The Ball State Daily News Online

Section: SPORTS
Originally published: 11/20/07 at 1:20 AM EST
Last update: 11/20/07 at 1:20 AM EST

Four months ago, former Ball State University men's basketball coach Ronny Thompson resigned his position amid a wave of controversy.

Now, the two-game deal Ball State signed as a friendly family rivalry becomes a whole lot more as No. 5 Georgetown University, led by Ronny's older brother John Thompson III, comes to Worthen Arena Wednesday night.

"It's a great opportunity," first-year Ball State coach Billy Taylor said. "We get the opportunity to play a top five team in the country, arguably could be number one or number two, and we get to play them here."

Taylor insisted his team won't be distracted by the Thompson sideshow Wednesday night.

"I think everybody's just focused on the game," Taylor said. "It's a game against a top five team, which makes it special. You just try to get ready to play basketball."

The Hoyas' leading returning player from 2006-07 is 7'2" center Roy Hibbert, who passed up becoming a likely first-round NBA draft choice to return for another year at Georgetown.

Taylor said things will be difficult considering the Cardinals' height disadvantage. Every Ball State player gives up at least nine inches to Hibbert.

"It's tough," Taylor said. "Hibbert is certainly a player of the year candidate, with his size and his talent. He's a matchup nightmare for guys who are seven feet tall, certainly more for [6-foot-5-inch] guys."

Although Georgetown made the NCAA Final Four last season, Taylor said his team will try not to depart from its normal game plan any more than necessary.

"We want to stick with the foundational pieces of our program," Taylor said. "It is one game. It's a great challenge for us. We don't want to deviate too much from what we would normally do. This game doesn't decide the Mid-American Conference championship for us."

Although the team's game plan will be similar, Taylor said the their excitement level is high.

"We've got a great opportunity to play against a tremendous team," Taylor said. "It's exciting. I've sensed a mood shift."

John Thompson III was once coach at Princeton University, a school known in basketball for using as much clock as possible offensively in order to give itself a better chance against more talented opponents. Taylor, however, said he won't necessarily follow that game plan.

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