Ball State at Evansville

The Purple Aces are off to a good start after failing miserably last season, recording just nine wins total and just three in the Missouri Valley. They are getting the strong play of Ely and Holsinger, but finally have some others contributing as three others are producing nearly double digits per game. The Aces have grown from last season and are much more difficult to defend as the scoring options, which were limited last season, now fill all five spots on the court. Ball State has gotten a few early wins against lesser teams and will be challenged on the road in this one. Ball St. managed just six wins a year ago, and there are seven new faces on the team. Billy Taylor has lost all the holdovers from the Ronnie Thompson era, and the Cards are going to take their lumps, especially against an improved Evansville team that beat the Cards on the road last year. The Purple Aces get this one.