Family: More than just a team
The names on the backs of their jerseys read a different last names, but any veteran member of Central Michigan’s men’s basketball team arrives at the same conclusion: They’re one in the same.
Coming off of a season that saw CMU finish 23-9 (12-6 MAC) and win the Mid-American Conference West Division Title, the Chippewas return 10 players from 2014 edition of their team.
While there are some new faces, on the whole the cast of characters is relatively the same, especially when it comes to the starting five utilized by Head Coach Keno Davis in all 32 of the team’s games a season ago.
“The chemistry really was unique last year,” Davis said. “As you look at a majority of those players returning, it allows coaches to do some different things on the practice court and maybe try to be a little more advanced at the beginning of the season than you might have been in a different year.”
Senior guards Chris Fowler, Rayshawn Simmons and forward John Simons along with sophomore guard Braylon Rayson and freshman forward Luke Meyer have spent so much time together both on and off the court, they’re nearly inseparable.
Rayson said the team’s overall chemistry has improved from a season ago.
“Our chemistry is really a lot better. We’re a family now — we’ve got a lot of seniors and I’m probably the lonesome junior around here but we’ve all been here,” Rayson said. “If we all do what we do well and it all comes together, then we’re a scary team.”
Simons, a native of Cadillac, has played in 94 consecutive games as a Chippewa and is one of the many seniors on the roster. He explained how closeness and chemistry have helped CMU in the past.
Going into his final season, Simons said the team’s chemistry should be at an all-time high in 2015.
“(Austin Stewart), Chris (Fowler) and I all came in together and then Ray (Simmons) the year after. With all the game experience we’ve been able to have together as a unit, now it’s all coming together one last year.”
In 2014, Simons was a Third Team All-MAC honoree and a member of the MAC All-Tournament team.
“Knowing where your teammates are at, where they want the ball, the tendencies they’re going to have-being able to help each other out and knowing each and every guy’s got each other’s back,” Simons said. “You just know that you can depend on all those guys.”
Simmons, who averaged 9.1 points, 4.1 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game last year, echoed Simons’ thoughts on chemistry.
“It’s exciting to actually watch each other grow up and develop as basketball players,” Simmons said. “I feel like everybody’s been taking steps forward since they’ve stepped on campus.
Simmons, who hails from St. Louis, Missouri, also had plenty to say about the overarching family feel surrounding the team. He explained how going through many difficult times together has strengthened the bond between players on and off the court.
“I’m not going to say we weren’t a family (before), but when you go 5-21 you have to figure something out. When we were struggling that brought us closer,” Simmons said. “We all faced adversity and had to fight through it together and that really has helped us.”
Last season was one of consistency for Simmons. As a starter he averaged 9.1 points, 4.1 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game.
Some of the feelings of family are almost, to a certain extent forced due to the hectic nature that comes with being a student-athlete at the collegiate level.
As Luke Meyer jokingly admits, much of being so close is inescapable, playing more than 30 games a season, daily practices and all of the work that goes into the offseason.
“When you spend five or six hours a day with these guys you don’t have a choice, you have to like them,” Meyer said. “It’s almost like you’re forced into a brotherhood but we don’t force ourselves into it. We’d do anything for each other.”
An Addison native, Meyer’s 17 blocks in 2014 were good enough for second on the team and he also finished the year averaging 5.5 points per game.
Fans also should not discount the return of senior forward Austin Stewart. The 2014 Academic All-MAC honoree also appeared in all of CMU’s games last season, averaging 5.1 points and 3.4 rebounds in 15 minutes of play.
“We grew up together, we’ve created this family atmosphere together and we’ve kind of started to try and change the culture together,” Stewart said.
While he wasn’t a starter in 2014, Stewart still turned in a positive season, averaging 15 minutes of play with 5.1 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.
Davis went on to say, while it’s a strong possibility his starting five from 2014 will be the same in 2015, there is still open competition for starting spots.
“I wouldn’t just start the same lineup as last year because they were starters,” he said. “You get an opportunity each and every day in practice to try to get more minutes on the court in games or in starting positions. Those guys that started for us last year did pretty well and they continue to do so.”
Missing from the action
How players and Head Coach Keno Davis are dealing with Hibbitts’ injury
While there will be 11 players returning to the court, 10 of them have the ability to see game action this season.
Senior forward Blake Hibbitts will miss the 2015 in its entirety after tearing his ACL. The injury, suffered during offseason practice, caused a stir in practice and Hibbitts’ absence has been felt by his teammates and coaching staff even though they have yet to play a game.
“That one was a huge blow,” said senior guard Austin Stewart. “I took it kind of difficult because I’ve roomed with him all four years. You never want to see that happen to a teammate — it’s like one of your brothers. We all knew we had to step up though.”
Hibbitts appeared in all 32 games in 2014 while averaging 3.6 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. He was also a 2015 Academic All-MAC honoree.
“The tough thing is Blake (Hibbitts) had an incredible summer, had great work ethic and was going to take a real step forward,” Davis said. But now it’s an opportunity for somebody else to try to maximize their minutes.”
Simmons, like his teammates, was saddened by Hibbitts’ injury along with the news that he would miss all of the upcoming season. He still remains positive and says Hibbitts is going to provide a great deal of support from the bench.
“We’re all a little hurt that (Hibbitts) won’t be with us this year,” he said. “For him to come in with this class — it hurts us to not have him, but I feel like we still have a chance and he’s still a part of the team. He’s still going to be there with us, nothing will change.”
The Hudsonville-native was a 2015 Academic All-MAC honoree and appeared in every game last season.
