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Post by loganberrie on Jan 1, 2024 22:03:56 GMT -6
The 2-time defending MIVA champion Ball State
Cardinals will open their season Tuesday night at 6:00 in Worthen Arena against Wabash College. The Cardinals will play 5 matches this week meeting Wabash again at 11:00 Wednesday and Thomas Moore University at 2:00 before traveling to Provo, Utah Friday to meet the 3- time national champion BYU Cougers at 9:00 PM and again Saturday at 9:00 PM. BYU is expecting crowds of over 4000 in the Smith Fieldhouse both nights. Ball State has reloaded this season with 9 newcomers to go with 4 returning starters in Tinaishe Ndavazocheva, Vanis Buckholz, Dyer Ball and Lukas Pitlak.
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Post by DickHunsaker on Jan 5, 2024 20:42:48 GMT -6
Struggling tonight against BYU. Too many errors.
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Post by DickHunsaker on Jan 5, 2024 20:46:05 GMT -6
Also no Mr. T?
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Post by DickHunsaker on Jan 5, 2024 20:49:40 GMT -6
About 15 service errors through 1 1/2 sets
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Post by rmcalhoun on Jan 5, 2024 21:29:18 GMT -6
Yea MR T has yet to plsy this year. Cruz said he was not injured and was being rested for the road. Well BYU is about as road as one can get
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Post by loganberrie on Jan 6, 2024 9:37:10 GMT -6
BSU wins the BYU match last night with Mr T on the court. Patrick Rogers was amazing scoring 16 kills in 21 attempts. BSU really hurt themselves with 16 serving errors!
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Post by coastalcard on Jan 6, 2024 12:26:12 GMT -6
BSU wins the BYU match last night with Mr T on the court. Patrick Rogers was amazing scoring 16 kills in 21 attempts. BSU really hurt themselves with 16 serving errors! Did I miss something or did Rob have a drinking buddy last night? |
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Post by lmills72 on Jan 7, 2024 18:45:23 GMT -6
So I know others will disagree with this take, but didn't really seem like we were that competitive against BYU. Some will say we competed well, but fact is we lost six straight and maybe only pushed BYU in 1 or two of those games. I know we were missing Mr. T. and that's one thing if he's going to play this year, but since he hasn't and apparently isn't injured, who knows what his future is?
The other thing is Cruz has just played a ton of people, I think 17 total in those 2 matches (not to mention the big one who didn't play). And 3 different setters. I would think even early season against a ranked opponent you'd put your best foot forward, but I wonder if Cruz knows yet what his best team is since we do have a ton of youth. Rogers appears to be the only person who's really stood out.
I guess it really doesn't matter too much until we get to the conference session, but I hope Cruz figures it out sooner than later.
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Post by comet on Jan 8, 2024 7:42:36 GMT -6
Good lord, we've played 5 matches, only 2 against decent competition. You yourself talk about all the youth and playing 17 different players in the BYU and you're already writing off the season. Who are you, sherm in disguise  ?? |
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Post by loganberrie on Jan 8, 2024 8:45:48 GMT -6
So I know others will disagree with this take, but didn't really seem like we were that competitive against BYU. Some will say we competed well, but fact is we lost six straight and maybe only pushed BYU in 1 or two of those games. I know we were missing Mr. T. and that's one thing if he's going to play this year, but since he hasn't and apparently isn't injured, who knows what his future is? The other thing is Cruz has just played a ton of people, I think 17 total in those 2 matches (not to mention the big one who didn't play). And 3 different setters. I would think even early season against a ranked opponent you'd put your best foot forward, but I wonder if Cruz knows yet what his best team is since we do have a ton of youth. Rogers appears to be the only person who's really stood out. I guess it really doesn't matter too much until we get to the conference session, but I hope Cruz figures it out sooner than later. An accumulation of 35 attacking and serving errors in 3 sets Saturday is good reason to think BSU did not play well. Cruz gave a lot of players chances to see what they could do and the moment seemed a little to big for nearly everyone except Patrick Rogers who was spectacular on Friday night. The match may have been totally different Friday had Mr T played and the sooner he returns the better. BSU hung with BYU in nearly every set until point 15 before the Cougers would go on a run that usually began with an untimely Cardinal serving error. The 6’6” freshman setter Lucas Machado from Brazil is going to be a great one. Once Cruz finds his best lineup and Mr T is back, BSU will be a tough team to beat. That will take some time and patience. |
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Post by 00hmh on Jan 8, 2024 9:36:01 GMT -6
Yea MR T has yet to plsy this year. That question remains. |
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Post by DickHunsaker on Jan 8, 2024 11:45:32 GMT -6
Not an excuse but BYU is one of the hardest places to play in the country. They average around 3000 fans per match in a tiny, confined space. BYU has not lost on their home court since February 4th, 2022, ironically against Ball State.
I liked what I saw from our players and I think we will be fine for the remainder of the season.
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Post by loganberrie on Jan 8, 2024 15:11:29 GMT -6
Not an excuse but BYU is one of the hardest places to play in the country. They average around 3000 fans per match in a tiny, confined space. BYU has not lost on their home court since February 4th, 2022, ironically against Ball State. I liked what I saw from our players and I think we will be fine for the remainder of the season. Great information on how tough it is to win in BYU’s Smith Fieldhouse. Our team simply needs match experience and they will be fine. 3 home matches Thursday, Friday and Saturday will help prepare us for USC and Stanford the following weekend. Hopefully Mr T will be in on the floor because he is among the best attackers in the nation! |
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Post by lmills72 on Jan 8, 2024 18:33:08 GMT -6
Good lord, we've played 5 matches, only 2 against decent competition. You yourself talk about all the youth and playing 17 different players in the BYU and you're already writing off the season. Who are you, sherm in disguise ?? Always interesting to try to figure out how other people interpret things. Which of my comments led you to believe I am "writing off the season?" I believe I even said "I guess it doesn't matter too much until we get to the conference ..." Is that a "write-the-season-off" comment to you? |
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Post by cardsbballfan on Jan 8, 2024 18:58:32 GMT -6
On the absence of Mr T... Coach Cruz says he's not injured. He certainly did not appear injured during the warm-ups at Worthen Arena. So... that may well mean a suspension, either academic or because of some other issue. Occasionally, coaches are reluctant to discuss suspensions in public.
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?? 
