Ball State's basketball program began in 1920 in Muncie, Indiana, the heartland of Hoosier basketball. The Cardinals compete in the Mid-American Conference and have made several NCAA Tournament appearances. The program produced NBA player Bonzi Wells.
The Cardinals nickname was adopted in 1927 after athletic director Paul 'Billy' Williams and football coach Norman Wann suggested it — reportedly inspired by a St. Louis Cardinals sweatshirt — and students approved it in a landslide vote, replacing the old 'Hoosieroons' moniker.
Reaching the Sweet Sixteen of the 1990 NCAA Tournament under coach Dick Hunsaker, the deepest tournament run in program history.
Ball State is named after the Ball family, who made their fortune manufacturing Ball mason jars in Muncie, and the university was originally called Indiana State Normal School Eastern Division.
The Ball State Cardinals compete in the MAC and hold an all-time record of 853–769 (.526 winning percentage) across 55 recorded seasons dating back to 1971-72.
| Season | Record | Conference | Coach | AP peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 12-19 | 7-11 (MAC) | Michael Lewis | |
| 2024-25 | 14-17 | 7-11 (MAC) | Michael Lewis | |
| 2023-24 | 15-16 | 7-11 (MAC) | Michael Lewis | |
| 2022-23 | 20-12 | 11-7 (MAC) | Michael Lewis | |
| 2021-22 | 14-17 | 9-10 (MAC) | James Whitford | |
| 2020-21 | 10-13 | 8-9 (MAC) | James Whitford | |
| 2019-20 | 18-13 | 11-7 (MAC) | James Whitford | |
| 2018-19 | 16-17 | 6-12 (MAC) | James Whitford | |
| 2017-18 | 19-13 | 10-8 (MAC) | James Whitford | |
| 2016-17 | 21-13 | 11-7 (MAC) | James Whitford | |
| 2015-16 | 21-14 | 10-8 (MAC) | James Whitford | |
| 2014-15 | 7-23 | 2-16 (MAC) | James Whitford | |
| 2013-14 | 5-25 | 2-16 (MAC) | James Whitford | |
| 2012-13 | 15-15 | 8-8 (MAC) | Billy Taylor | |
| 2011-12 | 15-15 | 6-10 (MAC) | Billy Taylor | |
| 2010-11 | 19-13 | 10-6 (MAC) | Billy Taylor | |
| 2009-10 | 15-15 | 8-8 (MAC) | Billy Taylor | |
| 2008-09 | 14-17 | 7-9 (MAC) | Billy Taylor | |
| 2007-08 | 6-24 | 5-11 (MAC) | Billy Taylor | |
| 2006-07 | 9-22 | 5-11 (MAC) | Ronny Thompson | |
| 2005-06 | 10-18 | 6-12 (MAC) | Tim Buckley | |
| 2004-05 | 15-13 | 10-8 (MAC) | Tim Buckley | |
| 2003-04 | 14-15 | 10-8 (MAC) | Tim Buckley | |
| 2002-03 | 13-17 | 8-10 (MAC) | Tim Buckley | |
| 2001-02 | 23-12 | 12-6 (MAC) | Tim Buckley | AP #15 |
| 2000-01 | 18-12 | 11-7 (MAC) | Tim Buckley | |
| 1999-00 | 22-9 | 11-7 (MAC) | Ray McCallum | |
| 1998-99 | 16-11 | 10-8 (MAC) | Ray McCallum | |
| 1997-98 | 21-8 | 14-4 (MAC) | Ray McCallum | |
| 1996-97 | 16-13 | 9-9 (MAC) | Ray McCallum | |
| 1995-96 | 16-12 | 11-7 (MAC) | Ray McCallum | |
| 1994-95 | 19-11 | 11-7 (MAC) | Ray McCallum | |
| 1993-94 | 16-12 | 11-7 (MAC) | Ray McCallum | |
| 1992-93 | 26-8 | 14-4 (MAC) | Dick Hunsaker | |
| 1991-92 | 24-9 | 11-5 (MAC) | Dick Hunsaker | |
| 1990-91 | 21-10 | 10-6 (MAC) | Dick Hunsaker | |
| 1989-90 | 26-7 | 13-3 (MAC) | Dick Hunsaker | |
| 1988-89 | 29-3 | 14-2 (MAC) | Rick Majerus | AP #18 |
| 1987-88 | 14-14 | 8-8 (MAC) | Rick Majerus | |
| 1986-87 | 9-18 | 4-12 (MAC) | Al Brown | |
| 1985-86 | 21-10 | 11-7 (MAC) | Al Brown | |
| 1984-85 | 13-16 | 8-10 (MAC) | Al Brown | |
| 1983-84 | 8-19 | 5-13 (MAC) | Al Brown | |
| 1982-83 | 17-12 | 10-8 (MAC) | Al Brown | |
| 1981-82 | 17-11 | 12-4 (MAC) | Steve Yoder | |
| 1980-81 | 20-10 | 10-6 (MAC) | Steve Yoder | |
| 1979-80 | 14-15 | 7-9 (MAC) | Steve Yoder | |
| 1978-79 | 16-11 | 9-7 (MAC) | Steve Yoder | |
| 1977-78 | 10-15 | 6-10 (MAC) | Steve Yoder | |
| 1976-77 | 11-14 | 7-9 (MAC) | Jim Holstein | |
| 1975-76 | 11-14 | 5-11 (MAC) | Jim Holstein | |
| 1974-75 | 10-15 | Ind | Jim Holstein | |
| 1973-74 | 14-12 | Ind | Jim Holstein | |
| 1972-73 | 9-15 | Ind | Jim Holstein | |
| 1971-72 | 9-15 | Ind | Bud Getchell |
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| Rank | Team | Conference | All-Time Wins |
|---|
Top 100 by all-time D1 wins. Verified against the NCAA record book — and tiered so you can argue properly.
| # | COACH | RECORD | WIN % | SCHOOL(S) | YEARS | BEST SEASON / LEGACY |
|---|