Ball State at Northern Kentucky 11/25/20 - College Basketball Picks & Predictions

On Wednesday, the Ball State Cardinals visit BB&T Arena in Highland Heights, Kentucky to play the Northern Kentucky Norse in the opening game of the college basketball regular season for both. Ball State was 18-13 overall and 11-7 in the Mid-American Conference last season. Four players who have been starters for Ball State return and the Cardinals also have seven players that have played three seasons of college basketball. Two impact players for Ball State will be transfers Josh Bryan and Jalen Windham. Windham played last season for Creighton and Bryan spent last season at the University of Indianapolis. 

However, the top player returning for Ball State and one who has been voted as a preseason second-team all-MAC selection is senior Ishmael El-Amin. Last season the senior averaged 13.8 points per game and shot 39.3% from 3-point territory. El-Amin score 20 or more points four times last season and finished second for Ball State in assists while starting all 31 games for the Cardinals. 

Northern Kentucky finished last season 23-9 overall and 13-5 in the Horizon League. The Norse finished second behind Wright State in the Conference standings. Three top players for Northern Kentucky are no longer with the club as Tyler Sharp in Denis Walton completed their college careers and Jalen Tate transfered to Arkansas. Northern Kentucky therefore will rely on returning double-digit scorer Trevon Faulkner for much of their offense as well as several newcomers.

Carlos Hines is a transfer from Northern Arizona who averaged 12.9 points and 4.0 assists per game last season as the starting point guard. John Harge missed all of last season due to an ACL tear and is expected to provide plenty of offense for the Norse. Darius Harding averaged 19.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game last year at Motlow State and the JC transfer will make an immediate impact for Northern Kentucky. Other newcomers include Marques Warrick, David Bohm and Trey Robinson. Adrian Nelson and Bryson Langdon are back and both will see plenty of court time as well.