any intake on cmich/fullerton game...

FULLERTON

Bob Burton didn't sign up for this.

At least not this year. The Cal State Fullerton coach knew he had some holes to fill in his 2010-11 lineup, what with the previous season's top scorer, Gerard Anderson, and three-point bomber Aaron Thompson having exhausted their eligibility.

But Burton had no idea of the extent of his problems. Not until the spring, when two-year starting point guard Jacques Streeter decided to jump ship and head to UTEP. The situation worsened in late summer, when 6-10 starting center Bryce Webster left the program to pursue a professional contract overseas.

With his lineup suddenly gutted by the loss of two key components he thought he could build around, Burton will have to make do. And learn some names while he's at it.

"We knew it was going to be a tough road anyway," he said. "Then when Jacques decided to transfer, that was a big hit, obviously, and the Bryce Webster thing was really out of nowhere -- we never saw that one coming, either.

"So we went from having three starters back to now, I don't know anybody's name. The first day of practice, we're going to be the only team in America where everyone's got nametags on. I'll be calling the guys the wrong names out there. Of course, if they can't play I'm sure I'll find a few names for them."

PLAYERS

Indeed, with seven new players from last season's team, Burton might well have to spring for a few of those "Hello, my name is" stickers. Which makes the upcoming ride seem a bit bumpy for a team that might be a year away from seriously competing in the Big West.

Still, it's not like there's no talent left. The most familiar name, and the player who gives the Titans the best chance to smooth out that bumpy road, is senior power forward Jer'Vaughn Johnson (11.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg), a 6-6, 240-pound bruiser who finds himself as Fullerton's only returning starter. He was a powerful, consistent contributor on a balanced roster last season, led the team in rebounding, and, with Webster gone, becomes the anchor of the Titans' inside game.

The bad news for Fullerton is that at 6-6, Johnson might be the tallest member of that inside group. Without Webster's height, the Titans are left with four post players, none taller than 6-7, 230-pound junior Steve Jurich, a late signee from Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College brought in after Webster's departure to provide a little reinforcement.

What they lack in height, the Titans hope to make up in bulk. In addition to the bullish Johnson and Jurich, junior Andre Hardy -- a transfer from Oral Roberts who sat out last season -- goes 6-6, 230 and junior college transfer Sedric Martin is a massive 6-6, 260.

"We have incredible strength," Burton said. "We've got a great football team down there. I don't know if they can play basketball, but I'll put them in pads against anybody."

All have the potential to make an impact. Hardy averaged 7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds as a sophomore at ORU, Martin is a solid defensive presence and Jurich ranked fifth nationally among NJCAA Division II rebounders at 12.6 per game while averaging almost 16 points.

"I think Jer'Vaughn has a chance to be one of the best players in the league, and Andre Hardy will get a real chance to compete," Burton said. "He's undersized, but he's incredibly strong and smart and tough."

The key to making the arrangement work could be 6-7 junior Orane Chin (7.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg). Unlike his beefy teammates, Chin is a lean 195-pound forward who played inside last season but will be moved to small forward to take advantage of his athleticism and skills. When Burton made a similar decision with Anderson last season, it paid off -- Anderson blossomed into not only the scoring leader but the No. 2 rebounder as well.

"If he can make the same transition, we'll have some size at that position, which a lot of people don't have," Burton said. "If he can rebound like we think he can and play the three like Gerard Anderson did, that will really help our size problem inside."

If Chin can't, there are few alternatives. The only other small forward on the roster is 6-4 Roger Guardia, a 24-year-old senior from Spain via Cuesta College. Burton thought he was getting a player with two seasons left, but the NCAA ruled a season Guardia played for a European club counts against his eligibility, giving him one shot at Fullerton.

"We weren't counting on that, but we really need him, and he's a good player," Burton said. "He's older and very skilled, can really shoot it and pass it, knows how to play. So even if it's only going to be a one-year thing, hopefully, he can come in and play and help us."

