A combination of a “Tough Out” vs. a favorite that struggles to score makes this pointspread a mountain to overcome at the anticipated slow pace.
Ernie Zeigler is not going to induce many superstars to come to Mount Pleasant, but the former Ben Howland disciple will install a work ethic on the players that do end up in a Chippewa uniform. So in the fourth year of running his system, and with the top four players in the rotation having been there all four, it is no surprise to see progress – a had-nosed and gritty bunch now sits all alone atop the M.A.C. West standings. And that corps of SR’s Robbie Harman, Jordan Bliter and Chris Kellerman, along with JR Marko Spica (consider him a SR in terms of years in the Zeigler system, since he sat out LY with an injury) has the experience and poise to hold up well in hostile road environments. There are no NBA scouts flocking to watch them play, but their grit and tenacity shows in a sparkling defensive ratio of 284 TO’s forced vs. only 165 assists allowed, and it is that defense that keys the matchup tonight.
Charlie Coles can not get the pieces to fit this season. Nine different RedHawks have started at least two different games, with only Kenny Hayes in the starting lineup every time, and in the best of settings points are hard to come by – they are only averaging 57 ppg in regulation in M.A.C. play. But this is not the best of settings. There was precious little down time following that draining double-O.T. loss at Ball State on Tuesday, yet another game in which the offense simply could not find a rhythm (a nine-point lead in the second half got away), and that means not only a lot of tired legs here, but also a lack of tactical preparation time for what Central will throw at them, a major issue because they are already -49 in assist to TO ratio. Meanwhile the Chippewas have been off since Saturday, which brings them in both fresh and well-prepared, and that has the underdog in the hunt to the final possessions to win this game outright.
malinskey 1/28
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