Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/517095
Few saw it coming. Few, that is, outside the Central Michigan men's basketball inner circle. And maybe that would even be a stretch. Regardless of the expectations, what the Chippewas accomplished in 2014-15 was extraordinary and astonishing to even the most optimistic fan. The Chippewas were picked to finish 11th in the 12-team Mid-American Conference and instead went 23-9, capturing the league's regular-season title and receiving a bid to the NIT. CMU won more games in '14-15 than it had in the previous two years combined, and it marked the first time since 2003 the Chippewas have won the MAC title, appeared in the league tournament title game and earned a postseason bid. Even basketball junkies were taken by surprise at the Chippewas' sudden rise. "I think a lot of people asked how we were able to make such a dramatic turnaround," says coach Keno Davis, who was named the MAC Coach of the Year. "It was a three-year process of hard work from our administration, from our coaching staff, from our student-athletes to keep developing even though you might not have seen the results from game to game. We were seeing the improvement of a team and of a program." The cornerstone player, Chris Fowler, came in Davis' first recruiting class three years ago. From the minute the 6-foot-1 guard from Southfield set foot on campus, it was clear he was something special. Fowler was named a team captain as a freshman and has blossomed into one of the best players in the MAC, finishing runner-up in the league's player of the year voting last season. "Chris really symbolizes what this program is about … hard work, determination and a great attitude," says Davis, who signed a five-year contract extension at the end of this season. "He has been a great influence on his teammates, his coaches and the university community. Chris is a great representative of the school and of the men's basketball program." The Chippewas will return all five starters in 2015-16 and, after what they accomplished this year, are fully aware of the expectations. Davis embraces it, just as he did the challenge of rebuilding the program three years ago with a vision for what it has become. "I think we not only believe we're moving in the right direction, but that we can be competitive, and we can compete for championships in the foreseeable future," he says. "We've got the foundation built that we can have success each year." • Men's basketball team surprises fans and conference, packs McGuirk, captures MAC title Keno Davis 30 centralight summer '15 BY ANDY SNEDDON PHOTO BY STEVE JESSMORE