Ball State head coach James Whitford during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against MarquetteTuesday, Dec. 17, 2013, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

 Morry Gash

Ex-UA staffer Whitford proving himself as coach 

After serving four years at Arizona on Sean Miller’s basketball staff, James Whitford is making a mark as a head coach. His Ball State club beat Eastern Michigan on ESPN on Saturday, improving its record to 13-6. It’s been a long climb for Whitford; in rebuilding Ball State, his first two teams went 5-25 and 7-23. 

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