Central Michigan Chippewas
Overall Rank: #30
Conference Rank: #1 MAC
Central Michigan had an historic 2017-18 season as the Chippewas won 30 games, dominated the MAC, and won their first two NCAA Tournament games over LSU and Ohio State in Columbus. Coach Sue Guevara’s team plays an exciting brand of basketball that can cause opposing teams’ headaches nightly. Three starters return this season for Central Michigan and while they won’t sneak up on anyone, they will be primed to win the MAC once again.
2017-18 Record: 30-5, 17-1
2017-18 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Sue Guevara
Coach Record: 206-148 at Central Michigan, 326-230 overall
Key Departed Players (starters in bold)
Tinara Moore, Forward, 19.1 ppg
Cassie Breen, Guard, 12.1 ppg
Aleah Swary, Forward, 2.4 ppg
Key Returning Players (starters in bold)
Presley Hudson, Senior, Guard, 18.3 ppg
Reyna Frost, Senior, Forward, 13.7 ppg
Micaela Kelly, Redshirt Sophomore, Guard, 11.5 ppg
Kyra Bussell, Sophomore, Forward, 2.6 ppg
Maddy Watters, Sophomore, Guard, 1.5 ppg
Gabrielle Bird, Redshirt Junior, 1.1 ppg
Sophia Karasinski, Sophomore, Guard, 1.6 ppg
MacKenna Kelly, Junior, Guard, 1.6 ppg
Jaeda Robinson, Senior, Guard, 0.5 ppg
Annie Yost, Sophomore, Center, 0.0 ppg
Key New Players
Annika Weekes, Freshman, Guard
Emari Bell, Freshman, Forward/Center
Samantha Robinson, Freshman, Forward
Jahari Smith, Freshman, Center
Projection:
Senior guard Presley Hudson is the top returning scorer for the Chippewas as Hudson averaged 18.3 points per game last season. Hudson has that innate ability to beat you in a variety of ways as she made 43.7 percent of her three-point shots and can attack the basket. Reyna Frost averaged a double-double last season with 13.7 points per game to go along with her 11.9 rebounds. The combination of Hudson and Frost should be enough to offset the lost production from Tianna Moore, who was a big reason why the Chippewas advanced to the Sweet 16 last season. Micaela Kelly will be a solid scoring option for Central Michigan once again this season. Kelly is efficient shooting the basketball after shooting 50 percent from the floor and she does very well at distributing the basketball to her teammates to get them quality shots. The non-conference schedule will provide some good tests for the Chippewas as they will play teams like Louisville, Virginia, and Vanderbilt, which should help them get ready for the NCAA Tournament. If Central Michigan can handle getting everyone’s best shot this season, especially during conference play, then you will see them back in the NCAA Tournament as an 7-10 seed and they will be dangerous to deal with.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 82.3 (9th in nation, 1st in conference)
Scoring Defense: 70.8 (294, 9)
Field-Goal Percentage: 46.7 (15, 1)
Field-Goal Defense: 40.5 (191, 4)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 9.1 (13, 1)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 38.4 (11, 1)
Free-Throw Percentage: 80.5 (2, 1)
Rebound Margin: 8.2 (19, 1)
Assists Per Game: 15.7 (49, 4)
Turnovers Per Game: 14.2 (79, 1)
