Preview: CMU men's basketball welcomes newcomers, as it looks to bounce back in 2023
After going 10-21 and having its fourth consecutive losing season, Central Michigan men’s basketball looks to turn around its misfortune in the 2023-2024 season.
With the season quickly approaching third year head coach Tony Barbee wants to turn the corner with the program but understands it is not an overnight thing.
“There's nobody that's more competitive than I am,” Barbee said. “But when you're building a program, it's a process and I want it to happen overnight, the fans want it to happen overnight and we want to compete every game and compete at the end to take our program to the top of the MAC (Mid-American Conference).”
Something Barbee touched on was how that this team in particular can shoot the ball very well. In fact, he believes this team may be the best offensive team he has had in his time at CMU.
“It's probably the most talented offensive team that I've had since I've been here," Barbee said.
Newcomers
The Chippewas only return two of their starters from last year in junior forward Markus Harding graduate student guard Brian Taylor.
“Brian Taylor ... just gives us unbelievable experience and poise and leadership,” Barbee said. “Marcus Harding, another returning veteran … he's got back in unbelievable shape. Great mentality right now.”
CMU is set to be a very young team as the team welcomes in six freshmen: guards Noah Adamczyk, Drew Barbee, Bryce Eaton, Shaedon Simpson, and Cayden Vasko and center Hunter Harding.
Hunter Harding, who is the younger brother of Markus is the most intriguing of the bunch. The seven-footer is listed as the tallest player on the team and can also shoot the ball maybe better than his brother.
“We see how good of a shooter Marcus is and Hunter is probably a better shooter,” Barbee said. “He's a freshman so he's gonna be on a roller coaster like everybody else but he gives you great depth and great size at that position. So, when we do have to face those power five teams, you know, they've got that size and depth of every position. So do we.”
One of the key transfers this season is sophomore Aidan Rubio who came from Macomb Community College. At MCC, he averaged 12 points a game while adding almost five assists and two rebounds a game.
Rubio, a JUCO All-American also helped lead MCC to a runner up finish in the NJCAA Division III final in the 2022-23 season.
“Excited to have Rubio join the team," Barbee said. "... He's a competitive, talented scorer of the basketball at 6’7,” Barbee said.
Tough Schedule
CMU opens up play with what appears to be a gauntlet of a schedule facing a handful of top tier basketball programs. The Chippewas open up play with Oklahoma, but will then face Florida State, Ohio State, and No. 8 Creighton.
Oklahoma is coming off a disappointing season at 15-17 with eight of the losses being by six points or less. In those losses they lost to Kansas, Texas, Villanova and Baylor who all appear in the opening 2023 AP top 25 of the season.
Creighton is coming off a 23-14 season last year, where it made a run to the elite eight in the NCAA tournament losing to the eventual runner-up San Diego State by one point.
“Oh, my goodness it's twofold (the schedule),” Barbee said, “The main one (goal) is to recruit guys that I think can change the direction (of the program), those guys want to compete against the best … you got to give them a schedule that challenges them and probably a couple more than I typically would want to, but it is what it is.”
The Chippewas open regular season play at 8 p.m. in Norman, Oklahoma on Monday.
Here are some takeaways from the Chippewas 97-32 victory against Alma in its second exhibition game of the season on Sunday, Oct. 29.
New year, new team
The Chippewas are returning four players from last year and brings in 12 new members.
Along with Taylor and Harding, are guard Max Majerle and redshirt freshman forward Josiah Sanders.
Junior guard Derrick Butler started for CMU and was the day’s leading scorer with 18 points. Butler is a transfer from Chipola Junior College in Florida.
“Guys are diving on the floor for loose balls ... the other four guys are sprinting from wherever they are to snatch them up off the ground we have been really really working (on) that now for three years,” Barbee said. “We’ve got a team of guys that have bought all the way in and it’s showing. Now we got to go do it and prove it against other good teams.”
Bench points
CMU scored 40 points coming off the bench against the Scots. Sophomore transfer from New Jersey Insititute of Technology, Paul McMillan IV was hot off the bench with 14 points.
“For us, it’s about losing ourselves in the process, not thinking about results,” Barbee said. “... that is the biggest challenge that your nonconference gets you ready for your conference season. You want your conference season to get you ready for the post season.”
Barbee said the team’s goal is to make it past the conference tournament and into the postseason.
“We’re just trying to develop our identity ... when they come to see this team play whether we win or lose we want them to walk away saying a few things,” Barbee said. “Man does that team compete. Do they play hard? Holy smokes, do they get after it.”
Other key players off the bench was junior transfer from Florida Southwestern State Jemal Davis with 11 points and five rebounds.
Freshman Bryce Eaton had five points and two rebounds for the Chippewas.
Defensive pressure
CMU was able to capitalize from Alma’s mistakes tacking on 32 points off of turnovers alone.
“Last game against Northwood, we’ve had our stock standard, man to man defense and today we ratcheted up the pressure a little more that we didn’t have for Northwood and just create a lot of turnovers,” Barbee said.
The Chippewas stole the ball 12 times, recorded 10 blocks, and 14 offensive rebounds.
“We were long, we’re athletic, we’ve got defensive instincts and when you’ve got guards that can pressure the ball like we have and not get beat it allows that length to get in passing lanes, Barbee said. "Now we get deflections, which leads to good things, leads to steals and different things.”
Fast-paced play
Central Michigan racked up 21 fast break points off the Scots.
“We want to play fast, we want to pressure people full court, get a lot of steals, a lot of deflections,” Taylor said.
The Chippewas had 55 rebounds which contributed to 25 second chance points compared to Alma’s two.
CMU shot for nearly 48% from the perimeter and had a free throw percentage of almost 80%.
“We always talk about the little things," Barbee said. "We want to be a team that does the little things because the little things add up to the big victories.”
