‘Piece by piece’

Patrick Siller

The men’s basketball team does not have to try to establish a new identity.

It really has no choice.

Seven members of last year’s team no longer will suit up in maroon and gold, leaving plenty of opportunities for the six newcomers and eight returning players.

“The guys that are going to get opportunities can step in during any circumstance that comes about,” said coach Ernie Zeigler, who enters his third season at the helm.

CMU loses five seniors and two players to transfer. Included in the departing group were Giordan Watson and Nate Minnoy, the team’s leading scorers last season.

But even early on, sophomore William Eddie said the team had a strong bond.

“We’re just trying to move forward into a new year and start new things,” he said. “Just trying to change the whole program around. Team chemistry – we had it last year, but not like this year. Everyone’s together as one.”

The team finished tied for second place in the Mid-American Conference West Division with a 14-17 overall record and an 8-8 mark in the Mid-American Conference last season. It was a one-game improvement from the year before.

“What happened last year for us is nothing that doesn’t happen throughout college basketball,” Zeigler said. “There’s always attrition for one reason or another. I kind of like to compare this building process to building a home.”

The newcomers

Three freshmen, two transfers and a walk-on make up the players who likely will make significant impacts in their first years.

Junior forward Jacolby Hardiman, who transferred from Arkansas-Fort Smith, already has shown his play-making ability. His steal with less than 10 seconds remaining Friday at Princeton solidified CMU’s 55-53 win. He also scored five points and grabbed eight rebounds.

“Jacolby is very versatile. He has the ability to put pressure on the defense to attack the basket off the dribble and he has a very innate ability to offensive rebound,” Zeigler said. “Those two things are going to put him in a position to be a big scorer for us. And I think he has the opportunity to be one of our best defenders in terms of matchups.”

The team’s other junior college transfer is sophomore Antonio Weary, a 6-foot, 3-inch guard who transferred from Hutchinson Community College in Kansas.

“He’s a very tough-minded individual,” Zeigler said about Weary. “He’s very capable of knocking down open jump shots.”

Both Weary, from Los Angeles, and Hardiman, a Milwaukee native, started for CMU in the exhibition win against Marygrove and Friday at Princeton.

Three Michigan freshmen also look to contribute right away for Zeigler.

Point guard Adrian Hunter, from Flint, likely will back up junior Robbie Harman at point guard.

“I’m just looking forward to winning,” Hunter said. “I just want to come in and have a positive impact so we can have a winning season.”

Hunter is suspended for today’s home opener against Missouri State because of a violation of team rules.

“Adrian’s a very tough kid. And just like most freshmen, you come in, and sometimes you’re not aware and sometimes you may try to do certain things to see if there’s bark behind the voice,” Zeigler said. “But Adrian is definitely going to have the opportunity to contribute early.”

Zach Saylor, a 6-8 forward from Lansing, and 6-6 forward Lawrence Bridges, from Detroit, round out the freshmen.

“I’m very confident that the guys we have are a much better fit for the program, for the house that we’re building,” he said.

The leaders

Chris Kellermann anticipated he may need to step up his offensive presence this season.

The senior forward averaged just 7.2 points and 2.8 rebounds last season. But he already showed his new mindset, scoring 28 points and grabbing 13 rebounds Friday at Princeton. It was his first career double-double and both were career highs.

Kellermann, a threat from the 3-point line since coming to CMU, expanded his game inside the paint.

“It is definitely so gratifying when you give a player a challenge and he rises to it,” Zeigler said. “Now we just got to be able to have him give that effort consistently for us.”

Also returning for CMU is Harman, who backed up Watson the last two years at point guard. Now, he gets his chance to become the floor general. A former walk-on, Harman blossomed into one of CMU’s toughest individuals, Zeigler said.

Two of Central’s other returnees, guard Jordan Bitzer and Marko Spica, are out indefinitely. Bitzer is academically ineligible until Dec. 20 and Spica suffered a knee injury.

The team’s other senior, forward Marcus Van, is suspended for the first six games for a violation of team rules after initially being dismissed from the program. Van led CMU with 5.3 rebounds per game last season.

“The easiest thing to do that takes no effort at all is to quit,” Zeigler said. “Quit on the game, quit on someone, it takes no effort. The pressure, where it really comes, is if you can stick with someone through the tough times and help them see the light and what direction they should be going.”

Sophomore guard Jeremy Allen also looks to expand his role. He averaged 7.2 points per game last season while also being one of team’s top defensive players.

Zeigler said he is proud of the way the program developed to the point of respectability in the MAC again after a 4-24 record the season before he took over.

“It’s steps. To have sustained success you have to go through the perils of getting there,” he said. “Even though you may not win it every year, but you’re there.”

sports@cm-life.com