Column: Watchability grades for CMU sports this weekend
It will be a busy weekend for Central Michigan University Athletics.
Not only does the football team finish its season against its biggest rival, but women’s basketball hosts the No. 13 Kentucky Wildcats and the men’s hoops team hosts the Central Michigan Tournament Friday and Sunday.
It’s a Chippewas sports fan’s dream come true.
Students can come to all four games for free, but if you’re strapped for time, I’ll help you prioritize.
Here are my watchability grades for Chippewa sports this weekend. This is not a ranking of the teams by talent but rather which weekend games are most worth your time.
Football vs. Western Michigan, 1 p.m. on Saturday
The story lines are overflowing for the annual rivalry game.
The season statistics coming into the game are usually checked at the door. Anything can happen.
Bragging rights aren’t the only thing on the line: the winning team will clinch a spot in the Mid-American Conference standings above the losing team.
It’s also the last opportunity to see CMU playmaking seniors like Titus Davis and Thomas Rawls. At least for free and on a Saturday.
The only thing holding back my grade for this game is the weather. Sure, it’s supposed to be in the low-20s, but with enough students packed in like sardines, the cold shouldn’t be a huge problem.
There will be fireworks and thundersticks for fans to enjoy.
This is the type of game you tell your kids about. Two bitter rivals playing in bitter weather to determine who has the better season.
You have to go to this one. This game will overwhelm the mind of even the soberest fan.
Final grade: A
Women’s basketball vs. Kentucky 8 p.m. on Saturday
Give credit to Women’s Basketball Coach Sue Guevara. It’s not everyday the Kentucky Wildcats stroll into Mount Pleasant for a regular season game.
Senior guard Crystal Bradford and the Chips will test their hand against a Top-15 team, similar to when the team played tough and lost by single digits to No. 5 Notre Dame two years ago at McGuirk Arena.
Bradford, a member of the 2013 USA Women’s World University Games Team, is expected to go down as one of the best CMU players in history.
While there’s a chance the Chippewas might not be able to keep the game close, a victory would be one of the biggest wins in the history of CMU Athletics.
Not to mention the free chicken tenders from KFC to the first 600 students, to help “Fry Kentucky.”
This should be one of the best women’s basketball games of the year at CMU in terms of arena energy and might serve as a November preview of some March Madness.
Final watchability grade: A-
Central Michigan Tournament for men’s basketball, Friday 7 p.m., Sunday 12:30 p.m.
Extending the sports action to Sunday, the men’s basketball team will look to stay undefeated in the Central Michigan Tournament, where CMU (2-0) will face Maine (0-2) and Arkansas Pine-Bluff (1-2).
Obviously the opponents are nothing to write home about, but they should be competitive victories for the Chippewas.
With three new players 6-foot-8 and taller, this is a revamped CMU team with junior guard Chris Fowler still providing leadership and intensity.
This team can shoot the 3-pointer well, yet still win games in the paint when they aren’t on fire behind the arc.
Freshmen Luke Meyer and DaRohn Scott are must-watch physical forwards. Their dunks and blocks have already become a routine expectation two games into the season.
Chippewa fans will only get one more chance to see this team after Thanksgiving before the semester ends, so this weekend is a great opportunity to see a men’s basketball team that should be much more competitive in Head Coach Keno Davis’ third season.
If nothing else, they’ll be fun to watch.
Final watchability grade: B
