Central Michigan University Athletics
Game Notes: CMU Takes on Toledo in MAC Home Opener
1/12/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Wednesday, January 12 — McGuirk Arena, Mount Pleasant, Mich., 7 p.m.
BROADCASTS
WEB • Free Live Stats | Free Audio CMU Sports Network
Game Notes .pdf | Premium Video CMU Sports Zone
RADIO • WCFX 95.3 FM (Mount Pleasant) — Play-by-Play: Don Chiodo
Storylines
...the Chippewas are coming off a 63-56 overtime loss at Western Michigan to open Mid-American Conference play. The seven point loss was the Chippewas seventh of the season by seven points or less and third overtime loss of the season.
...freshman guard Trey Zeigler scored a game-high 22 points, the most points scored by a Chippewa at WMU since Mike Manciel scored 23 in 2003, including the game-tying basket with 2.8 seconds remaining to send the game to overtime at Western Michigan. Zeigler leads all freshmen in the MAC in scoring, averaging 15.9 points per game, good for sixth overall.
...the Maroon and Gold are seeking to seal their fourth-straight victory over Toledo. The Chippewas last loss versus Toledo came on Jan. 20, 2009, a 75-61 defeat on the road.
...both teams enter Wednesday night's contest 0-1 in the MAC, with only three wins on the season. The Chippewas last win came on Dec. 22 in Mcguirk Arena versus Cornerstone, 63-60.
...the Chippewas are looking to avoid their first 0-2 start in conference play since the 2008-09 season in which they dropped their oppening two contests versus Western and Eastern Michigan.
...as the leading scoring of the Chippewas, Zeigler is on pace to become the first freshman to lead the team in scoring for a season since Mike Manciel scored 17.5 points per game as a freshman during the 1998-99 season.
| PROBABLE STARTERS | ||||||||||
| Name | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. | GP-GS | PPG | RPG | Other | Notes | ||
| (1) G | 0 | Trey Zeigler | 6-5 | 195 | Fr. | 14-14 | 15.9 | 5.4 | 1.0 SPG | Opened MAC play at Western Michigan with game-high 22 points |
| (2) G | 2 | Amir Rashid | 5-9 | 165 | Sr. | 14-12 | 5.9 | 2.9 | 1.8 SPG | Seventh in MAC in steals per game |
| (3) G | 24 | Antonio Weary | 6-1 | 180 | Sr. | 14-8 | 3.1 | 3.1 | .322 FG% | Returned to starting lineup at WMU, recording three points and five boards |
| (4) F | 31 | Jalin Thomas | 6-4 | 200 | Sr. | 14-14 | 14.9 | 5.4 | 22 3FG | Had first double-double of season at UNLV with 11 points and 11 rebounds |
| (5) F | 34 | William McClure | 6-9 | 222 | Sr. | 14-11 | 3.7 | 6.6 | 1.1 BPG | Leads team in both offensive and defensive rebounding |
GAME PREVIEW
The All-Time Series
Central Michigan and Toledo are meeting for the 83rd time in CMU men’s basketball program history. The two teams first met in 1939 and the Rockets hold a 52-30 edge over the Chippewas. CMU has recorded a record of 3-5 versus Toledo over the last four seasons with Ernie Zeigler as the head coach.
The Coaches
Ernie Zeigler is now in his fifth season as the head coach of the Central Michigan men’s basketball program. Zeigler has recorded a record of 57-80 in his four-plus seasons and led the Chippewas to back-to-back MAC West Division championships the last two seasons. Tod Kowalczyk is in his first season as the head coach of the Toledo Rockets. Prior to taking over as the Rocket’s coach, Kowalczyk posted a 136-112 record in eight years at the helm of UW-Green Bay’s program and tailled a pair of 22-win campaigns in his final two seasons.
A CMU Win Over Toledo Would...
...give the Chippewas their fourth consecutive win over the Rockets.
...be the team’s first conference win in the newly renovated McGuirk Arena.
...mark a second straight victory for the Chippewas at home after having defeated Cornerstone University, 63-60, on Dec. 22, 2010.
...improve the Chippewas to 35-23 overall and 19-11 in the MAC at home under the tutelage of Ernie Zeigler.
Zeigler Opens MAC Play in Grand Fashion
Freshman guard Trey Zeigler introduced himself to the Mid-Americon Conference in a big way Sunday, scoring a game-high 22 points in CMU’s 63-56 loss in overtime at Western Michigan. With less than 10 seconds remaining in the game and the Chippewas down, 52-50, Zeigler drove to the basket and scored over three Bronco defenders with 2.8 seconds to send the game to overtime.
Scouting the Rockets
Toledo has dropped its last three contests, having failed to score 50 points in each game. Their most recent loss came in the MAC opener at home versus Eastern Michigan, 71-48. Prior to their current three game losing streak, Toledo had won three straight games, including wins over Valparaiso, Florida Gulf Coast and Indiana University Northwest.
