A season ago, Central Michigan's tallest player on roster, Caleb Hodgson, sat on the bench in an Adidas jumpsuit and played a grand total of zero minutes.
Senior forward Rob Montgomery, standing just 6-foot-7, was forced to play the majority of minutes at the "five" position. As a result, the Chippewas were often bullied inside. Montgomery, one of seven graduated seniors, was a good athlete on the perimeter but no match for the likes of Ben Vander Plas and Luke Knapke inside.
Credit to coach Keno Davis, he identified the problem and set out to solve it.
In addition to having Hodgson, who is now a redshirt freshman, Davis brought in a trio of big men who each would've been the tallest active player a season ago. In JUCO product Malik Muhammad, Michigan State transfer Braden Burke, and incoming freshman Aundre Polk, the Chippewas suddenly have height and depth in the frontcourt.
But how will they use it?
In the past, due in part to the lack of overall height inside, Davis has elected to go with two main guards and three wings on the perimeter. The main goal has been to outscore the opponent, using athleticism defensively to pick up opponents well beyond half court and create turnovers.
With the quartet of big men now available, the Chippewas have options. There will be eight newcomers who will suit up for the Chippewas in 2020, 11 if redshirts Hodgson, Dylan Jergens and Preston Enloe are counted. Of the newcomers, all but two are either wings or bigs.
The assortment of wings, such as Coffeyville Community College transfer and 2019-20 JUCO All-American Meikkel Murray, allows Davis to continue to play his style of ball, sped up and exciting. However, Davis and company can control the pace if he manages the bigs effectively.
While he will likely use just one in his starting lineup, Davis can elect to change the pace of the game at times by using a two-big lineup. He could pair Muhammad, whose coaches at East Los Angeles College raved about his defense, with an offensive player such as Burke, a 7-footer, to create an effective post presence without compromising the offensive firepower he is known for.
The last time a Chippewa team had this sort of size was 2017, when both 6-foot-10 Luke Meyer and 6-foot-9 Dahron Scott both saw regular playing time. However, the two weren't played together and as a result, the dazzling backcourt of Braylon Rayson and Marcus Keene produced just 16 wins and a first round Mid-American Conference tournament exit.
The obvious downside to using a two big lineup is that it is tougher to spread the floor. Muhammad does not have a good 3-point stroke, so playing him in place of a stretch four or extra wing goes against what Davis wants to do. However, it can be a necessary change if used in short stretches and key situations.
The best example of using a two-big lineup and it's importance is the Chippewas' most recent game. In the MAC Tournament opener, Ohio used it's own two-big lineup of Sylvester Ogbanda and Vander Plas to bully the Chippewas. Ogbanda, a perimeter oriented center, drew Montgomery outside and Central Michigan was forced to guar Vander Plas with an undersized assortment of players.
Vander Plas responded with 25 points, 10 boards and seven assists.
By bringing in size during the recruiting period, Davis has put his team in a position to be the aggressor. He's chosen wisely.
Now, he must use them wisely.
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