Ball State graduated four of the five players that averaged more than 4.1 points per game for last season's MAC West co-champs. In total, the Cardinals no longer have the guys who produced 60.1 percent of their points and played 53.7 percent of their minutes.

That sounds bad until you realize Ball State retains sophomore big man Jarrod Jones, the MAC's reigning Freshman of the Year who racked up 11.2 points, 7.3 rebounds per game and 1.1 blocks per game. He gives third-year coach Billy Taylor an excellent building block as the Cardinals sort out their perimeter plan—essentially the opposite situation Ball State dealt with as the 2008-09 season unfolded.

"I was glad we had some seniors around him to take some pressure off him," Taylor said.]]> Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:06:50 PDT ncaab urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,sportsxchange:20080101:ncaab,article,teamreports-2009-ncaab-baa:1 Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:06:50 PDT