Everybody getting their sea legs back as college basketball is getting underway? Good. I know it can be a mini adjustment being hit with hoops in the midst of college football. But don’t let that affect your mid-week plans to see our five mid-majors.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN CHIPPEWAS
RECAP: Central Michigan (2-1) picked up blowout wins over NAIA program Siena Heights and NCAA Division III school Eureka College (IL) in between a single-digit loss on the road at Michigan, a game in which the Chippewas very much could have won.
UP NEXT (Click here for broadcast information):
- 11/22 – vs. Sam Houston State (2-1) | 6:30 p.m. ET
PLAYER TO WATCH: Sophomore David DiLeo has emerged as the early leading scorer for CMU to start the season. The 6-7 forward from Iowa City is one of five Chippewas early on averaging double-figures in points; DiLeo leads the team with 15.0 PPG.
DETROIT MERCY TITANS
RECAP: Detroit (2-2) notched 100+ points in their two victories over NAIA foe UM-Dearborn and Houston Baptist, but allowed 100+ points in blowout losses to Virginia Tech and Seattle.
UP NEXT (Click here for broadcast information):
- 11/22 – @ Saint Louis (3-1) | 8 p.m. ET
- 11/25 – vs. Siena Heights | 2 p.m. ET
PLAYER TO WATCH: Freshman Jermaine Jackson Jr. has had a nice start to his collegiate career. The Macomb Dakota High School product has eclipsed double-figure points in all four games for the Titans thus far, knocked down 19 of his 20 attempts from the free thrown line, and just earned Horizon League freshman of the week honors.
EASTERN MICHIGAN EAGLES
RECAP: Eastern Michigan (4-0) beat up on a pair of in-state NAIA programs in Spring Arbor and UM-Dearborn before netting two wins by double-digits over Arkansas State and Howard. The Eagles as a team have allowed 64.5 points per game through their first four contests.
UP NEXT (Click here for broadcast information):
- 11/24 – @ Indiana (2-2) | 4:30 p.m. ET
- 11/26 – @ South Florida (2-2) | 4 p.m. ET
PLAYER TO WATCH: The most prolific performer for EMU so far has been forward Elijah Minnie. Outside of a virtual non-existent showing turned in against Arkansas State (2 pts in 26 minutes), the junior out of Pittsburgh has exploded for 20+ points in the team’s other three games played.
OAKLAND GOLDEN GRIZZLIES
RECAP: Oakland (2-1) won rather comfortably in their first two games against Fort Wayne and New Orleans, but a big deficit early against Toledo ultimately costed them a win on the road against the Rockets their last time out.
UP NEXT (Click here for broadcast information):
- 11/20 – @ Syracuse | 7 p.m. ET
- 11/24 – @ No. 3 Kansas | 8 p.m. ET
PLAYER TO WATCH: Illinois transfer Kendrick Nunn is having no problems getting acclimated with his new teammates. Nunn in three games this year has averaged 28 points per game, including a 36-point outburst in the season opener against IPFW. Nunn in three seasons at Illinois never averaged more than 16 PPG.
WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS
RECAP: Western Michigan (2-3) endured a five-game span in nine days to start the season, which included not one but TWO losses to a Final Four recipient from a year ago in South Carolina. The Broncos went 1-2 in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off Tournament last week.
UP NEXT (Click here for broadcast information):
- 11/25 – vs. Northwood | 2 p.m. ET
PLAYER TO WATCH: Junior Bryce Moore has proven to be a solid No. 2 behind Thomas Wilder for Western Michigan so far this season. The 6-2 guard out of Indianapolis has double-digit points in four of five games played for WMU and is knocking down nearly 43 percent of his three-point attempts.
