MUNCIE, Ind. — This picture stands out from two seasons ago: Redshirt freshman Tayler Persons consoled teammate Francis Kiapway as they walked off the floor. They had just been defeated.
After losing its grasp on a first-round bye in the Mid-American Conference Tournament, No. 6 Ball State hosted No. 11 Miami for a play-in game. The RedHawks upset the Cardinals and put an ugly bow on a deflating end to a surprisingly successful season.
After winning 12 games in head coach James Whitford's first two they had tallied 19 W's in his third campaign. With one of the country's biggest turnarounds coming to a bitter end, Whitford was thrilled then to accept an invitation to the pay-to-play CollegeInsider.