2008 Woodie Awards
Watson tries to forget late free throw misses
By: Daniel Monson
Issue date: 3/12/08 Section: Sports
Giordan Watson did not visualize his home finale unfolding like it did Sunday against Toledo.
With three seconds remaining and the score tied, the senior guard was on the free-throw line with two opportunities to give CMU the lead.
But he missed both, and the game went to overtime as Central lost 90-83.
"We all were devastated," said sophomore guard Jordan Bitzer. "And he took it the hardest. But really, it shouldn't have even came down to those two free throws to decide the game. We should've taken care of stuff in the first and second half."
CMU won its two previous games - a 72-68 home win against Western Michigan on March 4 and 80-73 at Northern Illinois, its opponent at 3 p.m. today in the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament in Cleveland.
Coach Ernie Zeigler said Sunday's loss, although disappointing, can serve as motivation.
"Our locker room was full of disappointment, particularly for our seniors," said coach Ernie Zeigler. "I think what we talked about coming back Monday is using that disappointment and frustration as fuel to go to Cleveland to win this first game."
The team's outlook hasn't changed, Watson said, but the senior day loss was tough to take.
"We're still upbeat," Watson said. "I think guys were pretty down (Sunday), but we took a day to get over it and we got back to work the next day."
Bitzer said the team had a meeting Monday and Watson told his teammates to look ahead.
"He brought us together and it's all behind us," Bitzer said. "Now we've got guys healthy and if we play with the right amount of intensity and focus, we should be able to beat anybody in this conference and hopefully we'll be able to show that this week."
Watson led CMU with a career-high 34 points in last year's 80-74 win against Buffalo in the first round of the MAC Tournament. It was his first win in the tournament and CMU's first since its 2003 championship season.
"I just told them to keep looking forward - don't look back and dwell on it too much," Watson said. "Because if anybody should be down it should be me because I felt like I sort of lost the game when I had an opportunity to win it. But I'm still feeling upbeat and trying to keep going ahead. You can't let something like that stop us from our goals."
And four wins away from the NCAA Tournament, Watson is excited about the opportunity.
"I'm getting a lot of personal accolades, but all that stuff is good for my family and my parents who've been pushing me and praying for me," he said. "But me personally, I'm more focused on team accolades - getting that championship."
sports@cm-life.com
With three seconds remaining and the score tied, the senior guard was on the free-throw line with two opportunities to give CMU the lead.
But he missed both, and the game went to overtime as Central lost 90-83.
"We all were devastated," said sophomore guard Jordan Bitzer. "And he took it the hardest. But really, it shouldn't have even came down to those two free throws to decide the game. We should've taken care of stuff in the first and second half."
CMU won its two previous games - a 72-68 home win against Western Michigan on March 4 and 80-73 at Northern Illinois, its opponent at 3 p.m. today in the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament in Cleveland.
Coach Ernie Zeigler said Sunday's loss, although disappointing, can serve as motivation.
"Our locker room was full of disappointment, particularly for our seniors," said coach Ernie Zeigler. "I think what we talked about coming back Monday is using that disappointment and frustration as fuel to go to Cleveland to win this first game."
The team's outlook hasn't changed, Watson said, but the senior day loss was tough to take.
"We're still upbeat," Watson said. "I think guys were pretty down (Sunday), but we took a day to get over it and we got back to work the next day."
Bitzer said the team had a meeting Monday and Watson told his teammates to look ahead.
"He brought us together and it's all behind us," Bitzer said. "Now we've got guys healthy and if we play with the right amount of intensity and focus, we should be able to beat anybody in this conference and hopefully we'll be able to show that this week."
Watson led CMU with a career-high 34 points in last year's 80-74 win against Buffalo in the first round of the MAC Tournament. It was his first win in the tournament and CMU's first since its 2003 championship season.
"I just told them to keep looking forward - don't look back and dwell on it too much," Watson said. "Because if anybody should be down it should be me because I felt like I sort of lost the game when I had an opportunity to win it. But I'm still feeling upbeat and trying to keep going ahead. You can't let something like that stop us from our goals."
And four wins away from the NCAA Tournament, Watson is excited about the opportunity.
"I'm getting a lot of personal accolades, but all that stuff is good for my family and my parents who've been pushing me and praying for me," he said. "But me personally, I'm more focused on team accolades - getting that championship."
sports@cm-life.com
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