Central Michigan University Athletics
Season Preview: Chippewas Ready to Defend Crown
10/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MOUNT PLEASANT -- After claiming a share of its third Mid-American Conference West Division title in the past nine seasons, the Central Michigan men’s basketball program turns its focus to defending that crown under fourth-year head coach Ernie Zeigler.
The Chippewas have built a program on toughness and hard-nosed defense, and they enter the season with an impressive streak: an opponent hasn’t cracked the 70-point mark in 15 straight games.
“It’s a nice streak, but there is always room for improvement, and I think we still need to make strides in defensive field goal percentage,” Zeigler said. “We’d like to hold teams under 40 percent consistently. We also need to continue to be a good rebounding team, and that will be a difficult task for us after losing the league’s leading rebounder from a year ago.”
CMU returns just 46 percent of its points scored and 36 percent of its rebounding from a season ago, but the numbers don’t tell the whole story.
Central brings back three senior starters in guards Robbie Harman and Jordan Bitzer and forward Chris Kellermann, and will also benefit from the return of junior forward Marko Spica, who missed all of last season due to injury after starting 13 games as a sophomore in 2007-08.
“We’re very fortunate to have the experience that we have among our returners,” Zeigler said. “When you have the type of experience we have, guys who have gone through the process and created a level of respect for this program, there is definitely some excitement in the air.”
The Chippewas definitely boast an ability to hit threes in bunches, with three players among the top-11 in made threes in program history sprinkling the roster. Harman (No. 9, 128 made), Kellermann (No. 10, 125) and Bitzer (No. 11, 124) give the Maroon and Gold a deadly long-range attack that is sure to torment opponents.
All three also have a chance to join CMU’s 1,000-point club. Kellermann sits at 737 career tallies, Bitzer at 710 and Harman at 609.
Up front, the forward corps is led by senior Brandon Ford, Kellermann and Spica.
Ford, a gritty role player who appeared in 27 games a season ago, brings toughness and rebounding to the floor with a strong grasp on Coach Zeigler’s system.
Kellermann was the team’s leading scorer (14.4 ppg) a season ago before a foot injury ended his season seven games in. Spica was a key contributor as a sophomore, averaging 6.5 points in just under 14 minutes a game.
CMU will also rely heavily on a batch of newcomers up front, including junior college transfers Jalin Thomas and William McClure, along with freshmen Tyler Brown and Sean Day.
“Jalin is a very versatile scorer,” Zeigler said. “He gives us some options and can play either the small forward or the power forward. He’s a physical scorer around the basket and we’re going to enjoy the options he gives us.
“This group of guys brings us a great deal of depth. Will brings us a lot of physicality and rebounding and Tyler is a skilled and physical player who is a very good passer. He has a ruggedness that fits our style of play and he’ll have a chance to compete for some minutes right away.”
Redshirt freshman Zach Saylor also returns, but a preseason injury to the same shoulder that caused him problems a year ago could limit his availability throughout the year.
Junior guard Antonio Weary, who made 19 starts last year in his first season as a Chippewa, also returns this season. A tough, physical defender, Weary averaged 21 minutes per game for the West Division champion Chippewas, providing a lift defensively whenever he stepped onto the floor.
He joins Harman and Bitzer, who form one of the most dynamic backcourts in the MAC. Harman’s 72 threes a year ago are the fifth-most in CMU history and paced the conference. He also led CMU in assists (3.0) and ranked second on the team in steals (45).
Bitzer earned NABC All-District second team honors after leading the team with 47 steals and averaging 12.1 points and 4.9 boards per contest, all while shooting 40 percent from the floor, 35 percent from the arc and 86 percent from the stripe.
Junior college transfer Amir Rashid leads the newcomers, along with freshmen Finis Craddock and Joe Estrada. Sophomore Nick Jordan will also compete for minutes in the backcourt.
“Amir brings a lot of quickness and toughness to our backcourt. He’s probably one of the fastest players in our conference right now,” Zeigler said. “He makes plays for his teammates and is a capable defender and scorer. He’s a great addition to our guards.
“Finis has an innate ability to score the basketball, and he’s able to create his own shot.”
The Chippewas open the season with a pair of home exhibition games (Nov. 1 vs. Marygrove, Nov. 7 vs. Indiana-South Bend) and tip off the regular season with three straight home contests.
The season opener will see Princeton invade Rose Center on Nov. 14, followed by Ferris State (Nov. 16) and UIC (Nov. 18).
Following the home stand, a three-game road trip, capped by a visit to Big Ten powerhouse Purdue, awaits the Maroon and Gold before hosting Chicago State on Dec. 1.
The Chippewas hit the road for six straight after facing the Cougars, bookended by the MAC opener against Toledo on Jan. 9. CMU opens its MAC home slate against Ball State on Jan. 13.
“Our nonconference season is set up to get us off to a good start,” Zeigler said. “By opening up at home against a tough Princeton team, hopefully we will pick up where we left off in defending our home floor. The road games we have are all very tough tests and will challenge us and get us ready for the MAC opener at Toledo, a place that has been difficult for us during the history of our program.”
The MAC Tournament will revert back to its former format this season, with first round games being played on campus sites on March 7. The rest of the tournament will be played in Cleveland at Quicken Loans Arena on March 11-13.
