COLUMN: Offense is inept - relying solely on Trey is not going to win CMU games
Central Michigan’s performance on Sunday can be classified as one of the worst offensive performances in the history of Division I men’s basketball.
Don’t shoot the messenger, either.
That’s straight from the mouth of CMU coach Ernie Zeigler shortly after the team’s 41-38 loss at Eastern Michigan.
It’s easy to put part of the blame on the absence of senior forward Jalin Thomas. He is, after all, the Chippewas’ second-leading scorer at 15.1 points per game. But not even Thomas could have fixed this mess. This one needs a more extensive explanation.
Zeigler wanted at least one win over the first three Mid-American Conference road games.
He got zero. Maybe the blame should start with a 13.3 percent shooting clip in the first half against the Eagles. It’ll be a cold day in Hell when shooting 4-for-30 from the field results in a win. Likewise when you go into halftime with 13 points, and your most efficient first-half shooter is forward Andre Coimbra, who made 1-of-4 shots.
Not a single CMU player made more than one field goal at this point.
And no, that’s not a joke.
When you simply can’t shoot the ball — a point previously established earlier this season, but cemented Sunday against EMU — then it’s tough to speak of contending in the division, never mind the conference.
It’s a trend that likely will result in missed expectations, namely falling short of a MAC West title.
Clearly, the loss of sharp-shooters Robbie Harman and Jordan Bitzer to graduation left CMU with a void. But this is rock bottom.
Zeigler was asked afterward about the team’s struggles scoring the ball.
He took a deep breath, let out an exhale and even chuckled slightly. He seemed baffled.
His son and star freshman guard Trey Zeigler never found the groove he so routinely has found over the past few conference games. He finished with a team-high 13 points, but 27.8 percent doesn’t cut it when you’re the team’s most explosive scorer.
The blame doesn’t fall alone on the freshman’s shoulders. At the end of the day, he’s still a freshman, and somebody — anyone, please? — has to pick him up from time to time.
He can’t be asked to score 27 and go on the tear he did in the second half against Northern Illinois.
It’s just difficult to defense this team putting up 66 in their previous game, and stooping to the level of a 38-point performance against Eastern Michigan.
And that speaks to the struggles of Eastern Michigan as well. Allow just 38 points and have to squeak away a win? The Eagles will take it, no matter how unimpressive.
But this isn’t about EMU winning the game, as much as it is CMU giving this one away.
The Chippewas didn’t hit their first field goal of the second half until the 13:59 mark, cutting the deficit to 29-16.
Take a second to let that simmer. Sixteen points scored. Twenty-six minutes into the game.
Is there anything else to add?
