Chippewas Strut Their Stuff In Maroon & Gold Scrimmage

CMU coach Keno Davis watches his team during its Maroon & Gold scrimmage on Tuesday at McGuirk Arena.

Photo by: Benjamin Suddendorf

10/22/2019 10:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Veterans McKay, DiLeo, Montgomery lead CMU in 2019-20

By: Nick Vuylsteke, CMUChippewas.com

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — New players, new leaders, new year.

The Central Michigan men's basketball team took to Kulhavi Court at McGuirk Arena on Tuesday night for its annual Maroon vs Gold scrimmage.

"I'm looking forward to the basketball season," said Keno Davis, who is in his eighth year in charge of the program. "We've been going for a while with our summer, fall workouts and the start of official practice. The guys are excited to be able to have officials out there and have more of a game-type situation.

"I thought we had some good bright spots with some of the new guys and some of the returning guys. I think you see a dimension that we're able to play this year that we weren't able to have last year. We have a lot of learning and a lot of improvement, but our guys are excited about the year."

Big Shoes to Fill
The biggest question heading into the season is how are the Chippewas are going to replace the backcourt duo of Larry Austin Jr. and Shawn Roundtree Jr.

The answer: add depth and experience.

"You don't just find guys that are like (Roundtree and Austin)," Davis said. "I think we're replacing them with four or five guys that are stepping onto the court and bring different things.

"We've got guys who can play great defense, share the ball, and can impact the game in different ways. In some ways, we won't be as good, but in other ways, we might be better with the additions."

Ascendant Leaders
With Roundtree and Austin gone, the Chippewas will look to senior veterans David DiLeo, Kevin McKay and Rob Montgomery to step up and take on leadership roles.

McKay and DiLeo have been major contributors since arriving on campus in 2016-17. Both started all 35 games last season, when the Chippewas finished 23-12, pushed eventual-champion Buffalo to the limit in a Mid-American Conference Tournament semifinal game, and reached the postseason (the College Basketball Invitational) for the fourth time in the last five years.

McKay and DiLeo combined to average 23.4 points and 12.4 rebounds per game a year ago.

"I'm definitely trying to take more of a leadership role this year," the 6-foot-5 McKay said. "Last year, being a junior, I feel like I had a little bit of a leadership role. But, obviously our leaders were mostly Austin and Roundtree. This year, with them being gone, I feel like it falls a lot on the players who have been here the longest, with DiLeo and myself.

"It's definitely a priority and a responsibility that we have that everyone looks to as a leader."

Good Examples
Over the past three seasons, McKay and DiLeo have had the opportunity to learn from other program leaders such as Braylon Rayson and Josh Kozinski along with Austin and Roundtree.

"I've learned that being a vocal leader is effective," McKay said. "You can lead by example, but you've had other leaders who can do it vocally. Leading by example (is also important) by showing new players how to run plays, or how to not take plays off."

Complementary Players
The skill sets that McKay and DiLeo possess complement each other, a trait that could help them develop into a potent duo not unlike the Roundtree-Austin combination provided a year ago.

"We've talked about our games complementing each other," DiLeo said. "If we combined us into one player, we'd be really good. (McKay's) strengths complement my weaknesses helping with defense or working to (drive to the basket) when they take away my (outside) shot. When the team starts sagging off McKay, we're working on his shot so they can respect his shot more.

"Playing alongside him all these years, we've helped each other. They take away my shot, it opens up driving lanes for him, as well as when he gets in the lane and scores, the opposing team is starting to (add defensive help), so that's where the kick outs go to me."

New Faces
The Chippewas have added transfers Travon Broadway Jr., a 6-5 guard; Devontae Lane, a 6-2, 215-pound guard; Deschon Winston, a 6-4 guard; and Preston Enloe, a 6-3 guard. Those newcomers will join returnees Dallas Morgan and Matt Beachler, both of whom saw significant playing time a year ago, in the backcourt.

Big Men
The 6-foot-7 Montgomery, who averaged 10.8 points and 5.7 rebounds as a starter a year ago, is the most seasoned among the post players.

Romelo Burrell, a 6-7 junior who played in all 35 games last season, also returns up front while the Chippewas should get a boost from Kevin Hamlet, another 6-7 junior, who redshirted last season. CMU added 6-10 freshman Caleb Hodgson, who was ranked a three-star prospect by Rivals.com and ESPN.

Getting Started
The Chippewas open on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at home against UM-Dearborn. CMU then will entertain Mississippi Valley State, Sam Houston State and Siena Heights before going on the road to play Big Ten foe Minnesota.

The nonconference portion of the schedule also includes another Big Ten opponent, Purdue, and a Big 12 foe, Texas. The Chippewas will play both on the road.

CMU opens the MAC schedule at home on Saturday, Jan. 4 against Miami (Ohio).