The Chippewas have built a program on toughness and hard-nosed defense, and they enter the season with an impressive streak: an opponent hasn’t cracked the 70-point mark in 15 straight games.
“It’s a nice streak, but there is always room for improvement, and I think we still need to make strides in defensive field goal percentage,” Zeigler said. “We’d like to hold teams under 40 percent consistently. We also need to continue to be a good rebounding team, and that will be a difficult task for us after losing the league’s leading rebounder from a year ago.”
CMU returns just 46 percent of its points scored and 36 percent of its rebounding from a season ago, but the numbers don’t tell the whole story.
Central brings back three senior starters in guards Robbie Harman and Jordan Bitzer and forward Chris Kellermann, and will also benefit from the return of junior forward Marko Spica, who missed all of last season due to injury after starting 13 games as a sophomore in 2007-08.
“We’re very fortunate to have the experience that we have among our returners,” Zeigler said. “When you have the type of experience we have, guys who have gone through the process and created a level of respect for this program, there is definitely some excitement in the air.”
The Chippewas definitely boast an ability to hit threes in bunches, with three players among the top-11 in made threes in program history sprinkling the roster. Harman (No. 9, 128 made), Kellermann (No. 10, 125) and Bitzer (No. 11, 124) give the Maroon and Gold a deadly long-range attack that is sure to torment opponents.
All three also have a chance to join CMU’s 1,000-point club. Kellermann sits at 737 career tallies, Bitzer at 710 and Harman at 609.
Up front, the forward corps is led by senior Brandon Ford, Kellermann and Spica.
Ford, a gritty role player who appeared in 27 games a season ago, brings toughness and rebounding to the floor with a strong grasp on Coach Zeigler’s system.
Kellermann was the team’s leading scorer (14.4 ppg) a season ago before a foot injury ended his season seven games in. Spica was a key contributor as a sophomore, averaging 6.5 points in just under 14 minutes a game.
CMU will also rely heavily on a batch of newcomers up front, including junior college transfers Jalin Thomas and William McClure, along with freshmen Tyler Brown and Sean Day.
“Jalin is a very versatile scorer,” Zeigler said. “He gives us some options and can play either the small forward or the power forward. He’s a physical scorer around the basket and we’re going to enjoy the options he gives us.
“This group of guys brings us a great deal of depth. Will brings us a lot of physicality and rebounding and Tyler is a skilled and physical player who is a very good passer. He has a ruggedness that fits our style of play and he’ll have a chance to compete for some minutes right away.”
Redshirt freshman Zach Saylor also returns, but a preseason injury to the same shoulder that caused him problems a year ago could limit his availability throughout the year.
Junior guard Antonio Weary, who made 19 starts last year in his first season as a Chippewa, also returns this season. A tough, physical defender, Weary averaged 21 minutes per game for the West Division champion Chippewas, providing a lift defensively whenever he stepped onto the floor.
He joins Harman and Bitzer, who form one of the most dynamic backcourts in the MAC. Harman’s 72 threes a year ago are the fifth-most in CMU history and paced the conference. He also led CMU in assists (3.0) and ranked second on the team in steals (45).
Bitzer earned NABC All-District second team honors after leading the team with 47 steals and averaging 12.1 points and 4.9 boards per contest, all while shooting 40 percent from the floor, 35 percent from the arc and 86 percent from the stripe.
Junior college transfer Amir Rashid leads the newcomers, along with freshmen Finis Craddock and Joe Estrada. Sophomore Nick Jordan will also compete for minutes in the backcourt.
“Amir brings a lot of quickness and toughness to our backcourt. He’s probably one of the fastest players in our conference right now,” Zeigler said. “He makes plays for his teammates and is a capable defender and scorer. He’s a great addition to our guards.
“Finis has an innate ability to score the basketball, and he’s able to create his own shot.”
The Chippewas open the season with a pair of home exhibition games (Nov. 1 vs. Marygrove, Nov. 7 vs. Indiana-South Bend) and tip off the regular season with three straight home contests.
The season opener will see Princeton invade Rose Center on Nov. 14, followed by Ferris State (Nov. 16) and UIC (Nov. 18).
Following the home stand, a three-game road trip, capped by a visit to Big Ten powerhouse Purdue, awaits the Maroon and Gold before hosting Chicago State on Dec. 1.
The Chippewas hit the road for six straight after facing the Cougars, bookended by the MAC opener against Toledo on Jan. 9. CMU opens its MAC home slate against Ball State on Jan. 13.
“Our nonconference season is set up to get us off to a good start,” Zeigler said. “By opening up at home against a tough Princeton team, hopefully we will pick up where we left off in defending our home floor. The road games we have are all very tough tests and will challenge us and get us ready for the MAC opener at Toledo, a place that has been difficult for us during the history of our program.”
The MAC Tournament will revert back to its former format this season, with first round games being played on campus sites on March 7. The rest of the tournament will be played in Cleveland at Quicken Loans Arena on March 11-13.
Tamario Adley Video Feature
Thursday, March 05
MBB vs. Western Michigan Highlights
Monday, February 23
Men's Basketball Western Hype
Friday, February 20
Nathan Claerbaut Video Feature
Wednesday, February 18