McGlothin talks to his team during a timeout Feb. 10 at Wes-Del Middle/Senior High School. Zach Carter, DN

retirement from coaching 3/3/2023, 4:17pm

John McGlothin: The story of a 30-Year coaching career

By Zach Carter

It’s Thursday, Febuary  23. The last practice before Wes-Del’s final regular season game against Elwood. Warriors head coach John McGlothin blows his whistle after each minute and tells his team to switch shooters. The Warriors are partner shooting. “We do it at least three times a week,” McGlothin said. “Lots of shots, working on our individual game…I felt like when I was a younger coach, my teams didn’t take enough time just getting shots up.” For the winningest coach in Wes-Del history, this is what the winter weeknights have looked like for the last 30 years. But following the 2022-23 season, that routine will end with his retirement.

Junior elementary education major Bill Pawlak cheers for the Ball State Men's Basketball team before a game against Northern Illinois Feb. 14 at Worthen Arena. Amber Pietz, DN

Nest Vouchers 3/2/2023, 11:55am

How Michael Lewis led a student section revolution at Worthen Arena this season

By Daniel Kehn

At a preseason get-together in Indianapolis, Michael Lewis was talking with a group of alumni and donors about the upcoming Ball State Men’s Basketball season, which would be his first as head coach of the program. A question was posed to Lewis, one that would kick off a revolution in the 2022-23 season: How can the Cardinals get butts in seats at Worthen Arena and build ‘The Nest,’ Worthen Arena’s student section? His idea, one he admitted may have made University President Geoffrey Mearns and Ball State Legal Services a little nervous, was pretty simple: free beer. 

Ball State Men's Basketball Head Coach Michael Lewis paces the sidelines in a game against Kent State Feb. 21 at Worthen Arena. Ball State defeated Kent State 82-70. Eli Pierson, DN

Men's Basketball 3/2/2023, 10:00am

Ball State is contender for an eighth MAC championship under first-year head coach Michael Lewis

By Derran Cobb

This season, the Cardinals won their 20th game Feb. 21 in a highly anticipated matchup with Kent State, who was first in the conference at the time. It is the first 20-win season in the last six. With victories over Toledo and Akron, who currently sit first and third in MAC standings respectively, Lewis’ squad is looking to make waves in the conference tournament.

Senior Connor McKibben attempts a shot over a Seton Catholic Defender Jan. 27 at Ball Gymnasium. Zach Carter, DN

Delaware County High School Boys Basketball 3/1/2023, 5:20pm

Muncie Burris wins first sectional game in 11 years

By Zach Carter

The Muncie Burris Owls went 8-14 in the regular season. They lost their first eight games of the season. But last night, that record and streak flew out the window as the Owls defeated Winchester Community in the first round of sectionals.

Members of the Ball State Men's Golf Team walk towards the fairway after teeing off from the second hole at the Earl Yestingmeier Invite Sep. 3 at the Delaware Country Club. Ball State started the day trailing Wright State by 5 strokes. Eli Houser, DN

Men's Golf 3/1/2023, 4:17pm

Ball State Men's Golf places ninth at Dorado Beach Collegiate

By Elijah Poe

The Cardinals traveled down to Dorado Beach Resort and Club (TPC) Sugarcane Course in Puerto Rico. The five-person roster consisted of graduate student Joey Ranieri, sophomore Kash Bellar, redshirt sophomore Griffin Hare, redshirt sophomore Ali Khan, and freshman Carter Smith.  

Notre Dame players cheer for their team in a game against Ball State Nov. 20 at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center. Jacy Bradley, DN

Men's and Women's Basketball 3/1/2023, 6:30am

MASSEY: ACC Tournament preview

By Dane Massey

This tournament will be the first one in a very long time that we see a different Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in the men’s tournament. Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski, one of the game’s most legendary coaches has stepped away from coaching, so this will be the first ACC tournament we see without Coach K on the bench. The powerhouse programs of the ACC like Duke and North Carolina have taken a step backward and this has allowed other teams to take advantage. Pittsburgh, Miami and Virginia have taken their places this year amongst the ACC’s elite and are looking to capitalize.

Arizona's Bennedict Mathurin (0) reacts after a dunk during the second half against TCU in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on March 20, 2022, in San Diego. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images/TNS)

Men's and Women's Basketball 3/1/2023, 6:25am

MASSEY: PAC-12 Tournament preview

By Dane Massey

It might be Déjà vu with the way this tournament is playing out so far, but it’s playing out like a movie script in a way. The top two seeds in each tournament feature the two teams who finished last year in the championship rounds of the men’s and women’s tournaments. These teams are all ranked in the top 10 teams in the nation, and all have solid basketball histories of glory and championships. Obviously, rematches are always fun, but there is something about PAC-12 rematches that are just so special. In that third game in a neutral site, you never know for sure who’s going to take the third and final round of the series, and that is what makes this tournament such a fun one to watch.

