Central Michigan University Athletics
Game Notes: Chippewas Hit the Road for Ohio
2/3/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Game Notes (.pdf)| Live Stats
Central Michigan (7-14, 2-6 Mid-American)
at
Ohio (18-4, 6-2 Mid-American)
Saturday, February 4 | 2 p.m. | Athens, Ohio | Convocation Center (13,168)
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: WCFX-FM 95.3 & WUPS-FM 98.5 — Don Chiodo and Don Helinski
Television: none
Live Audio: CMU Sports Zone (free) — cmuchippewas.com
Live Video Webcast: GameCentral — ohiobobcats.com
PREVIEW
Central Michigan hits the road to face the Mid-American Conference team with the league's top overall record in the 18-4 Ohio Bobcats. Tipoff in the Convocation Center is set for 2 p.m.
The game features two of the league's premier playmakers in CMU's Trey Zeigler and Ohio D.J. Cooper. Both rank among the MAC leaders in scoring with Zeigler averaging 16.1 points per game and Cooper 13.5. Zeigler also ranks among the rebounding leaders while Cooper is tops in steals and ranks among the best in assists. Both were preseason All-MAC selections in their respective divisions.
The Chippewas are looking to snap a six-game losing skid, which ties as the longest in the last six seasons.
| PROBABLE STARTERS | ||||||||||
| Name | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. | GP-GS | PPG | RPG | Other | Notes | ||
| (1) G | 2 | Austin McBroom | 6-0 | 162 | Fr. | 21-20 | 10.9 | 2.2 | 2.6 APG | Scored a career-high 19 points in CMU's last game |
| (2) G | 23 | Derek Jackson | 6-0 | 171 | So. | 21-20 | 11.2 | 2.5 | 2.0 SPG | Ranks third in the MAC in steals (2.0) |
| (3) G | 0 | Trey Zeigler | 6-5 | 203 | So. | 21-18 | 16.1 | 6.9 | 2.7 APG | Only MAC player to lead his team in points, rebounds and assists |
| (4) F | 3 | Auston Barnes | 6-6 | 196 | Fr. | 18-1 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.2 SPG | Made first career start in CMU's last game |
| (5) F | 35 | Jevon Harden | 6-8 | 232 | So. | 21-5 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 0.2 BPG | Has started five of CMU's eight MAC games |
NEWS AND NOTES
Series History
Ohio leads the all-time series, 43-25. The Chippewas won last year’s only meeting in Mount Pleasant, 91-85.
• Head coach Ernie Zeigler is 2-3 all-time against the Bobcats. Both wins came at home in Mount Pleasant.
Last Meeting
Central Michigan drained nine 3-pointers while shooting 69 percent from the arc in a 91-85 win over Ohio in McGuirk Arena last Feb. 2. Trey Zeigler scored 24 points and Jalin Thomas added 22 to lead CMU while D.J. Cooper had a game-high 30 for the visiting Bobcats. The Chippewas used hot shooting to spark a 22-7 run over the last 7:46 of the first half that allowed CMU to turn a 25-17 deficit into a 39-32 halftime lead. Central needed to go 11-for-12 from the line over the final minute and a half to seal the six-point victory as Ohio cut the deficit to just four points on two occasions in the final 60 seconds. The 91 points were the most CMU scored against a Division I opponent since 2003.
Kent State Recap
Another scoring drought by Central Michigan cost the Chippewas in a 67-60 home loss to perennial MAC power Kent State on Tuesday night. CMU led by five in the first half before going seven minutes without a field goal (the final two and a half minutes in the first frame and the first four and a half minutes of the second stanza). KSU’s Randal Holt hit a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer to tie the game up and the Golden Flashes controlled the entire second half. Central got close on several occasions, including within four with 14 seconds left, but Kent State made 3-of-4 free throws after that to hold off the Chippewas. Austin McBroom scored a career-high 19 points and Trey Zeigler added 17. Holt finished with a game-high 23 points, including four 3-pointers, for the Golden Flashes. KSU had four players reach double-figure scorers.
