The Central Michigan University men's basketball team is struggling a bit during the mid section of its season so far.  After starting out the 2011 - 2012 season with a rather strong non-conference schedule it should help the Chippewas during the Mid-American season.  Playing the likes of Temple, Minnesota, Pepperdine, Iowa State and Nebraska should toughen them for the conference wars. 

Star Sophomore Trey Ziegler is leading the Chippewas early on this season after 17 games with a 16 point per game average.  The young Chippewas still might be a year away from contending for the Mid-American title.  With only two seniors on the team and one starting this can only get better over the next year and a half.  Head Coach Ernie Ziegler starts four underclassmen for the Chippewas.  I can see the Chippewas getting hot at the end of the season and possibly winning the Mid-American Conference tournament and drawing an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. 

Wednesday night the Chippewas would take on the Ball State Cardinals at the new McGuirk Arena on the campus of CMU.  Playing in front of a rather small crowd of 1,541 fans the Chippewas would fall behind early in the contest.  Ball State coming into the game with a 10-5 overall record ran off to a 38-22 lead at halftime.  I have been watching Trey Zeigler for the past year and a half play for his father and the Chippewas.  I have come to some simple thoughts that Trey could be one of the top players in the Mid-American Conference with a little more effort.  He is definitely a good player but I feel that at times he does just enough to get bye. 

Things didn't get any better in the 2nd half for the Chippewas as the Cardinals continued to build up their lead.  Leading the way for the Chippewas' was freshman guard Austin McBroom with 20 points and Trey Zeigler ended up with just 6 points on an off night.  The final score was Ball State winning 73-52.  This loss dropped CMU to 2-2 in conference play.  The Chippewas head to Western Michigan University on Saturday.  The Western Conference of the MAC will remain a very tight race during the 2012 season.  It should make for an exciting MAC tournament.