Sunday, December 6
Macomb, Ill.
3:30 p.m.
Central Michigan University
at
Western Illinois
Photo by: FIU Athletics
CMU Men Head To Western Illinois
12/5/2020 1:29:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The Central Michigan men's basketball team heads to Western Illinois on Sunday seeking its first win of the season.
The Chippewas and Leathernecks are set to tip off at 3:30 p.m.
Where They Stand
After opening with a 74-72 loss at Illinois-Chicago, CMU dropped a pair of games earlier this week in Miami. The Chippewas fell to Florida International, 96-76, and to Flagler College, 92-73.
Senior Travon Broadway Jr. leads CMU in scoring (17.0 points per game) and rebounding (6.0 per game). Broadway, a Miami native, scored a career-high 19 points in the loss to Florida International, and then had 17 against Flagler.
Caleb Huffman, a junior guard in his first season at CMU, is averaging 12.7 points per game.
Team Evolution
Huffman is one of many Chippewas in their first year with the program. In all, the roster includes eight newcomers, including 6-foot-9 center Malik Muhammad, who has yet to suit up for the Chippewas because of injury.
A team loaded with new faces combined with issues related to COVID-19 has made finding continuity difficult.
"It's important for us to recognize that this is a season unlike any other, and hopefully we never have one again like this where everyone is trying to stay as healthy as they can individually and as a team," CMU coach Keno Davis said.
"We're not where we would like to be, but I'm very optimistic about what this team can accomplish this year. We have a lot of talent, we have a great attitude. We're disappointed that we didn't play at a higher level against our first three opponents, but this doesn't take away from our long-term goals of competing for a championship."
As such, the Chippewas are leaning on veterans such as Broadway, point guard Devontae Lane, and junior guard Matt Beachler for leadership.
"The leadership is going to be important as we try to blend these new pieces with our returners," Davis said. "We're a work in progress, but we're a talented group that's making progress. We're excited to get on the court and to get a few more opportunities for games before the conference starts in the not-so-distant future."
Scouting
Western Illinois opened the season on Thursday with a 99-58 loss to third-ranked Iowa.
The Leathernecks are in overhaul mode with 14 new faces on the roster and Rob Jeter in his first year in charge of the program. Ten players played their first game in a Western Illinois uniform in the loss to Iowa.
One of those newcomers, Rod Johnson, a 6-7 graduate transfer from Chattanooga, scored 11 points and grabbed 11 rebounds against the Hawkeyes. Another newcomer, Tamell Pearson, a 6-10 junior who transferred from UAB, had 11 points.
Getting Reacquainted
Sunday's meeting is the first between CMU and Western Illinois since 1975. The schools met annually from 1950-75. Both were members of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference until 1970, when the conference disbanded.
Next
The Chippewas are scheduled to play host to Valparaiso on Saturday, Dec. 12 (4:30 p.m.) in their home opener. CMU is slated to play at Western Michigan on Friday, Dec. 18 in its Mid-American Conference opener.
Valparaiso (0-3) lost at Purdue, 68-61, on Friday night. The Crusaders have also lost to Vanderbilt, 77-71; and to Illinois-Chicago, 66-50.
The Chippewas and Leathernecks are set to tip off at 3:30 p.m.
Where They Stand
After opening with a 74-72 loss at Illinois-Chicago, CMU dropped a pair of games earlier this week in Miami. The Chippewas fell to Florida International, 96-76, and to Flagler College, 92-73.
Senior Travon Broadway Jr. leads CMU in scoring (17.0 points per game) and rebounding (6.0 per game). Broadway, a Miami native, scored a career-high 19 points in the loss to Florida International, and then had 17 against Flagler.
Caleb Huffman, a junior guard in his first season at CMU, is averaging 12.7 points per game.
Team Evolution
Huffman is one of many Chippewas in their first year with the program. In all, the roster includes eight newcomers, including 6-foot-9 center Malik Muhammad, who has yet to suit up for the Chippewas because of injury.
A team loaded with new faces combined with issues related to COVID-19 has made finding continuity difficult.
"It's important for us to recognize that this is a season unlike any other, and hopefully we never have one again like this where everyone is trying to stay as healthy as they can individually and as a team," CMU coach Keno Davis said.
"We're not where we would like to be, but I'm very optimistic about what this team can accomplish this year. We have a lot of talent, we have a great attitude. We're disappointed that we didn't play at a higher level against our first three opponents, but this doesn't take away from our long-term goals of competing for a championship."
As such, the Chippewas are leaning on veterans such as Broadway, point guard Devontae Lane, and junior guard Matt Beachler for leadership.
"The leadership is going to be important as we try to blend these new pieces with our returners," Davis said. "We're a work in progress, but we're a talented group that's making progress. We're excited to get on the court and to get a few more opportunities for games before the conference starts in the not-so-distant future."
Scouting
Western Illinois opened the season on Thursday with a 99-58 loss to third-ranked Iowa.
The Leathernecks are in overhaul mode with 14 new faces on the roster and Rob Jeter in his first year in charge of the program. Ten players played their first game in a Western Illinois uniform in the loss to Iowa.
One of those newcomers, Rod Johnson, a 6-7 graduate transfer from Chattanooga, scored 11 points and grabbed 11 rebounds against the Hawkeyes. Another newcomer, Tamell Pearson, a 6-10 junior who transferred from UAB, had 11 points.
Getting Reacquainted
Sunday's meeting is the first between CMU and Western Illinois since 1975. The schools met annually from 1950-75. Both were members of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference until 1970, when the conference disbanded.
Next
The Chippewas are scheduled to play host to Valparaiso on Saturday, Dec. 12 (4:30 p.m.) in their home opener. CMU is slated to play at Western Michigan on Friday, Dec. 18 in its Mid-American Conference opener.
Valparaiso (0-3) lost at Purdue, 68-61, on Friday night. The Crusaders have also lost to Vanderbilt, 77-71; and to Illinois-Chicago, 66-50.
Players Mentioned
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