Burton expects the Titans' backcourt to be surprisingly strong despite the loss of Streeter, the heart and soul of last season's team.

Because Streeter left shortly after the season, the coaches were able to recruit a replacement, signing 6-1 junior Perry Webster from Saddleback College, where he averaged 10.6 points and 4.9 assists per game last season.

They also brought in promising 6-1 freshman Isiah Umipig from Federal Way (Wash.) High School. He's likely to open as an off-guard but is considered the long-term replacement to Webster at the point, where he should also see considerable time this season. Last season Umipig led Federal Way to the Class 4A state championship, scoring 19 points in the title game.

"I'll miss Jacques because he was with me for two years and did a great job, but you want guys who want to be here," Burton said. "That's important."

The two newcomers play contrasting styles. Webster is a classic pass-first point, while Umipig is a scorer in the mold of past Fullerton points such as four-year star Bobby Brown and, to a lesser extent, Streeter.

"I've watched Perry play for the three years, since he played at Mission Viejo High School," Burton said. "I always absolutely loved him but never could recruit him because we had Jacques Streeter and it wasn't what we needed to do. So we were really, really lucky to get him right at the time Jacques decided to transfer. Umipig is a scorer -- that's why I think I can play them together. Eventually, he will be the point guard here."

For now, he will battle for time at shooting guard with 5-11 senior Devon Peltier (10.1 ppg) who played the role of long-range gunner last season, making 42 percent of his three-point shots.

Peltier, known as "V.I." because he's from the Virgin Islands, is being counted on to reprise that role, but Burton has also been pushing him to expand his game to be able to take the ball to the basket more and lock down on defense.

"We're hoping he'll become more of a basketball player instead of just a specialist," Burton said. "I want to see him get good at penetration, really get good defensively, get his skill level up. V.I. has got to become better defensively, and he's got to be a better passer, or he's going to be a specialist."

More backcourt depth comes from 6-1 junior combo guard Orlando Brown from Connors State (Okla.) Junior College. He averaged 12 points as a sophomore.

BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS

BACKCOURT: C
BENCH/DEPTH: C
FRONTCOURT: C
INTANGIBLES: C

For all his one-liners about the Titans' size problems, Burton is decidedly optimistic about his inside game. He has, after all, traveled this route before. In 2007-08, he played burly 6-5 forwards Scott Cutley and Marcus Morgan inside and relied on 6-5 small forward Frank Robinson for rebounding help. With Robinson averaging almost seven boards and 16 points per game, plus league player of the year Josh Akognon scoring 20 a night, that team won the Big West and scared Wisconsin in the NCAA Tournament.

The difference is Chin hasn't shown he can be Robinson, and no one has shown he can score like Akognon. Far too many players -- in both the frontcourt and the backcourt -- are unproven.

While Fullerton perennially leads the conference in scoring and last season led in field goal percentage as well, Burton said his concern is whether it can hit the boards well enough to ignite the running game.

"We've got a team that's more skilled and can shoot it better," he said. "The real question is can we rebound? That's going to be the key thing. Last year, we had Bryce in there, and he was banging away, and Jer'Vaughn gave us a good-sized physical front line. That's going to change, so the way we play is going to be a little different. If we can rebound, we have a chance to do the things we've done in the past."

COACH AND PROGRAM

With Ernest F. Zeigler II in charge, Central Michigan has become the proud owner of back-to-back MAC West titles for the first time in school annals. But now, with Ernest F. Zeigler III (a.k.a. "Trey") and six other intriguing newcomers on the roster, the Chippewas are setting their sights higher.

"We're excited about taking, hopefully, the next step," said Zeigler II, better known as Ernie Zeigler. "We're really fortunate the timing of everything for us is coming together."

