1989–90 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team

American college basketball season March 2026 August 2023 1989–90 Ball State Cardinals Basketball Ball State Athletics wordmark.png 250 Mid-American Conference MAC 26–7 13–3 Dick Hunsaker 1st Leonard Drake Paris McCurdy Irving Gymnasium MAC regular season championsMAC tournament champions NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen The 1989–90 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team represented Ball State University as a member of the Mid-American Conference during the 1989–90 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. After the departure of head coach Rick Majerus, Ball State responded under new coach Dick Hunsaker by having the best season in the school's history. This group of Cardinals became the first team in the Mid-American Conference history to win two consecutive MAC regular season conference championships as well as back-to-back conference tournament titles. The 1990 Ball State basketball team also became the first team in the MAC to reach the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in its current format. The Cardinals lost in the Sweet 16 to the eventual national champions UNLV Runnin' Rebels, 69–67. Matthew Tyson August 15, 2006 How Sweet It Was: The Story of Ball States 1990 Sweet 16 Season https://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/bitstream/handle/handle/191506/M275_2006MathewsTyson.pdf?sequence=1 Ball State Library December 31, 2017 The team was led by many transfer players and two of Coach Hunsaker's key transfers, starting forwards Paris McCurdy and Curtis Kidd, were high school teammates. http://articles.philly.com/1989-03-18/sports/26129381_1_cardinals-rick-majerus-practice-jerseys https://web.archive.org/web/20150914164048/http://articles.philly.com/1989-03-18/sports/26129381_1_cardinals-rick-majerus-practice-jerseys dead September 14, 2015 Ball State Coach Leads A Rapid Rise Joe Juliano March 18, 1989 February 25, 2016 They both signed to play their college ball at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. However, because of disciplinary reasons, the two had to find a new school. Former coach Rick Majerus gave them a second chance, and they came through. The two became the key assets to Ball States Sweet 16 run.https://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/15/sports/basketball-unfamiliar-spotlight-for-ball-state.html BASKETBALL; Unfamiliar Spotlight for Ball State Rhoden William March 15, 1989 New York Times February 25, 2016 The Cardinals finished the regular season at 24–6 before heading to the NCAA tournament. The Cardinals were a 12 seed and began the tournament at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City. They upset the Oregon State Beavers in what was star point guard Gary Payton’s last game in college. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-03-22-sp-1286-story.html COMMENTARY : A Cinderella Story for the Sweet 16: Ball State and Coach Berkowitz Steve March 22, 1990 Los Angeles Times February 25, 2016 They won the game when McCurdy made a three-point play with no time left.Norwood Robyn Ball State KOs Oregon State https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-03-16-sp-144-story.html 27 March 2018 Los Angeles Times Ball State then had to play the Louisville Cardinals next. They ended up defeating Louisville late in the game by a final score of 62–60. Meanwhile, in Muncie, fans stormed the village (the center of Ball State's off campus social scene) after the win. Ball State advanced to face the top-seeded UNLV Runnin' Rebels. Ball State shut down one of the best offenses in college basketball history and had a chance to win it in the final seconds. Engel Mac March 15, 2011 The Greatest Dunk You Forgot: #UNLV vs. #BallState in '90 #NCAA Tournament http://sportsblogs.star-telegram.com/colleges/2011/03/the-greatest-dunk-you-forgot-unlv-vs-ballstate-in-90-ncaa-tournament.html Sports Blog Star February 25, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304080908/http://sportsblogs.star-telegram.com/colleges/2011/03/the-greatest-dunk-you-forgot-unlv-vs-ballstate-in-90-ncaa-tournament.html 2016-03-04 dead Down by two, the Cards made a deep pass to tie or take the lead but it was picked off. http://www.lancewilkerson.com/lance-wilkerson-blog/2010/3/25/20-years-ago-ball-state-helped-begin-mid-major-revolution.html 20 Years Ago Ball State Helped Begin Mid-Major Revolution March 25, 2010 LanceWilkerson.com February 25, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070739/http://www.lancewilkerson.com/lance-wilkerson-blog/2010/3/25/20-years-ago-ball-state-helped-begin-mid-major-revolution.html 2016-03-04 dead Roster 1989 Ball State Cardinals y y Paris McCurdy 42 F 6 7 220 SR Detroit, MI Cooley C Chandler Thompson 4 F 6 3 220 SO Muncie, IN Muncie