DiJonai Carrington #21 of the Baylor Lady Bears tries to take a shot as Aaliyah Edwards #3 and Olivia Nelson-Ododa #20 of the UConn Huskies defend in the final minutes of the game during the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at the Alamodome on March 29, 2021 in San Antonio, Texas.The UConn Huskies defeated the Baylor Lady Bears 69-67 to advance to the Final Four. (Elsa/Getty Images/TNS)

Men's and Women's Basketball 3/1/2023, 6:20am

MASSEY: Big 12 Tournament Preview

By Dane Massey

No matter the odds, always bet on the Big 12 to deliver an amazing  Tournament, as this tournament features some of the best basketball programs in the nation. Especially this year. Heading into this year’s Big 12 tournament, both tournaments have a combined total of eight teams in the Top 25 in each of their respective brackets. It also features two of last year’s and this year’s favorites to win the national title. The Big 12 tournament always starts out with really high expectations from the start, but what about this year?

The NCAA logo is seen in the second half of the game between the Northwestern Wildcats and the Vanderbilt Commodores during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 16, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images/TNS)

Men's and Women's Basketball 3/1/2023, 6:15am

MASSEY: SEC Tournament preview

By Dane Massey

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) is always one of the most competitive conferences every year and it provides us with some of the most talented teams in the nation. However, the SEC this year is THE conference to beat this year in both Men’s and Women’s college basketball. On the men’s side, we have Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Texas A&M and even Missouri all fighting for the SEC crown, and in women’s? South Carolina looks for redemption for last year and to come away with the SEC title to avenge last year’s miserable defeat.

FILE - In this March 21, 2013, file photo, an athlete jumps near the NCAA logo during practice for a second-round game of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Austin, Texas. Defying the NCAA, California's governor signed a first-in-the-nation law Monday, Sept. 30, that will let college athletes hire agents and make money from endorsements — a move that could upend amateur sports in the U.S. and trigger a legal challenge. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

Men's and Women's Basketball 3/1/2023, 6:10am

MASSEY: American Athletic Conference Tournament preview

By Dane Massey

One of the youngest conference tournaments in the nation, the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament has seen a massive rise in popularity as it has featured some of the best games since starting just nine years ago. But what makes this year’s tournaments extra special is that history has been written before each tournament. Both of the number one seeds in this tournament are having historical seasons posting two of the best records in their respective teams’ histories. The top two teams are also ranked in the top 25 and there is a lot of underdog competition in each of the brackets which is what will make this tournament interesting. Will it be that easy for the top dogs to get by? Well, we’re about to find out.

The seating area at Bankers Life Fieldhouse is empty as media and staff mill about, Thursday, March 12, 2020, in Indianapolis, after the Big Ten Conference announced that remainder of the men's NCAA college basketball games tournament was cancelled. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Men's and Women's Basketball 3/1/2023, 6:00am

MASSEY: Big Ten Tournament Preview

By Dane Massey

This tournament might be one of the most unpredictable as there have been so many wild moments throughout the regular season, but hey; crazy moments are in the recipe for a great tournament. 

Graduate student forward Keenan Gumbs of the Liberty Flames goes for a layup against UCLA Dec. 29, 2018. Tribune News Service/David Wilson of the Miami Herald photo courtesy

ASUN Tournament Preview 2/28/2023, 10:38am

MASSEY: Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament preview

By Dane Massey

March is finally here, and with it comes the madness of tournament time. The madness starts with the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) Tournament which is scheduled to start with the men’s tournament featuring two matchups, one being Queens taking on Florida Gulf Coast and the reigning champions Bellarmine taking on North Florida. It’s time for magic to happen and dreams to be crushed, what fun!

The Ball State Women's Tennis teams cheers when a point is scored in a MAC Championship doubles match against Toledo May 1, 2022 at Cardinal Creek Tennis Courts. Amber Pietz, DN

Women's Tennis 2/27/2023, 12:31am

Cardinals dominate double-header and extend win streak to seven

By Caleb Zuver

Ball State women’s tennis (8-2) is hitting its stride as the end of non-conference play draws near. Since the loss at home to James Madison on Feb. 3, the Cardinals have stayed the course to put together this win streak which stands at seven matches after Sunday’s wins in their doubleheader.