The 2016–17 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team represented Ball State University during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cardinals, led by fourth-year head coach James Whitford, played their home games at Worthen Arena as members of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 21–13, 11–7 in MAC play to finish in a tie for the West Division title. As the No. 4 seed in the MAC tournament they defeated Western Michigan in the quarterfinals to advance to the Semifinals where they lost to Akron. They were invited to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament where they lost in the first round to Fort Wayne.
Previous season The Cardinals finished the 2015–16 season 21–14, 10–8 in MAC play to finish in a tie for the West Division championship. They lost to Miami (OH) in the first round of the MAC tournament. They were invited to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament where they defeated Tennessee State and UT Martin to advance to the Quarterfinals before losing to Columbia.
Departures Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes Naiel Smith 1 G 6'4" 200 Junior Brooklyn, NY Graduate transferred to Texas Wesleyan Rocco Belcaster 5 F 6'7" 221 RS Junior Berwyn, IL Left the team for personal reasons Bo Calhoun 12 F 6'6" 245 Senior South Bend, IN Graduated Gill Bik 21 F 6'7" 227 Senior Toronto, ON Graduated Jeremiah Davis 24 F 6'4" 210 RS Senior Muncie, IN Graduated Nate Wells 52 C 7'1" 247 RS Senior Davenport, IA Graduated
Incoming transfers Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous School Jontrell Walker 1 G 6'1" 188 Junior Aurora, IL Transferred from Incarnate Word. Under NCAA transfer rules, Walker will have to sit out for the 2016–17 season. Will have two years of remaining eligibility. Doudou Gueye 35 C 6'10" 250 Senior Dakar, Senegal Transferred from South Carolina. Will eligible to play since Gueye graduated from South Carolina.
Recruiting class of 2016
Recruiting class of 2017
Roster
Schedule and results
!colspan=9 style=| Exhibition
!colspan=9 style=| Non-conference regular season
!colspan=9 style=| MAC regular season
!colspan=9 style=| MAC tournament
!colspan=9 style=| CIT
See also 2016–17 Ball State Cardinals women's basketball team
References