2008 Woodie Awards
Left out of the tourney again
Men's basketball season ends without postseason trip
By: Daniel Monson
Issue date: 3/17/08 Section: Sports
Along with the release of the NCAA Tournament bracket on Sunday came the beginning of one of the most exciting times for many college sports fans.
In the next three weeks, there will be improbable upsets, breakout performances and the culmination of a three-week tournament on April 7 with the national championship game in San Antonio.
For the fifth consecutive season, Central Michigan will not take part.
It's disappointing on several different levels.
There were high hopes at the beginning of the season for coach Ernie Zeigler and his team to make a run in the Mid-American Conference after a marked improvement last year.
But inconsistency (mostly on the road) led to a second-round MAC Tournament exit and just a one-game improvement (14-17 overall).
You've got to feel for senior guard Giordan Watson, who, despite all of his individual accolades, never led a team with the kind of talent needed for a run deep into March.
He came in 2004 as a freshman and started 27 games for a team coming off a 6-24 season one year after advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Watson finished first in 3-pointers made (199), steals (203), assists (489) and fourth in points (1,763) in CMU history. Perhaps no player has played more minutes in a four-year span, either - Watson averaged 33.2 minutes this season, and 33.45 for his career, including 37.8 in Central's 4-24 season in 2005-2006.
But the supporting cast just wasn't there the next three years, and with CMU in a rebuilding process after Jay Smith's resignation, there was nothing Watson or any other talented guard in that situation could do about it.
This season was his best shot for March success, with exciting players such as Detroit freshman Jeremy Allen and junior transfers Marcus Van and Nate Minnoy entering into the picture.
For a group of five seniors who had never experienced winning, it's not a surprise the Chippewas could not get past Akron on Thursday in Cleveland. Zeigler and his staff have a long and tedious process in front of them.
In the next three weeks, there will be improbable upsets, breakout performances and the culmination of a three-week tournament on April 7 with the national championship game in San Antonio.
For the fifth consecutive season, Central Michigan will not take part.
It's disappointing on several different levels.
There were high hopes at the beginning of the season for coach Ernie Zeigler and his team to make a run in the Mid-American Conference after a marked improvement last year.
But inconsistency (mostly on the road) led to a second-round MAC Tournament exit and just a one-game improvement (14-17 overall).
You've got to feel for senior guard Giordan Watson, who, despite all of his individual accolades, never led a team with the kind of talent needed for a run deep into March.
He came in 2004 as a freshman and started 27 games for a team coming off a 6-24 season one year after advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Watson finished first in 3-pointers made (199), steals (203), assists (489) and fourth in points (1,763) in CMU history. Perhaps no player has played more minutes in a four-year span, either - Watson averaged 33.2 minutes this season, and 33.45 for his career, including 37.8 in Central's 4-24 season in 2005-2006.
But the supporting cast just wasn't there the next three years, and with CMU in a rebuilding process after Jay Smith's resignation, there was nothing Watson or any other talented guard in that situation could do about it.
This season was his best shot for March success, with exciting players such as Detroit freshman Jeremy Allen and junior transfers Marcus Van and Nate Minnoy entering into the picture.
For a group of five seniors who had never experienced winning, it's not a surprise the Chippewas could not get past Akron on Thursday in Cleveland. Zeigler and his staff have a long and tedious process in front of them.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Doug Brown
posted 3/17/08 @ 10:58 PM EST
A little perspective and a history lesson are in order. You can simply check the CMU media guide for the facts.
CMU was good and in the tournament in 1975 with Dan Roundfield and company. (Continued…)
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