Nobody is going to argue with you that the 2010-11 college basketball season was a disappointment for Central Michigan University.

This season, while there have been some down points in non-conference play, there are some noticeable numbers that lead me to believe that MAC play should be a successful one for the Chippewas.

The big thing I notice is balanced scoring.

If you look at last season’s totals, just three Chippewas averaged 7 points or more per game for the season. Trey Zeigler averaged 16.3 points per game while Jalin Thomas had 15.9 ppg and Derek Jackson was at 7.5 ppg. Basically if Zeigler and Thomas were having an off night, CMU was going to struggle to score.

This season, the Chippewas have five players averaging 6.9 points ore more.

Zeigler is leading the team at 16.7 ppg, but Jackson is putting up 11.3 ppg while freshman Austin McBroom is posting 10.2 ppg.

Add in Andre Coimbra scoring 9.1 ppg and Olivier Mbaigoto scoring 6.9 ppg and you can see that the starting five for CMU all have scoring ability.

What is even more promising is that the three leading scorers of the team are sophomores and a freshman.

While there is a lot of MAC play left, the Chippewas should be able to compete for the MAC West because of their scoring options that they didn’t have a season ago.

Ever since Trey Zeigler committed to become a member of the Central Michigan Chippewas back in the spring of 2010, he was largely granted the MAC Freshman of the Year award for the 2010-11 season.
However, when it was all said and done, the 6-5 guard was edged for the award by Buffalo’s Javon McCrea, a 6-7 forward.
This season, Zeigler has seemed to have an intensity about him on the floor. Not much for words, he is letting his play do his talking, as he is averaging 16.7 points per game, 6.4 rebounds per game, and 2.8 assists per game. All of which rank in the top 13 in the MAC or better, with his scoring average putting him fourth in the conference.
Not to be outdone McCrea has been the leader of the Bulls this year, averaging 17.5 points per game and 7.7 rebounds per contest while shooting a league-best 62.5 percent from the field. His points put him third in the MAC and his rebounding average is fifth in the conference.
Both players helped lead their teams to wins in their MAC openers and Buffalo is now at 8-4 on the year while CMU is 6-8.
While there are plenty of talented players in the MAC this season, Zeigler and McCrea are providing some excitement about the future of the conference as well.

I got a chance to watch about 90 minutes of CMU men's basketball practice today and wanted to share a few notes on the team.

- The freshmen guards looked to be fitting right in. Austin McBroom and Jordan Myrick both look comfortable at the point and I suspect each will get their chance to earn the starting spot. Both seem to be about passing the ball and running the offense, which should allow Trey Zeigler to be more of a scorer away from the ball. Austin Keel hit some nice outside shots and will be CMU's threat on the 3-point line. I don't know that he will be able to create a lot of shots on his own, but he probably won't get a lot of defensive attention early on either.

- CMU will really be tested in the post. Andre Coimbra will likely have to play the 5 in most situations, but he had a real history of foul trouble last year. If he gets into foul trouble, I am not sure who fills in at center. Zach Saylor might be the answer there, but he has missed the last two seasons with injury issues and is still pretty raw.

- At the 4, I think Colin Voss will be given the chance to start, but juco forward Olivier Mbaigoto looks to be a good option too. Mbaigoto has a really nice wingspan and will be a shot blocker for the team. Neither player really has the bulk to play the 5, but they will need to be rebounders for this team. Sophomore Jevon Harden and redshirt freshmen Auston Barnes are there too, but Harden has some knee issues that have plagued him and Barnes still seems small in height and weight at 6-6, 196 pounds.

- Trey looks to have filled out a little more and I think he will be the leader of this team, both in scoring, and in leadership. I think he knows that pressure that is on this team to win this year.

Media Day is Tuesday and I hope to get to another practice this week to get a better feel for the squad as they prepare for their exhibition opener on Nov. 2.

I was able to confirm from very reliable sources at CMU that Mt. Pleasant senior guard Trey Zeigler will in fact commit to Central Michigan University on Wednesday.

Zeigler will join his father Ernie, who coaches the Chippewas.

This is a major landing for CMU men's basketball and could very well be a landmark day in program history if Zeigler is able to live up to the recruiting ranking he has been given. This signing could also open the doors for other higher profile recruits to join CMU and make the Chippewas a contender in the Mid-American Conference.

More info to come.

Well, what a difference 24 hours can make.

After a decision to take a weekend trip to Arizona State pushed back Trey Zeigler's college announcement plans, now the highly anticipated answer to where Zeigler will play college basketball will be announced tomorrow, on ESPNU. The announcement is expected at 4:45 p.m.

Zeigler told Mt. Pleasant Athletic Director Jim Conway that he was making his decision this week in order to have an official announcment next week, but with the opportunity to do it on national television, things have changed.