And everything, when it comes to this year's squad, seems to revolve around the theme of home. The Chippewas unveil their $21 million renovation of Rose Arena -- which includes a practice gym and a 10,000-square foot lobby and welcoming area that's part of the overall CMU Events Center -- when Temple comes to town on Dec. 1.

PLAYERS

And barring an unlikely set of circumstances, freshman guard Trey Zeigler will be at the heart of his father's lineup É but it wasn't a preordained decision. Ranked as the class of 2010's No. 29 senior according to the Recruiting Services Consensus Index (RSCI), Zeigler took official visits to Michigan, Michigan State, UCLA and Oklahoma. Several coaches sat in the family's living room and pitched their schools' benefits.

But when the 6-5, 195-pound guard revealed his choice when the spring signing period began, he chose the comforts of staying home over the bigger-name programs. "Once he went through the whole scenario," said Ernie Zeigler, "it was just the right feel to stay at home." While Dad is loath to brag about his son and his potential, everyone else around the conference knows he's the highest-profile player to start at a MAC school since recruiting rankings became a big deal 30 years ago. And, if pushed, Dad is willing to offer a few compliments about Trey, who averaged 24.3 points and 10.5 rebounds his senior year at Mount Pleasant High School.

"Trey brings a unique presence to our roster because he's versatile," Zeigler said. "He's a big guard who can score in the post. He's an adequate [long-range] shooter. He's a decent passer and he has the ability to be a lockdown defender."

Fortunately for Trey Zeigler, he doesn't have to feel obligated to live up to all of his accolades from the start. Central Michigan welcomes back three starters from last year's MAC West champs, though the Chippewas lost their top four scorers, including starting guards Robbie Harman (15.0 ppg) and Jordan Bitzer (14.9 ppg).

Senior forward Jalin Thomas (7.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg) is the team's top returning scorer and an All-MAC candidate, Zeigler says. Thomas missed seven games last year and never seemed to get into a rhythm with his shooting, which had been one of the reasons Zeigler liked the 6-4, 200-pounder so much when CMU pulled him out of Pensacola (Fla.) Junior College. "We're looking for him to really expand his role," Zeigler said. "He has the ability to be a double-figure scorer for us. We're expecting him to play more of a three this year. He played more of the four last year."

Senior guard Antonio Weary (5.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg) has been a two-year starter since coming out of junior college. The 6-3, 215-pound Weary isn't the team's best shooter (he made just three three-pointers and hit 52 percent of his free throws), but he takes care of every other aspect. "He's a glue wing for us," Zeigler said. "He's been one of our better defensive players. He does a little of everything. He just helps us win games."

William McClure (3.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg), a 6-7, 240-pound senior is the third returning starter. While he never posted double figures in points or rebounds in any game last year, he patrolled the middle and led the MAC with 1.7 blocks per game in league play. "He's a great defensive presence," Zeigler said. "We're looking for him to finish around the basket."

Central Michigan boasts two other scholarship returnees. Five-foot-9 senior Amir Rashid (5.2 ppg, 2.3 apg) will battle for the starting point guard job, while 6-1 sophomore Finis Craddock (2.2 ppg) is a combo guard with upside. "Amir is a jet-quick point guard," Zeigler said. "He has the ability to pressure the ball and he came on late offensively [including a season-high 14 points against Western Michigan] in the MAC tournament. Finis really came on in the spring and summer. He has the ability to be an athletic scorer for us."

Redshirt sophomore Zach Saylor (0.6 ppg, 0.8 rpg) would have given the Chippewas a sixth returnee, but his luck continues to be nothing but poor. Saylor missed the first 13 games last year with a right shoulder injury, then reinjured it going into MAC Tournament play. The 6-8, 235-pound power forward underwent surgery in July and will miss this season, but Zeigler hopes he'll receive a sixth year of eligibility when the time comes to apply for a second redshirt.

With just six scholarship returnees on the roster -- and none of them in the junior class -- Zeigler had to find a way to rebalance his roster. But first, he and his staff spent a ton of time finding talented freshmen.

