Central Michigan University Athletics
CMU Women Adjust to Life Without Bradford
3/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - It started with so much promise, such lofty goals, in November.
Hopes and goals still remain, but the past 3 ½ months have gone nothing like the Central Michigan women's basketball team had envisioned.
On Monday, star Crystal Bradford stepped away after playing through pain that limited her effectiveness all season, ending her career as CMU's all-time leader in four statistical categories, including scoring (2,006 points) and rebounding (1,140). She ranks in the top 10 in school history in seven statistical categories.
"I just feel really bad for her," CMU coach Sue Guevara said at practice Tuesday as the Chippewas prepared for a Wednesday-night home game with Mid-American Conference West-leading Ball State. "She's just left a legacy here, this senior class has, and to see how the season has kind of unraveled on them. It's hard, but it's part of life. It's just part of life."
With that, Guevara looked out at the court as a quartet of players stayed after practice for extra shooting practice. Three of those players were freshmen.
"It can go like that," she said, snapping her fingers. "It can go like that. So value what you have right now, take advantage of it. You can never take for granted wearing the `C.'"
With four returning starters - all seniors, including Bradford, the reigning MAC player of the year and an All-America candidate -- the Chippewas were everybody's pick to win the MAC West and the league tournament.
But early season knee injuries to two starters, sophomore forward Jewel Cotton and senior point guard Jessica Green, sent the Chippewas reeling. Bradford injured her knee as CMU prepared for the MAC Tournament last season. She returned to the court after off-season surgery, but was never 100 percent and had sat out several games down the stretch to rest the knee.
She 19 points and six rebounds in a loss last week at Northern Illinois, and did not make the trip when the Chippewas lost at Toledo on Saturday.
The pain, Guevara said, simply became too much to bear.
"We've all had to adjust and not cry about it," Guevara said of the rash of injuries that has beset the Chippewas this season. "That doesn't do anything except dwell on the negative, and we just cannot do that.
"Nobody feels sorry for us. Are you kidding me? The kids tell me that anytime we get beat it's all over social media. I say, `You know what, that's a respect thing. People haven't been beating us the past couple of years.'"
Guevara said the Chippewas had to adjust last season when they lost Bradford before the league tournament, they had to adjust when Cotton and then Green went down, and, now, they'll have to with Bradford gone for good.
"You can do one of two things when you get these situations," Guevara said. "You can put your head in the sand and stay with what you've had even though your pieces are different; or you look up and say, `OK, now we're going to have to change up what we do.'
"It's a process that we have to go through. I have to get these young kids the experience."
The younger players, freshmen Aleah Swary, Tinara Moore and Amani Corley in particular, have seen a significant increase in playing time. At the beginning of the season, just one freshman, Cassie Breen, was in the rotation.
Moore, a 6-foot-3 forward, scored seven points and grabbed a career-best 13 rebounds Saturday at Toledo.
"These freshmen, they're in the fire now," Guevara said. "And they either get burned or they rise to the challenge.
"They know, they want to be better, they want to be seniors now; but it's a process that we all go through."
Corley's continued development, in particular, is crucial. When Green, the point guard, was injured, junior Da'Jourie Turner became the Chippewas' quarterback and, for the past three games, their leading scorer.
In the line of succession at point guard, Corley went from a freshman to be groomed to a freshman who had to produce.
"Really, we have to have Amani with the understanding of what to call (when the defense is) in a zone, who to look for if we're running quick-hitters, really help her with time-and-score situations," Guevara said. "I really have to give a lot of positive, positive feedback because it can get really frustrating. And it's frustrating for (the freshmen) too."
The Chippewas have precious little time to get to the level of necessary consistency. After Ball State (15-12 overall, 11-5 MAC), the Chippewas close the regular season at home on Saturday against Eastern Michigan (16-11, 9-7).
CMU is 12-15, 7-9. That 7-9 MAC mark ties the Chippewas for eighth best in the conference. They need a top-eight finish in order to host a first-round MAC Tournament game and advance in the tournament quarterfinals in Cleveland.
That's a scenario that nobody in maroon and gold would have even seriously considered heading into this season. Then again, they probably would not have considered the possibility - now reality - of losing three starters to injury.
"We want to get to Cleveland and for the last couple of years that's never been a question," Guevara said. "Now all of a sudden you're dealing with (the fact that) we're sitting in eighth or ninth place; we're talking about getting a home site for the first round and if we don't we have to go on the road to get to Cleveland. And that's the reality of it."