Zeigler has left five schools on his list of options: Michigan State, Michigan, UCLA, Arizona State, and Central Michigan. My gut (strictly my gut here, nothing from any sources) tells me this move is an indicator that CMU is the choice. Getting out on signing day and saying you are going to Central Michigan would have a major impact for CMU, more than any of the other schools. It would be a big momentum push for the CMU program to have a 4-star recruit saying he is going to CMU and that he wants to build something special there. Not to mention, since it is signing day, he could have Ernie there with him to add to the impact. Coming out and saying you are going to Michigan State or UCLA just wouldn't have the same impact to move up your announcement a week, cancel a visit, and be on television to make the announcement.

*AGAIN, THAT IS JUST MY GUT, NOT SOMETHING THAT I HAVE HEARD FROM ANYONE*

While the expected four-year deal between Central Michigan and men's basketball coached has reached a verbal agreement, no deal has been officially signed as Ernie has been in Louisville this week for an All-Star weekend for Trey, who was taking part in an exhibition contest with other top high school basketball stars around the nation. Zeigler is returning to Mt. Pleasant today and the deal should be made official early this week.

As for Trey and the big question of where he is going, he is expected to make his decision this week and the plans are for him to hold a press conference at Mt. Pleasant High School to make his announcement. Some speculation surfaced earlier this week that UCLA is out of the running, but I haven't had that confirmed by anyone in the know. It does seem that CMU could be picking up steam with the extension to his father, but only time will tell. Certainly if Trey decided to come and be a Chippewa, it would be the biggest recruit to sign with CMU since Dan Majerle.

There has been some interesting news out of UCLA over the past 24 hours where top assistant men's basketball coach Donny Daniels, who had been with the Bruins for seven years, decided to take a position with the Gonzaga men's basketball program. The move was confirmed by UCLA coach Ben Howland today.
When asked when he would hire a replacement, Howland remarked that he would not make a hire until after the April signing period, but there is some speculation that Central Michigan men's basketball coach Ernie Zeigler is on their radar to return to the staff.
Zeigler's son, Trey, has UCLA as one of five remaining schools on his list of possible colleges he will attend to play basketball, and certainly if Howland was able to get Ernie to leave CMU for UCLA, that would probably bring Trey as well.
UCLA would be able to pay its top assistant close to equal if not more than what the Chippewas can pay their head coach.
CMU and Zeigler are in talks about a new four-year contract that would give Zeigler an increase in pay of $15,000 more in base salary per-year, but no deal has been officially signed.

I have been covering Mt. Pleasant's district tournament all week and I have noticed some recognizable attendants this week.

- On Monday, Michigan coach John Beilein attended Trey's game against Midland Dow.

- On Wednesday, MSU coach Tom Izzo was at Trey's game against Midland. Izzo stood off to the side but was still constantly hounded by fans.

- On Friday, in perhaps the most impressive appearance, just hours after having his heart ripped out by Evan Turner, Beilein showed up in the second half of Zeigler's district final with Bay City Western. Still looking to be wearing the suit he coached in, Beilein showed that he wants Zeigler and perhaps needs him desperately.

Clearly both Michigan and Michigan State are still strongly after Zeigler and want him on their teams. Beilein may need him more than anyone as Michigan may lose its two top players while State clearly has plenty of talent to work with.

Obviously Trey's dad was in attendance on Monday and Friday as well and going to CMU is still an option for him, though I don't know how much of a realistic option it is.

Zeigler is expected to take some more visits following the end of his season and then making a decision in April.

Today I released a lengthy article on Trey and Ernie Zeigler:

http://www.themorningsun.com/articles/2009/02/16/sports/srv0000004701475.txt

The article talks a lot about Trey growing up and living in a basketball world. Certainly Trey is a very talented kid and in the few conversations I have had with him, he does indeed have a good head on his shoulders and is very down to earth. He hasn't gone big-time yet when it comes to his people skills, which is good to see.

A lot of people have asked me about Trey coming to CMU and I have heard some say "it's a done deal" while others say "there is not chance at all." My gut tells me he won't, just because his talent level warrants a greater program, no disrespect to CMU or Ernie.

As a father, I would certainly love to coach my son at the college level, but I would also want him to be in the best situation possible for his future and Trey has the potential to play in the NBA. While CMU has landed NBA stars before and the MAC has its fair share, I would certainly feel better about Trey's chances at a UCLA or Michigan State, where he would play against the best in the country on a frequent basis, and have the chance to be seen on national television with almost every game.

Ernie also has to consider his situation. He is only locked in for a few years and he wouldn't want his son to come to a school that he can't be certain he will be at. I think CMU would have no problem keeping Ernie around as we have seen good things from the program even though the records have not been on the winning side. But, Ernie also has to think about his future. If Trey were to come to CMU and the Chippewas win a championship and make the NCAA Tournament, Ernie would certainly have better coaching offers come his way. Could he really leave CMU if Trey still had eligibility left here? Could he ask his son to transfer and miss out on a season in the middle of his prime? In the MAC, a coach has to strike while the iron is hot because one year you look like a genius, and the next year you look like a fool.

I am not sure how the Trey recruiting process will shake out, but it would be interesting to see him in the maroon and gold.

(Thanks to Lisa Yanick-Jonaitis for her picture of Trey from last Friday's game.)