MANZO: Legacy left

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Leaving a legacy is something the 2011 senior class set out to achieve.

On Saturday, it took a major step adding to it. The Central Michigan women’s basketball team clinched a first-round bye into the Mid-American Conference tournament for the first time in program history with its 68-67 win against Eastern Michigan.

And the senior class had a lot to do with it.

I have watched my fair share of basketball games, but the home finale had one of the best endings to a basketball game that I’ve ever seen.

It was senior day and a chance to add to that legacy.

So when senior forward Kaihla Szunko took her last regular season shot at McGuirk Arena, it had to go in. It had to go in for her, for her teammates, family, school and for that legacy.

And it did. It happened — a legacy left.

However, this senior class has had a legacy long before Szunko’s shot. At the end of their freshmen season, they were 6-23 overall and went 2-13 in the conference.

Now CMU is 19-8 overall and 11-4 with one game remaining in conference play. So that’s it. A legacy has been left. Let’s move on.

However, by moving on, it’s not moving on as in the Sarah Huff-Skylar Miller senior season next year.

Their senior season will come.

Moving on for this senior class means a win against Toledo. Then move on to Cleveland, Ohio, for the conference tournament.

And then move onto the first-round of the NCAA Tournament.

You should get the picture by now.

In an earlier article I predicted a MAC tournament championship and an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament for this team. My thoughts haven’t changed.

The Chippewas may not have the best record in the conference, but they are playing their best basketball down the stretch.

The Green Bay Packers were the NFC’s last seed in this year’s NFL Playoffs. It won its final two regular season games and went into the post season hot. The Packers didn’t have the best overall record, but guess who won the Super Bowl?

Green Bay.

A record doesn’t always indicate a championship.

On ESPN.com, Toledo is the predicted team to come out of the MAC tournament with an automatic bid.

I bet that’ll motivate CMU. The Rockets lone MAC loss comes from the Chippewas.

So with the win on Saturday, CMU didn’t leave a legacy it added to it.

At 7 p.m. it’ll look to continue adding onto that legacy win a road win against Toledo.

Then it’s off to Cleveland.