COLUMN: Without Trey Zeigler, Derek Jackson will have to step up for men’s basketball

John Manzo/Staff Reporter

Derek Jackson better bring his A-game tonight against Bowling Green.

Central Michigan’s leading scorer Trey Zeigler has flu-like symptoms and might be a no-go.

That would make points a premium for CMU. Zeigler leads an offense that ranks ninth in the Mid-American Conference.

McBroom said he looks to score more when Zeigler or Jackson struggle.

Without Zeigler, if Jackson struggles, McBroom will try and do exactly what he said and become a scorer.

If McBroom tries that, the team loses assist production from its assist leader.

Less assists usually means a similar result for the ball movement, a statistic McBroom said is “extremely important” for the offense.

The effectiveness of Jackson could cause this trickle-down effect that CMU men’s basketball fans don’t want.

I wrote a column Monday, discussing how Zeigler will one day show why he was so highly-recruited.

In that column, I wrote about how Zeigler needs someone to step up beside him because nobody can win a championship alone.

Jackson has the chance to become that help if Zeigler can’t recover from the flu-like symptoms in time for tonight’s game.

Jackson, a guard from Cleveland, is the second-most versatile player on the team. He has sparked them in transition with electrifying dunks, and ranks second on the team in points and third in assists.

One game without Zeigler could either make or break the Chippewas hope at a MAC title. Others will have to step up to win against the Falcons.

If Jackson or someone does, the Chippewas might have found the help they’ve been looking for to surround Zeigler with.

If not, it could be the Trey show until March.

And that show won’t end in with a MAC Championship, because nobody wins a championship alone.