Probable starters
For WMU: Sophomore Mikey Douglas (6-foot, 3.8 points per game) and senior David Kool (6-3, 20.8) at guard; senior Martelle McLemore (6-5, 11.9) and freshman Nate Hutcheson (6-7, 5.7) at forward; and senior Donald Lawson (6-10, 7.8) at center.
For CMU: Seniors Robbie Harman (6-1, 14.6) and Jordan Bitzer (6-3, 14.6) and junior Antonio Weary (6-3, 5.4) at guard; juniors Jalin Thomas (6-4, 7.6) and Will McClure (6-7, 3.0) at forward.
WMU update
When the Broncos (15-13, 7-7 MAC) beat Central Michigan in mid-January in Kalamazoo, center Donald Lawson put together the best game of his career with 17 points and eight rebounds. If there is reason to favor WMU in Mount Pleasant, it?s the matchup inside. Lawson had his way then and, recently, sophomore Flenard Whitfield has done it against better interior teams. The 6-7 power forward is becoming WMU?s first true and legitimate post scorer since Joe Reitz, scoring in double digits each of the last four games and doing much of his work by backing down his defenders. Whitfield isn?t much of a passer once he gets the ball at this point, but Reitz wasn?t, either, early in his career. If Whitfield plays today as he has of late and Lawson again owns the matchup with the CMU bigs, the Broncos have a good shot at sweeping the season series.
Scouting the Chippewas
Central Michigan (13-14, 7-7) doesn?t hide the fact that it lives and dies by the jump shot. In their nine-point loss in Kalamazoo, the Chips shot less than 30 percent from the floor, with their bigs giving them almost nothing inside. That included a 1-for-8 shooting night by senior Chris Kellermann, who chose to primarily drift on the perimeter. Junior center Marco Spica is healthy and contributing inside now. It?ll be interesting to see how his presence impacts this game. It?s also worth watching how CMU responds to blowing an 18-point lead Wednesday at Northern Illinois. The Chips lost in the final seconds on a layup. A similarly disheartening loss didn?t stop WMU from drilling Buffalo two nights later. Given the rivalry and what?s at stake for both teams, here?s guessing Wednesday is mostly forgotten.
It?s as simple as this: If Harman and Bitzer hit their shots, CMU is tough to beat in Mount Pleasant. If they don?t, the Chippewas aren?t. Perimeter defense hasn?t been a consistent strength for WMU this season. At Rose Arena, on senior day, it?s tough to imagine Harman and Bitzer not being on their game.
For WMU: Sophomore Mikey Douglas (6-foot, 3.8 points per game) and senior David Kool (6-3, 20.8) at guard; senior Martelle McLemore (6-5, 11.9) and freshman Nate Hutcheson (6-7, 5.7) at forward; and senior Donald Lawson (6-10, 7.8) at center.
For CMU: Seniors Robbie Harman (6-1, 14.6) and Jordan Bitzer (6-3, 14.6) and junior Antonio Weary (6-3, 5.4) at guard; juniors Jalin Thomas (6-4, 7.6) and Will McClure (6-7, 3.0) at forward.
WMU update
When the Broncos (15-13, 7-7 MAC) beat Central Michigan in mid-January in Kalamazoo, center Donald Lawson put together the best game of his career with 17 points and eight rebounds. If there is reason to favor WMU in Mount Pleasant, it?s the matchup inside. Lawson had his way then and, recently, sophomore Flenard Whitfield has done it against better interior teams. The 6-7 power forward is becoming WMU?s first true and legitimate post scorer since Joe Reitz, scoring in double digits each of the last four games and doing much of his work by backing down his defenders. Whitfield isn?t much of a passer once he gets the ball at this point, but Reitz wasn?t, either, early in his career. If Whitfield plays today as he has of late and Lawson again owns the matchup with the CMU bigs, the Broncos have a good shot at sweeping the season series.
Scouting the Chippewas
Central Michigan (13-14, 7-7) doesn?t hide the fact that it lives and dies by the jump shot. In their nine-point loss in Kalamazoo, the Chips shot less than 30 percent from the floor, with their bigs giving them almost nothing inside. That included a 1-for-8 shooting night by senior Chris Kellermann, who chose to primarily drift on the perimeter. Junior center Marco Spica is healthy and contributing inside now. It?ll be interesting to see how his presence impacts this game. It?s also worth watching how CMU responds to blowing an 18-point lead Wednesday at Northern Illinois. The Chips lost in the final seconds on a layup. A similarly disheartening loss didn?t stop WMU from drilling Buffalo two nights later. Given the rivalry and what?s at stake for both teams, here?s guessing Wednesday is mostly forgotten.
It?s as simple as this: If Harman and Bitzer hit their shots, CMU is tough to beat in Mount Pleasant. If they don?t, the Chippewas aren?t. Perimeter defense hasn?t been a consistent strength for WMU this season. At Rose Arena, on senior day, it?s tough to imagine Harman and Bitzer not being on their game.
