With its loss Saturday to arch-rival Western Michigan, the CMU men’s basketball team has now lost four in a row for the second time in what has become a disappointing season to say the least.
But don’t shed a tear for Head Coach Jay Smith or his team, they’re the only ones more disappointed than the CMU community.
Smith and his charges will dig themselves out of this rut, it’s just a question of when. Many of those both inside and outside the program had pointed to this season as one when the team would start to make some noise in the Mid-American Conference.
Why?
First there was the fact that everyone returned from last year’s team which won 10 games, including MAC Freshman of the Year Mike Manciel.
Secondly, a promising class of newcomers led by a pair of 6-7 standouts in Todd Schrotenboer and Willie Wallace was expected to give the Chips some hope, and more importantly some height, for a successful season.
Well to say the least, things have changed.
Manciel is being redshirted this season following complications from foot surgery and while the newcomers most notably Willie Wallace and Chad Pleiness have been solid at times, they’ve also shown their age at others.
Add to this the departure of Rudy Gaytan, Central’s strongest defensive post player and top shot blocker last season, from the team and a season-ending hand injury to Luke Johnson and a serious injury to freshman T.J. Meerman and the squad thins out pretty quickly.
But 1999-2000 has not been a total loss, it’s just not been as successful as we had all hoped.
Playing without his lifelong friend and teammate Manciel for the first time ever, sophomore guard David Webber has emerged as one of the league’s top perimeter players and should present some interesting matchup problems next season when a healthy Manciel returns.
Rookies Pleiness and Wallace have teamed to give the Chips the viable low-post threat they haven’t had during Smith’s tenure.
Frustrating? You better believe it. In fact if they’re not careful, the frustration may be the most difficult opponent the team faces all season. Sort of like a seven-footer who can shoot like Larry Bird, rebound like Charles Barkley, pass like Magic and score like Jordan.
What the team does have going for it though is character. Smith and his staff of Dave Grube, Mark Montgomery and Jeff Smith realize that the best way to battle frustration is with more energy and passion.
How well the team responds to this philosophy will go a long way in telling us where this program will finish up this year and end up several seasons down the road.
A good indicator of where the team is at psychologically and emotionally should come tonight when the Chips battle their second in-state rival in three days as the Eagles of Eastern Michigan fly into Rose Arena.
While the Chips may not match their 10-win total of a year ago, the lessons they learn about themselves, individually and collectively should form the foundation of what will be a successful program.
The frustration is great, the hard work and passion must be greater.

E-mail the author: Jeremy StephensLIFE Assistant Sports Editor