Derek Jackson (6-0, 170), a first-team all-state honoree at Cleveland's Benedictine High School who averaged 19.0 points, 5.8 assists, 4.3 steals and 4.0 rebounds per game, was the first of the five scholarship freshmen to pledge to the Chippewas. "He's an extremely athletic combo guard," Zeigler said. "He's a highlight-reel type guy finishing in transition. He has the ability to score in all kinds of ways, but the thing I'm most excited about is he's a great on-ball defender."

Next the Chippewas roamed all over Michigan to find talented frontcourt players in Detroit's Jevon Harden (6-8, 218), Grand Rapids' Colin Voss (6-7, 235) and Grand Haven's Nate VanArendonk (6-9, 230). Harden and VanArendonk are centers who might need a little time to contribute, while Voss is a power forward whose ability to score lends itself to immediate playing time.

"Jevon's a very athletic rebounder and defender," Zeigler said. "He's really just starting to scratch the surface. Nate's a guy that's really intriguing. He has a very good skill set. He has very good hands and he's a good passer, but he has to get stronger and develop that tough demeanor.

"Colin is a prototype Central Michigan/Ernie Zeigler player. He's a physical, tough kid who was an all-state football player on [East Grand Rapids'] state championship team. He was even recruited as a tight end. He can shoot the three and run the floor, but he's extremely physical."

Trey Zeigler's decision in April ensured the five-man freshman class would be the MAC's best, but the coaches weren't done adding to the roster. They signed a pair of junior college prospects during the spring: Chicago point guard Paris Paramore (6-0, 175) and Brazilian power forward Andre Coimbra (6-9, 222). Paramore, who averaged a team-high 14.8 points for Triton (Ill.) Junior College and hit 39 percent of his three-pointers, will compete with Rashid and Jackson for the point guard job.

"He has the ability to lead his team. He makes guys better," Zeigler said. "And he really pushes the tempo. We're trying to change our style of play and push it more, especially off of our defense.

As for Coimbra, who contributed 6.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M last year, Zeigler has asked him to help the team by emulating one of his countrymen.

"We've been comparing him to a poor man's Anderson Varajao," Zeigler said. "He may be the X-factor for us. He's very athletic."

Central Michigan also boasts four walk-ons. Junior guard Nick Jordan (0.1 rpg) and sophomore guard John Morris (0.7 ppg) are the veterans while 6-3 swingman Brook Turson (Plymouth, Ohio) and 6-1 guard Auston Barnes (Lansing, Mich.) are part of the massive freshman class. Turson, who had signed with Robert Morris during the early period, will redshirt this season with the promise of a scholarship next year.

As for the rest of the Chippewas, it's all about this year. Zeigler sees three competitive point guards and four good wings and five intriguing big men and gets excited about all of the Chippewas' possible combinations.

"Especially compared to the last couple years, when we were trying to find more than six or seven guys to put on the floor," Zeigler said. "It's going to be fun."

BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS

BACKCOURT: B-
BENCH/DEPTH: B-
FRONTCOURT: C+
INTANGIBLES: B

The Chippewas are the favorite to win another MAC West banner, but there's potential to improve greatly as the year progresses thanks to all the new faces. Zeigler will become progressively more excited if his guards (including his son) live up to the standard set last year by the graduated Robbie Harman (who led the nation with 3.5 three-pointers per game) and Jordan Bitzer. "They were arguably the best backcourt in the conference last year," Zeigler said. "Those two exemplified the toughness we rely upon. They're a huge part of getting our program where we are right now."

I say you should just go to sleep and save your dough for .

Classic advice!

GH,

Nice info you shared as that was a very good handicapping lesson for degenerates and I don' mean Ellen! If you didn't read HG's take on the Hawaii/Montana St game, be sure to do so.  Both these teams meet tomorrow night so I just hope Fullerton don't get rolled too bad.