Central Michigan University Athletics
Men's Basketball Looks To Defend Regular Season MAC Title
8/17/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Aug. 17, 2001
MOUNT PLEASANT -- What a difference one season makes.
A year ago, the Central Michigan University men's basketball program was looking to improve on a 6-23 record.
This year, the Chippewas find themselves looking to defend a Mid-American Conference (MAC) title after becoming the only team in MAC history to go from worst to first in a season.
Central Michigan posted a 14 1/2 game turnaround last year, finishing 20-8 overall and 14-4 in league play. The improvement was the second-best nationally in Division I behind Boston College's 15-game turnaround. The mark also tied for 10th best improvement all-time in NCAA history.
With four starters returning, including MAC "Player of the Year" David Webber (Farmington Hills/Sr.), the Chippewas figure to be in the MAC race again in 2001-02.
"I'm delighted with the core of players we have returning," head coach Jay Smith said. "They have tremendous work ethic and do things the right way.
"More importantly, these players have been through a championship season and now they understand how one possession can determine the outcome of any game. Each game is an important one when you are challenging for the conference title."
Headlining the returnees is Webber, a 6-2 shooting guard who averaged 18.4 points per game while scooping up a handful of awards last season, including being named MAC "Player of the Year," Associated Press Honorable Mention All-America and a finalist for the Oscar Robertson Player of the Year Trophy.
Webber's 18.4 points per game led the conference and he tied for the team lead in rebounds with 5.2 per contest. He ranks eighth nationally among active seniors with a career average of 15.8 points per game.
"David has to be a consistent, vocal leader for us this season because we lost a great deal of leadership," Smith said. "He knows his role as a scorer and knows he has to aggressively find a position on the court to score."
Webber could be freed up a little more this year with a potent group of post players. Chad Pleiness (Scottville/Jr.) at 6-6 and Mike Manciel (Detroit/Jr.) at 6-5 can each play the wing or small forward and the duo combine with sophomore twin towers of 7-0 Chris Kaman (Wyoming) and 6-8 Gerrit Brigitha (Niles) for a formidable attack underneath.
Pleiness was an honorable mention all-conference selection in 2001 after averaging 11.7 points per game and pacing the MAC in free throw percentage at .884 (76-for-86).
"Chad plays a big role for us because he's a borderline utility player -- a three, four or five," Smith said. "He guarded quick guys on the perimeter at times and big post players at times. He has experience and needs to be more of a leader as well."
The "X" factor from last season could be the healthy return of Manciel, the 1999 MAC "Freshman of the Year." After missing the 1999-2000 season with a broken foot, Manciel was slowed last year by ankle problems but managed to average 9.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in 20 starts. He had surgical pins removed from the foot in the offseason and is looking promising.
"Mike is totally pain free and feels the best he has in a year and a half," Smith said. "He has improved speed and lateral quickness, and he's working on defense and ball handling."
Another big step forward for the program could be the development of centers Kaman and Brigitha. Both earned MAC all-freshmen team honors last season with each playing right around 18 minutes per game. Brigitha started all 28 games and averaged 5.8 points and 2.4 rebounds. His soft touch around the basket led to a .528 field goal percentage.
Kaman was the team's third-leading scorer despite only one start. He averaged 9.8 points and 4.8 boards while swatting 45 shots to rank fourth in the MAC.
"Gerrit and Chris will be competitive in the post," Smith said. "They each played about half the minutes last year and could see more time on the floor together."
The one position the Chippewas need someone to step into is the point guard spot. Three players lead the mix in junior J.R. Wallace (Muskegon), sophomore T.J. Meerman (Coopersville) and junior transfer Whitney Robinson (Detroit) from Eastern Kentucky.
"Right now it's a question mark because everyone is untested," Smith said. "They have all had a little quiz but now is the final exam where they are going to have to pass to play. The point guard will have to make sure our scoring guys get the ball in the right position and he'll have to communicate and direct traffic on the floor."
Wallace (6-0) and Meerman (6-3) each averaged around five minutes per game for the Chippewas last season.
Robinson (5-11) could add a scoring punch from the top after averaging 17.8 points per game as a freshman and 11.7 as a sophomore at Eastern Kentucky. He drained 121 three-pointers in his two seasons and was named to honorable mention All-Ohio Valley Conference his first year.
Central had an experienced bench last season but will need underclassmen to provide quality minutes this year.
Newcomers Tony Bowne (Hastings/RS-Fr.) and Herb Goliday (Ferndale/Fr.) figure into the mix at the guard position. Bowne (6-3) redshirted last season and Goliday (6-3) figures to be a big contributor as a true frosh.
Adam Dentlinger (Arcadia, Iowa/So.), a 6-7 forward, was solid in limited minutes last season and he's the only other post player with experience. Walk-ons Tom Pantlind (East Grand Rapids/RS-Fr.), Dan Quinn (Grand Rapids/So.) and seven-footer Jon Woods (Midland/Sr.) will also look to contribute.
In addition to the strong core of players, a strength will be quickness. Central will be the quickest it has been on the perimeter since Smith has been at CMU and the Chippewa big men can also run the floor.
The two question marks are starting point guard and leadership with the loss of seniors Tim Kisner, Jon Borovich, Luke Johnson and Todd Schrotenboer from last year's team.
While CMU returns as the defending regular season champs, the MAC figures to be one of the closest races it's ever been. Eight of the 10 players from the first and second team All-MAC squads return with most of the contenders returning several starters each. MAC tournament champion Kent State, Marshall and Ohio are expected to lead the East Division and the West will have also have perennial powers Ball State and Toledo.
"There are at least 10 teams that could win it this year," Smith said. "The MAC has been getting tougher every year with everybody improving their talent."
Central Michigan will prepare for the conference season with an upgraded non-league schedule. Five of the nine nonconference foes were in the postseason last year with Oklahoma, George Mason and Georgia State playing in the big dance and Detroit and Dayton in the NIT. The other non-league games include return engagements with Northern Iowa, Loyola (Chicago) and Spring Arbor from last season.
"We've always tried to have a schedule that fits the team," Smith said. "This year we have solid opponents with postseason experience and good RPIs. Our goal is to get out of gates and win a few on the road. The Purdue win last year gave us a lot of confidence. If we mature early and learn how to win as a unit, we'll be ready for the MAC season."
