If you’ve been heading down to Worthen Arena lately, you know the vibe is… well, it’s a lot. We are sitting in the middle of January 2026, and looking at the Ball State University basketball schedule, it feels like every game is a must-win that somehow slips through the fingers. It’s tough. Honestly, the Cardinals are in a bit of a tailspin right now, sitting at 4-13 overall and a rough 0-5 in the MAC as of mid-month.
You’ve got a team that shows these flashes of absolute brilliance—like Armoni Zeigler dropping 30 on Akron just a few days ago—but then the consistency just disappears. It’s the kind of season that makes you want to check the schedule every morning hoping for a breakthrough.
The Remaining 2026 Men’s Schedule: Can They Turn It Around?
The road ahead is basically a gauntlet of Mid-American Conference rivals. If Michael Lewis and his crew are going to save face, it starts with these specific dates. You’ve got a mix of home games where the "Nest" needs to be loud and road trips that look pretty daunting on paper.
Basically, here is what the next few weeks look like for the men's team:
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- January 20 at Central Michigan: A 7:00 PM tip-off in Mount Pleasant. Central Michigan is also struggling, so this is arguably the best chance to break the conference slide.
- January 24 vs. Northern Illinois: Back home at Worthen at 2:00 PM. Saturday afternoon hoops in Muncie is usually a good time, and the team needs that home-court energy.
- January 31 at Toledo: Noon start. Toledo is currently a top-four team in the MAC, so this one is going to be a massive uphill battle.
- February 3 at Bowling Green: Another road test at 7:00 PM.
- February 7 at Louisiana Monroe: This is part of the MAC-SBC Challenge. It's a weird mid-season break from conference play, but maybe a change of scenery in Louisiana is what they need.
- February 11 vs. Buffalo: 7:00 PM back in Muncie.
The schedule keeps rolling through February with home dates against Kent State (Feb 14) and Akron (Feb 21), before the regular season wraps up with a home finale against Central Michigan on March 6. Then, it's off to Cleveland for the MAC Tournament—assuming they can climb out of the cellar to qualify.
Why the Records Don't Tell the Whole Story
Look, 4-13 is an ugly number. There is no way to sugarcoat that. But if you actually watch the games or dig into the box scores, you see the potential. The Ball State University basketball schedule has been brutal. They played #24 Wisconsin in Madison back in November. They’ve dealt with a roster that has 10 new faces.
Chemistry takes time. You can't just throw seven transfers and three freshmen together and expect them to play like the '90s Bulls by December.
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The Zeigler Factor
Armoni Zeigler is the real deal. When he tied his career-high with 30 points against Akron, he showed he can hang with the best in the league. The problem? Support. Elmore James IV and Davion Hill are chipping in, but the Cardinals are often getting outrebounded or losing the "second-chance points" battle. It's those little things—the "junk points"—that are killing them.
The Women's Team is a Different World
It’s wild how different the energy is for the women’s program right now. While the men are searching for answers, the Ball State women are absolutely crushing it. They are 12-4 overall and a perfect 4-0 in the MAC. They’ve got a schedule coming up that includes UMass (Jan 21) and Miami OH (Jan 24) at home. If you want to see winning basketball in Muncie right now, that is where you go. They even dropped 119 points on Oakland City earlier this season. 119!
What to Expect If You're Going to Worthen
If you are planning to attend a game soon, keep a few things in mind. Worthen Arena is still one of the best mid-major venues in the country. The sightlines are great, and even when the record is down, the community shows up.
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- Parking: It’s usually pretty straightforward around the arena, but give yourself 20 minutes before tip-off.
- Tickets: You can usually grab these at the door, but for the rivalry games against Miami (OH) or Western Michigan, buying online is smarter.
- The MAC-SBC Challenge: Don't forget that February 7th game is away. People often miss that it's a non-conference "return" game from the November matchups.
The Mid-American Conference is notoriously chaotic. One week you’re at the bottom, the next you’ve won three straight and you’re a "dark horse." For Ball State, the focus has to be on the defensive end. They are giving up too many points in the paint. If they can tighten up the interior defense and keep Zeigler hot, the February stretch of the schedule might actually be fun to watch.
Actionable Steps for Cardinals Fans
If you're following the team through this rough patch, here’s how to stay in the loop without losing your mind:
- Download the WMUN App: If you can't make it to the games, the radio broadcasts on 92.5 FM or the app are the best way to catch the play-by-play.
- Watch on ESPN+: Almost all the MAC games are streamed here. It’s worth the sub just for the January/February conference grind.
- Check the Standings Weekly: Don't just look at the overall record. In the MAC, only the conference record matters for tournament seeding in Cleveland.
- Support the Women's Team: Seriously, they are playing at a high level. Catching a Wednesday night women's game is a great way to see the program's winning culture in action.
The season isn't over yet. There are plenty of games left on the Ball State University basketball schedule to flip the script. Whether they do or not depends on if they can find some defensive identity before the calendar turns to March.