Top Defenders
Saturday’s game features two of the top defenders in the Mid-American Conference in CMU’s Derek Jackson and Ohio’s D.J. Cooper. Cooper leads the MAC with 2.5 steals per game while Jackson ranks third with 2.0
Hitting the Offensive Glass
The Chippewas are averaging 17.7 offensive rebounds per game over the last three contests. Central’s rebounding margin over the three-game span is +4.7, but overall on the season, CMU is last in the league with a -4.7 rebounding margin.
Getting the Start
Nine of the 14 active Chippewas have started a game this season, including four freshmen and two sophomores.
Freshman of the Year Candidate
Freshman point guard Austin McBroom is making a bid for MAC Freshman of the Year honors. In MAC play only, the North Hollywood, Calif., native ranks second among freshmen in scoring (12.6) and second in assists (2.5). Among all league players in conference action, McBroom ranks second in 3-pointers made (2.8), third in free throw percentage (.905) and fourth in 3-point percentage (.468). His overall scoring average of 10.9 points per game ranks second among league freshmen.
Chasing 1,000
Sophomore Trey Zeigler is closing in on 1,000 career points. He enters the Ohio game with 844 points and is averaging 16.1 points per game. If he maintains his average for the rest of the season, Zeigler would hit 1,000 points in CMU’s first MAC Tournament game.
• Zeigler is looking to become the 28th member of CMU’s 1,000-point club and the first since Jordan Bitzer and Robbie Harman both joined during the 2010 season.
• Zeigler is looking to become the first Chippewa to ever hit the 1,000-point plateau as a sophomore. Ben Kelso scored exactly 1,000 points in his first two seasons, but they were as a sophomore and a junior as he played in an era when freshmen were not eligible. Dan Majerle scored 801 points his freshman and sophomore seasons but he only played in 12 games his freshman year because of injury. He was averaging 18.6 points as a freshman and missed 15 games that year. Junior college transfer Ervin Leavy scored 1,003 points in his first two seasons as a Chippewa, but it was his junior and senior years.
Freshman Double-Figure Scorer
Freshman point guard Austin McBroom is averaging in double figures with 10.9 points per game. He is looking to become just the fourth CMU freshman to average in double figures in the last 15 years. The three to accomplish the feat in that span includes Trey Zeigler (16.3 ppg) last year, Giordan Watson (10.3) in 2005 and Mike Manciel (17.5) in 1999.
Battling on the Boards
CMU held a 12-rebound edge in the battle of the boards three games ago at Bowling Green as the Chippewas outrebounded the Falcons 41-29. The +12 margin is CMU’s best against a Division I team this season and snapped a string of three straight games of being outrebounded by double figures in each contest.
• CMU ranks last in the MAC in rebounding margin this season at -4.7. The Chippewas have outrebounded their opponent in just six of the 21 games, including two of the last three contests.
Taking Care of the Ball and Forcing Turnovers, Too
The Chippewas have committed fewer turnovers than their opponent in all but one MAC game and CMU ranks second in the league in conference play with a +4.4 turnover margin. Saturday’s opponent, Ohio, leads the league in MAC play with a +5.4 turnover margin.
• CMU was +13 in turnover margin at Western Michigan recently and that matched the best in the Ernie Zeigler era at CMU. The Chippewas had just seven turnovers while the rival Broncos committed 20. The Chippewas also were +13 (11/24) in a three-point home win over Bowling Green in 2007.
• CMU’s 11.6 turnovers per game during MAC action are the fewest in the conference.
Block Leader
In just his second season at CMU, senior JUCO transfer Andre Coimbra has recorded 59 career blocks. He needs 15 more to join CMU’s career top 10 list and tie Dennis Kann’s (1989-92) career total of 74.