CentralO'Gara Ryan Chandler Thompson returns to coach Central https://www.thestarpress.com/story/sports/high-school/2017/05/23/chandler-thompson-among-four-central-hires/340665001/ Muncie Star-Press 27 March 2018 Curtis Kidd 44 C 6 9 235 SR Detroit, MI Cooley C Billy Butts 30 G 6 3 190 SR Muncie, IN Muncie Northside Emanuel Cross 34 G 6 1 205 JR Chicago, IL Westinghouse Greg Miller 31 F 6 8 220 SR Yorktown, IN Yorktown Shawn Parrish 33 F 6 5 205 SR Spencer, IN Vincennes UniversityWheeler Donovan SHAWN PARRISH INTERVIEW: HIS TEAMS MADE HIM GREAT http://nationalroadmagazine.com/2015/02/08/shawn-parrish-interview-his-teams-made-him-great/ National Road Magazine 29 March 2018Owen Valley Roman Muller 32 C 7 1 230 SR Wisconsin Dells, WI Wisconsin DellsHoellen John Big Sleeper is Beginning to Awaken https://www.chicagotribune.com/1985/07/01/big-sleeper-is-beginning-to-awaken/ Chicago Tribune 30 March 2018 Mike Spicer 22 G 5 11 180 SO Grand Rapids, MI Central Dave Barber 35 G 6 1 175 SR Muncie, IN Daleville Scott Nichols 20 G 6 1 195 SR Detroit, IN St. Martin Deporres Rodney Haynes 25 G 6 0 175 SR New Castle, IN Chrysler Mike Giunta 11 G 6 4 195 SO Carmel, IN Keith Stalling 23 G 6 3 215 JR Chicago IL Dunbar Mark Hardwick G 6 2 165 FR Dunkirk, IN Jay County Trent Hicks G 6 2 170 Sr Elwood, IN Elwood Community High School Rob Harmon G 6 2 175 Sr Martinsville, IN Martinsville High School Dick Hunsaker (Weber State) Larry EustachyLeonard DrakeRon Hecklinski (part time) http://ballstatesports.com/documents/2010/9/13/1989-90-Roster.pdf Schedule and results 1989-90 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings 1990 yes |- !colspan=9 style=Ball State Cardinals| Non-conference regular season Nov 24, 1989 yes yes Purdue Mackey Arena West Lafayette, IN 43–57 0–1 Nov 28, 1989 yes Saginaw Valley State 66–45 1–1 |- Dec 1, 1989 yes Hardin-Simmons Irving Gymnasium Muncie, IN 98–70 2–1 |- Dec 2, 1989 yes Coppin State Irving Gymnasium Muncie, IN 71–66 3–1 |- Dec 5, 1989 yes yes Indiana State Hulman Center Terre Haute, IN 48–49 3–2 |- Dec 13, 1989 yes yes Valparaiso Athletics–Recreation Center Valparaiso, IN 79–72 4–2 |- Dec 21, 1989 yes Cardinal Stritch 116–52 5–2 |- Dec 23, 1989 yes yes Butler Irving Gymnasium Muncie, IN 63–42 6–2 |- Dec 29, 1989 yes yes Memphis State Chicago, IL Old Style Classic 73–76 OT 6–3 |- Dec 30, 1989 yes yes Grambling Chicago, IL Old Style Classic 79–56 7–3 |- !colspan=9 style=Ball State Cardinals| MAC regular season Jan 3, 1990 yes Central Michigan Rose Arena Mount Pleasant, MI 83–60 8–3 1–0 |- Jan 6, 1990 Bowling Green Irving Gymnasium Muncie, IN 71–65 9–3 2–0 |- Jan 10, 1990 yes Eastern Michigan Bowen Field House Ypsilanti, MI 85–67 10–3 3–0 |- Jan 13, 1990 yes Florida International Irving Gymnasium Muncie, IN 105–50 11–3 |- Jan 17, 1990 yes Kent Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center Kent, OH 68–71 11–4 3–1 |- Jan 20, 1990 Toledo Irving Gymnasium Muncie, IN 59–54 12–4 4–1 |- Jan 24, 1990 Miami University Irving Gymnasium Muncie, IN 71–64 13–4 5–1 |- Jan 27, 1990 yes Western Michigan University Arena Kalamazoo, MI 65–38 14–4 6–1 |- Jan 31, 1990 Ohio Irving Gymnasium Muncie, IN 77–61 15–4 7–1 |- Feb 3, 1990 yes Bowling Green Anderson Arena Bowling Green, OH 45–44 16–4 8–1 |- Feb 7, 1990 Eastern Michigan Irving Gymnasium Muncie, IN 57–58 16–5 8–2 |- Feb 14, 1990 Kent Irving Gymnasium Muncie, IN 77–50 17–5 9–2 |- Feb 17, 1990 yes Toledo John F. Savage Hall Toledo, OH 47–68 17–6 9–3 |- Feb 21, 1990 yes Miami University Millett Hall Oxford, OH 79–73 18–6 10–3 |- Feb 24, 1990 Western Michigan Irving Gymnasium Muncie, IN 77–54 19–6 11–3 |- Feb 28, 1990 yes Ohio Convocation Center Athens, OH 77–60 20–6 12–3 |- Mar 3, 1990 Central Michigan Irving Gymnasium Muncie, IN 84–57 21–6 13–3 |- !colspan=9 style=Ball State Cardinals| MAC tournament Mar 9, 1990 yes 1 Ohio 8 Cobo Arena Detroit, MI Quarterfinals 77–70 22–6 |- Mar 10, 1990 yes 1 Eastern Michigan 5 Cobo Arena Detroit, MI Semifinals 69–58 23–6 |- Mar 11, 1990 yes 1 Central Michigan 7 Cobo Arena Detroit, MI Championship 78–56 24–6 |- !colspan=9 style=Ball State Cardinals| NCAA tournament |- Mar 15, 1990 yes 12 W Oregon State 5 W 22 Jon M. Huntsman Center Salt Lake City, UT First Round 10,020 54–53 25–6 |- Mar 17, 1990 yes 12 W Louisville 4 W 16 Jon M. Huntsman Center Salt Lake City, UT Second Round 62–60 26–6 |- Mar 23, 1990 yes 12 W UNLV 1 W 2 Oakland—Alameda County Coliseum Arena Oakland, CA Sweet Sixteen 67–69 26–7 yes AP Poll Eastern Time SourceRecord Book http://static.ballstatesports.com/custompages/mbb/pdfs/record-book.pdf Ball State Sports 31 December 2017 References Category:1989–90 Mid-American Conference men's basketball season 1989-90 Category:1989 in sports in Indiana Category:1990 in sports in Indiana Category:1990 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament participants