Chippewa Men Get It Started

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- The Central Michigan men's basketball team took the court for its first official practice on Tuesday at McGuirk Arena, and the Chippewas are looking to extend an impressive run in 2019-20 under veteran coach Keno Davis.

Davis, who is in his eighth year, has turned the Chippewas into an annual legitimate Mid-American Conference contender.

The Chippewas finished the 2018-19 season with a 23-12 record (10-8), tying for the second most wins in program history, and they advanced to the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament were they gave eventual-champion Buffalo all it could handle before succumbing, 85-81.

The 23 wins came on the heels of a 21-win season in 2017-18, marking the first time that the program has posted back-to-back 20-win seasons since the mid-1960s. It also marked the fifth consecutive season that the Chippewas have finished .500 or better.

"I think our guys were excited to start," Davis said. "We've done summer practices and fall workouts, but there's a little different attitude and energy when you know that the season is right around the corner. We have a deep team, they were able to bring some energy today, and hopefully they will continue to do so."

Returnees
Gone to graduation is the last season's standout backcourt duo of Shawn Roundtree Jr. and Larry Austin Jr., but the Chippewas have four veterans, all seniors, in Kevin McKay, David Dileo, Rob Montgomery and Dallas Morgan, who appear poised to take the leadership mantle.

McKay and DiLeo have been major contributors since they arrived on campus before the 2016-17 season. Both started all 35 games a year ago.

McKay, a guard from Warren, averaged 11.3 points, a team-high 7.5 rebounds, and led the Chippewas in blocks with 31 and double-doubles (eight). He has a team-high 13 career double-doubles.

DiLeo, a forward from Iowa City, Iowa., averaged 12.1 points and 4.9 rebounds a year ago, becoming the 33^rd player in program history to reach 1,000 career points (he is No. 20 with 1,141 points). In addition, he made a career-high .435 percent of his field goal attempts including .417 from 3-point range.

Montgomery, a forward from Montgomery Village, Md., made an instant impact last season, his first in a Chippewa uniform, after transferring from Indian Hills CC. He averaged 10.8 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.

Morgan, a guard from Peoria, Ill., appeared in all 35 of the Chippewas' games, developing into a key contributor off the bench. He averaged 8.1 points and 2.2 rebounds in 17.4 minutes per game.

Newcomers
CMU welcomes a variety of new faces, including the likes of 6-foot-10 freshman forward/center Caleb Hodgson of Dansville. Hodgson was rated a three-star prospect by Rivals.com and ESPN, was ranked the No. 49 center in the nation, named a McDonalds All-American and was a Gatorade Player of the Year nominee.
He averaged 23.0 points, 16.1 rebounds, 5.3 blocks, and 3.2 per game as a senior in high school.

Travon Broadway Jr., Devontae Lane, Deschon Winston and Preston Enloe are among the other newcomers.

"I think what the new faces do is they give us some different dimensions that we maybe haven't have had in a long time here," Davis said. "They provide some athleticism, some abilities to do different things defensively, as well as some options on the offensive end. It's going to be exciting for our fans to see this new team, and we're going to have some high expectations."

Getting Started
The Maroon & Gold scrimmage is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 22 (7 p.m.) at McGuirk Arena. The season kicks off on Tuesday, Nov. 5, when Michigan-Dearborn (7 p.m.) at McGuirk. It will be the first of four straight home games to start the season.

Players Mentioned

Larry Austin Jr.

Travon Broadway Jr.

Preston Enloe

Caleb Hodgson

Devontae Lane

Kevin McKay

Rob Montgomery

Dallas Morgan

Shawn Roundtree Jr.

Deschon Winston

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