Bitzer, Harman exemplify Zeigler’s philosophy

CLEVELAND — Like many times in their careers, Jordan Bitzer and Robbie Harman walked off the court Thursday without a win.

But like so many other times, there was little doubt they left it all on the floor despite a a 69-60 loss against Western Michigan in the Mid-American Conference quarterfinals.

Harman led the team with 20 points, while Bitzer scored 15. But that didn’t matter. So distraught after the game, they were unable to speak to the media.

The duo had enough talent to make it on the Division I level. But it was hard work that helped them succeed and prove doubters wrong in their four seasons in Mount Pleasant.

And it’s difficult to find any other player coach Ernie Zeigler reveres as much as these two.

“They’re two kids that exemplify ‘Think Tough, Be Tough,’” Zeigler said after the game. “They got better in our program because they listened.”

Getting better

I remember watching Harman develop during his four seasons and thinking he might not have as much talent as other guards in the conference. But no one else worked as hard to get better. And no one worked as hard Thursday.

“When I went out and played, I felt like I played maybe not the best I could have, but I played as hard as I could — I know that,” Harman said Saturday. “I was dead tired after the game. I was upset and sad, I was mad and all those things.

“But I look back and there wasn’t really much else personally I felt like I could have done.”

The effort paid off with a pair of MAC West Division titles, and Harman and Bitzer earned second-team All-MAC honors this season. Their goal of winning a MAC title and earning an
NCAA Tournament berth might have been too tall in the end.

This still was a program that went 4-24 a year before they arrived.

That sort of failure became unacceptable when Zeigler was hired. Bitzer and Harman immediately embraced his methods, and it didn’t take long until both were contributing on a regular basis.

“I think my main focus personally was just trying to get better each and every year,” Bitzer said. “Coming in, people knew me only as a shooter, and each year I tried to develop my game a little bit more — putting it on the floor and getting to the free-throw line.”

All heart

Sure, Harman and Bitzer weren’t the most imposing players on the court. But they did have the most heart and unselfishness.

Both said they wanted to set up Zeigler — the coach who gave them each a shot — with a better job by winning a few MAC titles.

With one year remaining on his contract, Zeigler’s future at CMU is uncertain for now — although Athletics Director Dave Heeke said he was happy with the program’s direction before Thursday’s game. Heeke said a win Thursday would have been a “defining moment.”

But the team’s back-to-back MAC West titles alone might be the ticket Zeigler needs to a new contract.

“I know he gets a lot of heat from people — that he should do things different,” Harman said. “I go to bat for him every time people ask. I know he’s been a great coach to me and
Jordan and the other guys. Me and Jordan really have done what he’s asked the last four years and flourished individually.”

The future

Harman will continue to play baseball at CMU. A shortstop, he said he looks to begin practicing immediately.

But his first love is basketball, and he and Bitzer have plans to play professionally. If that doesn’t work out, they could roam the sidelines as coaches.

For now, their final game still stings. But neither have any regrets.

“I took it a lot better than I thought I would,” Harman said. “I was happy with my four years here and I would have liked to have a little more success, but I wouldn’t take it back for anything. I’m sure Jordan feels the same way and some of the other guys who are done now.

“I felt like I personally played my best and other guys did, it just didn’t happen for us that day. It wasn’t something I was going to beat myself up over.”

Said Bitzer: “People ask me if I’m doing OK, and I don’t think it really has hit me yet that we’re done. It’ll probably hit me next week when I’m sitting around my apartment when we’re usually practicing.”

And no matter how Zeigler’s tenure at CMU ends, the two guys who set the first example of his philosophy will always stay with him.

“They had great careers and did some things that helped springboard this program in the right direction,” Zeigler said. “Unfortunately, it didn’t end the way each of us wanted. But we’ll always be indebted to Robbie Harman and Jordan Bitzer.”