Single-Season Records Watch
Two Chippewas are on pace to challenge CMU single season records this season.
• Sophomore Derek Jackson has 41 steals on the year while averaging 2.0 per game. The CMU single season record is 63 set by Dave Grauzer in 1979.
• Freshman Austin McBroom is shooting .467 from 3-point range this season. Central’s season record is .510 set by Bill Slack in 1997.
Double-Double
Trey Zeigler recorded the sixth double-double of his career with 17 points and 10 rebounds at Bowling Green. It marked just his second double-double against a MAC opponent. He also had one against Eastern Michigan this year. Andre Coimbra is the only other active Chippewa with a double-double in his career. Coimbra notched his lone double dip last season at Eastern Michigan.
Road Warriors
CMU closed non-conference action by playing 10 of 11 games on the road. During the span, the Chippewas traveled 14,780 miles, set foot in 12 different states and played games in four different time zones.
• CMU had 15 days off between its last non-conference game at Wright State (Dec. 22) and the MAC opener on Jan. 7.
• The Chippewas played four of their first six MAC games on the road.
RPI Rankings
According to the NCAA’s official Jan. 30 RPI rankings, the Chippewas have a mark of 255 while Ohio has a rating of 71. Three MAC teams are listed in the top 100 — Akron (58), Ohio (71) and Buffalo (98).
• Three of CMU’s opponents this season rank in the top 50 of the RPI — Temple (13), Minnesota (38), Iowa State (50).
.400 is the Magic Mark
The Chippewas held the opposition below .400 shooting from the floor in each of the first six games this season but the last 14 opponents have all shot .400 or better.
• CMU is 30-11 (.732) under Ernie Zeigler when holding the opponent under 40 percent.
• The last 15 CMU opponents have all shot 40 percent or better from the floor.
Overtime Unkind
The Chippewas have now dropped six straight overtime games and stand 3-8 in extra sessions under head coach Ernie Zeigler. The Chippewas are 2-1 in multiple-overtime games under the current Chippewa mentor.
Voss Out for the Year
Colin Voss is out for the year with a hand injury suffered in practice on Thursday, Nov. 10. The sophomore averaged 6.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in the two exhibition games this season.
80-Point Plateau
CMU scored a season-high 85 points in the win over Toledo. It marked the second time this season the Chippewas went for 80 or more. During the Ernie Zeigler era, the Chippewas are 13-2 (.867) when scoring 80 or more points.
High Scoring Freshman
CMU’s Trey Zeigler was the nation’s third-leading freshman scorer among Division I schools last season. He also ranked third overall among all Mid-American Conference scorers with 16.3 points per game. The only two freshmen to average more were Kentucky’s Brandon Knight (17.3 ppg) and Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger (17.2 ppg).
Fastbreak Buckets
• Two Chippewas were high school teammates of National Player of the Year honorees. Austin McBroom played his freshman season at Campbell Hall High School with 2008 Gatorade Player of the Year Jrue Holiday (UCLA/Philadelphia 76ers). Austin Keel played his senior season at Winter Park High School with 2011 Naismith Prep Player of the Year Austin Rivers (Duke).
• CMU signed 6-8, 210-pound forward John Simons (Cadillac, Mich./Cadillac HS) to a National Letter of Intent during the early signing period. As a junior at Cadillac High School, Simons averaged 23 points and eight rebounds while leading the Vikings to a 20-5 record and a Class B regional championship. He was named second team all-state by the Detroit Free Press.
New MAC Tournament Format
The Mid-American Conference Tournament had some drastic changes made to the format for this season. Most notably is the fact that the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds receive byes to the semifinals while the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds receive byes to the quarterfinals. Also, seeding will be based on conference winning percentage, regardless of division. So this year, the top two seeds could come from the same division. Seeds No. 5 through No. 12 will play first round games on campus sites with those four winners advancing to the second round in Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena.
