Big Test Awaits Chippewas in Texas
11/20/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
CENTRAL MICHIGAN (3-0) vs. PEPPERDINE (3-0) | ST. BONAVENTURE (1-1) | LITTLE ROCK (2-1)
Monday-Wednesday, November 21-23 • H-E-B Center • Cedar Park, Texas
Game Notes: Central Michigan | Pepperdine | St. Bonaventure | Little Rock
Watch: bd Global Sports Network (YouTube)
Listen: Central Michigan IMG Sports Network
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Twitter: @CMUMensBball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
AUSTIN, Texas - Now it's time to roll up the sleeves and get down to work.
The Central Michigan men's basketball team will play three games in three days at the Lone Star Showcase at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.
The event comprises some top-tier mid-major programs, including Little Rock, which finished 30-5 and earned a victory in the NCAA Tournament last season.
Pepperdine and St. Bonaventure, which finished 22-9 and earned an NIT berth last season, round out the field. All four participants played in the postseason in 2015-16.
"In scheduling, everything you do is for a reason," CMU coach Keno Davis said. "Three games in three days, you're really trying to not only get yourself ready for the regular season by playing great competition, but you're also thinking ahead. To be in the NCAA Tournament, you're going to have to win your conference tournament and you're going to have to do the same thing."
The Chippewas open with Pepperdine (3-0) on Monday at 8:30 p.m., then play St. Bonaventure (1-1) at 6 p.m. Tuesday. They close on Wednesday (8:30 p.m.) against Little Rock (2-1). CMU plays at Green Bay on Saturday, Nov. 26.
CMU is 3-0 after rolling to relatively easy victories over Indiana Kokomo and Marygrove. The Chippewas passed a good test when they won at Tennessee Tech, 86-74, a week ago.
The Chippewas have strutted their stuff on offense, averaging 103.3 points per game (which ranks fourth nationally) while allowing just 61.7. CMU has also put its depth on display - Davis can legitimately go 10 deep - which will most certainly be a factor in Texas when the Chippewas play three games in a 72-hour span.
"I think that's the biggest bright spot of this team," Davis said. "We've got 10 guys playing and it wouldn't surprise you if any of one of those 10 guys is the guy you talk about after the game about having a big night. The depth is definitely important, but the quality of the depth that we have this year on this team is what gives us a chance to really be a special group."
That depth could be tested this week not only because of the sheer number of games that the Chippewas will play, but because of the health of guard Marcus Keene.
Keene, a junior who is fourth nationally at 28.3 points per game, left CMU's 107-58 win over Marygrove on Thursday with an injury with about 10 minutes remaining. He did not return.
Davis said Sunday that he is "hopeful" that Keene can play in Monday's game against Pepperdine.
