Editor's note: Ball State second-year coach Tracy Roller, who last season led the Cardinals to their first postseason appearance, will share a diary with ESPN.com throughout the season.

Jan. 23, 2003

	Roller

I guess you can say that I'm a superstitious person. I never knew how superstitious I really was until this season. But apparently, I'm bad! Who knew that after all these years of coaching and playing basketball, that I am just as bad as all the others? You know who you are ... right sock on first, left shoe, black headband on away games, white for home and chest bump with the mascot before you go play. Oh man ... I'm weak!! What has become of me??

Now, I'm guessing this superstitious talk and the title of this journal piece is peaking your interest. What is this all about? I suppose I should explain the title of this week's journal entry. It will explain a lot about our team and our current success. And how an Xs and Os coach is getting help from a little "Luck O' the Irish," if you will.

I always thought that luck was something that was talked about by people who choose not to work hard. You know, the ones who set those New Year's resolutions and then a week later they are eating chocolate cake and Big Macs. The ones who never follow through on their promises. The ones who want to flip that light switch and be the most talented player out on the floor, but never put in the time to get better. These are the ones who I thought would talk about the luck that you needed in basketball to be a championship team. Horse puckey! Anything that is good in life never comes easy and it sure doesn't come without an awesome work ethic. I know that for sure; I'm living proof.

But things started happening this year, beyond my control. Things that have to do with luck. And I'm convinced we can't win without them:

1. Free throws and jump shots: The day of the game, we have a 30-60 minute shoot around or short practice to go over final adjustments for the contest later that night. We usually do a warm-up, then stretch and shoot free throws and jump shots, in that order. I know that one of my team captains is itching for me to put a little craziness in our practice. Jazz it up a bit! Do something different, but I just can't do it! The four times we mixed it up, we lost! And I'm convinced it had nothing to do with our execution or play! It was those darn free throws and jump shots!

2. Dessert: On away games, we usually go to a restaurant for pre-game meal as a team and staff. It's a great time to bond and get mentally prepared for the upcoming game. In our second game of the season, some brave soul from the team asked if the team could get dessert. I said yes, only if they could guarantee me a win. They did and the dessert eating proceeded. We upset Houston later that night. And the desserts have won us games at Wisconsin, at Central Michigan and others since. I still haven't figured out how we are going to fit dessert into those breakfast pre-game meals ... BUT WE WILL!

3. Electronics: This one actually has a negative twist to it. After we got back from the blown opportunity to shock the world at Kansas State in the WNIT, I was so upset about our 10-point loss that I went to HH Gregg and bought a portable DVD player to take on the road to watch movies. Then, after the double-overtime loss to IU in the IU tournament, an MP3 player was my next self-pity electronics purchase. I still don't even know how to use the darn thing. The Valpo loss in the Hoosier Classic -- a karaoke machine. It was great at the Christmas party, but still! (I think my neighbors are glad that they are seven acres away!) And after the Louisville loss came a combination VCR/DVD player to watch game films on! Four great purchases, four darn loses. I haven't bought anything since Dec. 27. Now, I can't even look in the Sunday fliers at electronics in fear that I will jinx us if I like something in the Best Buy ad! And for goodness sakes, stay out of the electronics department at Wally World!!!

I really could go on and on! I'm convinced that we lost the Louisville game because our super sub and sixth man, Julie Just, started that game and couldn't give us the usual high five down the bench to start the game. I'm positive it had nothing to do with the 25 turnovers that Louisville forced us into. Sorry Julz, but we need you in the high-five club! Or that before each game, I always draw up our jump ball play even though we run that same play every game. And the good luck home game ritual of shaking the hand of every person at the scorer's table (we are currently undefeated at home!). There are a ton of these!

I know, as a level-headed adult, that those desserts probably didn't win us those games or that the Rotary pen that I forgot to wear at Louisville didn't make us turn the ball over, but when it comes to conference play this time of year, you look for any advantage that you can. Anything that will make you seem, even in your own mind, invincible. So, when the 5-0 Ball State Cardinals travel to the 4-1 Toledo Rockets on Saturday, you can bet that we will be eating desserts! We need all the luck we can get!

And until then ... I'll be staying out of electronics stores!