Men's basketball looks to put behind ugly performance last year against Eastern Michigan
Ernie Zeigler called it the worst offensive display in Division I history.
A year ago, the Central Michigan men's basketball team shot 23 percent in a 41-38 loss against Eastern Michigan in Ypsilanti. The loss dropped them to 5-13, hitting rock bottom when starting point guard Amir Rashid opted to leave the team for personal reasons.
Now, things are different as CMU returns to Ypsilanti Wednesday night. The Chippewas are 6-8 this season and 1-0 in league play, coming off their best shooting performance of the season.
"We're definitely, extremely hopeful that we can come in and not shoot the ball and play as poorly as we did last year," Zeigler said Monday with a laugh. "(It) was a game we definitely want to forget."
Over the summer, CMU along with the addition of assistant coach and proclaimed "shooting expert" Pat Miller, made an effort to improve its shooting. The program purchased a machine that extends three to five feet above the rim and forces players to develop an arc in their shot, while also kicking the ball back to create repetition.
Miller said there has also been an emphasis on free-throw shooting this season, something that has haunted the team in the past — and even at points early this season.
"I am a believer that free throw is a shot developer for your overall shot," Miller said. "We started emphasizing (shooting) this summer. We have better shooters, and now we're trying to maximize reps."
After the team returned to Mount Pleasant from its road-heavy schedule over holiday break, they spent 11 days shooting. Zeigler attributed that to the Chippewas impressive shooting performance in Saturday's 85-69 win against Toledo.
Miller has been spent the last 40 years teaching shooting techniques, and said it's important for players to make game-like shots as much as possible.
"It resulted in a favorable result the other night," Miller said. "In combination with some offensive philosophy that's changed a little bit, we'll see. It's a work in progress, and something that is not as obvious as it seems."
EMU boats a 2-3 zone defense, difficult for offenses that like to penetrate the lane and draw fouls.
Over the past year, Zeigler's team has tried to transform into a run-and-gun type offense. In some cases, it's worked. The Eagles, who have struggled offensively, have held opponents to 41 percent shooting and 60 points in 15 games.
EMU is not the same team as last year, either. Detroit native Rob Murphy is in his first year in Ypsilanti, and the Eagles are without star forward Brandon Bowdry. Despite the Eagles slow start and youth, and a chance for this CMU team to start the MAC schedule 3-0 -- it goes to 1-12 Northern Illinois Saturday -- Zeigler is quick to remind himself that is a rivalry game.
"We're focused on starting 2-0 and taking it one game at a time," he said. "They're going to be playing with a lot of passion and excited to be back home. We're going to have our hands full going in there"
