CMU men's hoops team has better days ahead
CLEVELAND - Tim Kisner laid on the floor, head facing downward, body sprawled.
There was no more game to be played.
The clock read 00:00 with the score 58-56 in the favor of the Marshall Thundering Herd.
It was over.
The game Central had worked so hard to the final shot for, was over.
CMU's chances at a Mid-American Conference title had vanished.
The careers of five underdog seniors were over.
Seven seconds earlier, CMU had the ball. David Webber, who was playing through a bad wrist injury, took the role of the leader. He caught the ball on the right side of the court and looked at the clock, paused, then dribbled twice toward the right.
About four seconds remained. He squared up and released the ball sailing toward the basket.
Every Chippewa fan in attendance watched, waited and wanted as the ball went up.
Clang.
It fell short.
Three seconds.
As it came off the rim, Kisner was there with the rebound.
Two seconds.
He quickly fired it back, almost as quickly as it came to him.
Clang.
It also missed the mark.
One second.
Dan Schell battled for the rebound with a couple of green shirts, but the ball bounced away.
Game over.
So close, but no win was to be found for the Chippewas on that Sunday afternoon.
Most say it was a miracle for them to be even in that game.
In the three years of Jay Smith's tenure, that was the furthest CMU had gone in the tournament.
This was also the first year every MAC team entered the tournament.
The surprise came in round one when CMU upset the Akron Zips, who were supposed to finally have their time to shine.
Instead it was time for the Chippewas to shine, if even for just a moment.
For a moment Sunday, the Chippewas made many believe that they could possibly be a classic Cinderella story in the MAC Tournament.
But the moment passed.
It was over.
The game Sunday seemed to typify the season for the Chippewas.
The season began with high hopes of improving on its ninth place conference finish last season.
But first Mike Manciel went down.
His foot injury, which was supposed to keep him out temporarily, ended up taking his entire season.
Then a last second shot took away what could have been an opening season victory for the Chippewas.
CMU bounced back to win its next three, making believers in its team again.
But then it hit a skid.
Not just any skid, but a long skid where it lost...consecutively.
Players went down with illnesses.
Soon seniors, such as Jamar Hill and Rudy Gaytan were nowhere to be found.
Gaytan eventually left the team and Hill did not return to dressing for games.
Then Luke Johnson broke his wrist on a layup that could have resulted in a three-point play.
J.R. Wallace had seizures, twice in one night, scaring his roommate, Willie Wallace as each time the doctors had no answer.
Finally at a personal peak, David Webber unleashes 51 points for a Rose Arena record in front of the smallest crowd all year (under 1,900) yet undoubtedly 5,000 will claim to have been there, only to injure his wrist in the process, making him sit out the next game and go into the MAC Tournament injured.
All that added up to a 6-23 final record and 2-16 in the conference.
Now, it is over.
But look ahead.
Next year should have all the makings of a good season for the Chippewas.
They return three consistent starters and a solid portion of their bench.
Webber emerged as a leader and developed a strong offensive game.
Chad Pleiness came out of nowhere to become one of CMU's go-to guys and one of the MAC's top freshmen.
Kisner and Jon Borovich both learned how to better run the point and Borovich learned to step up with key scores and blocks in tournament action.
The Wallaces' and Derrick Bird showed promise and Todd Schrotenboer can add some 3-point danger.
This coupled with the incoming recruiting class, not to mention the return of Manciel, 1999's MAC Freshman of the Year, could mean big things for CMU in the upcoming year.
In the press conference after the game, it was clear in the eyes of Webber he wanted to be back and was determined to get there.
What Webber left the reporters with was a decision to make himself better for next year and to pass on what was most important to him and his teammates, his walk with God.
"I want to thank Teddy (Baggett) and Todd (Simmons) because they are such good people. I got a lot closer to God this year and I thank Jesus Christ for that. Those guys instilled that in us and we will pass that on," Webber said.
Although this season may not have ended the way any Chippewa wanted it to, things were done which will impact the future, a future that looks bright for the Maroon and Gold.
The 1999-2000 season is over, but 2000 and beyond has just begun.
