Of course to get the kind of attention and respect this program desires they have to first beat the other teams that make up the mighty MAC.  And in a conference known for only getting one invite to the Big Dance the chances of achieving this against 11 other teams are about as good as the Chippewas playing both the Wolverines and the Spartans in the same year! There are rumors that the Spartans have to fill their opening game before their big Holiday Tourney trip to the Big Apple since college basketball is going to a uniform schedule with a set amount of games for each team.  CMU has the same opening and with the Wolverines already scheduled for game # 2 this season looks promising for the Chippewas.  One thing for sure if the Big Dance Committee decides to finally give the MAC a second team the Chippewas will have a mighty fine strength of schedule.  But of course this team, as talented as it is, might want to win the league outright just to make sure. 

 Leading the way into this season is one of the best power forwards in the country.  And you probably don’t know his name!  Junior Dan Roundfield is as talented as there is banging inside.  A complete player in the post who can score from the box, hit short range jumpers and loves to rebound.  Even though he goes only 6’8 and 205,  Roundfield is also a tremendous shot blocker and one of the best low post defenders in the Midwest. In an area that is loaded with great 4’s (heck Detroit has not one but two world-class power forwards) Roundfield can hang with any of them. Pretty good for a kid who came in from Detroit on an academic scholarship!  ‘Dr. Rounds’ has worked his tail end off and grew a couple of inches and along the way to become one of the best players in the MAC.  More importantly though is this kid is one heck of a person.  He would go out of his way to help someone in need and though he is known for his physical play under the basket is a gentleman off the court. Parfitt does not have to worry about one forward position on the court and to be honest is in pretty good hands at the other one.   

Sophomore forward Dan Majerle is the perfect complement to Roundfield.  The only thing these two have in common are a first name as they are as opposite ends of the basketball spectrum as two players can be.  A wing player who gets up and down the court and has tremendous athleticism, this kid loves to dunk as his nickname will attest.  This kid from the Cherry Capital of the world up north in Traverse City was not heavily recruited but he probably should have been if his first year is any indication.  ‘Thunder’ Dan is best lining up threes form behind the arc but can also finish with a hammer off the break.  He is also a shut-down defender who other programs are well aware of.  Majerle is also extremely helpful on the boards as if his namesake needs any help down there but this kid is not afraid to mix it up with the big dogs.  His determination and a great tan have made him a fan favorite in Mt. Pleasant. The biggest question in Mount Pleasant this winter might be who is THE Dan the Man for the Chippewas.  That is a nice predicament to have, just ask Parfitt.   

The backcourt for the Chippewas featured a rotation of three gifted players competing for one position.  Junior Ben Kelso and Sophomore Melvin McLaughlin share the shooting guard position.  Kelso is one of the most unique and encouraging stories you will ever hear.  Born in Tennessee and raised bitterly poor Kelso survived by begging for food and fighting rats off his bed at night. He moved to Flint with his sister and worked pumping gas playing recreation basketball after not being able to make the high school team.  Parfitt saw him and realized he might have something in this six foot three wing who was extremely competitive.  He gave the kid a full ride scholarship and the rest is Chippewa folklore.  When he did his first mile run for the team he ran a 4:21 and blew away the competition.  He loves conditioning and competition and has never not won a wind sprint at CMU.  Oh and he can play.  He is a terrific scorer who can post up smaller guys (he is 6’3 195 after all) and knows how to finish around the hoop.  He led the team in scoring last year but has had to adjust as he was getting schooled (Doug Collins is his nemesis who scored 32 on him) on the defensive end.  This kid will work his butt off once he learns something.  He may not be Majerle on the defensive end but he will contest any lane now and do not try to back cut him again.  He also had to learn this year to split time as Parfitt wanted someone besides Majerle who could hit the long range bomb.  With the three point line becoming oh so important you have to keep up with the Joneses and as good as a scorer that Kelso is he is not a great long range shooter.  Enter Melvin “Sugar” McLaughlin.  McLaughlin was different than most of the players on this roster as he was heavily recruited after a stellar high school career in Grand Rapids.  But at 6’0 160 the plan by Parfitt is to turn this kid into a point guard, or at least guard the other team’s point guard.  Sugar is the opposite of Kelso with his smooth game and is definitely a fan favorite for his long range bombs.  He might not have the back story that Kelso has but he can play as well.  When Kelso (where’s Jackie by the way) hurt his knee McLaughlin took over starting and showed off his electric jumper that he takes out to way beyond three point distance.  Kelso of course was not giving up him spot without a fight and worked his way back into the starting lineup after missing a few games.  These two really do complement each other well.  Coach Parfitt was spoiled having two guards who were so opposite but who both could score from the ultimate scoring position.  Sugar got his nickname when he was young for his being able to handle the ball so he has got handles as well and he can see the court well. He looks to be starting next to Kelso this year with the third pee in this pod coming off the bench.  Leonard Drake is a 6’2 200 pound junior who gives the team some offense off the bench.  He is way closer to Kelso than McLaughlin but he knows how to play and has the perfect team first mentality to play well off the pine.  Most guys do not have that Drake is a Chippewa first as he grew up down the road in Niles (located right on the Ohio border) rooting for this team.  

 Senior Willie Iverson is true point guard who got the majority of minutes running the team before and after McLaughlin blew up.  Iverson is a six footer like Sugar but his background is completely different even though they were both raised in the Wolverine State.  Iverson comes from the streets of Detroit and was All-City and is quick to the hole as they come. Willie can defend but is nowhere near the long-range shooter of his competitor.  I would think Parfitt wants his senior captain to be his point guard once again this year but the game is evolving and to put it simply; shooters play, even at point guard.

At center Parfitt had another nice little battle between two capable but different big men.  Juniors Ben Poquette and Jeff Tropf have taken different routes and will probably end up platooning though there are rumors Parfitt is bringing in a couple of seven footers to compete for minutes.  Poquette is the incumbent starter in the post and was solid especially on the defensive end.  Poquette who hails from East Lansing (how did the Spartans miss this behemoth?) is a terrific shot blocker and knows how to eat up space with his six nine and 235 pound frame. He is not much of an offensive threat except for putbacks and dunks, however, but offense is Tropf’s middle name.  These two grew up playing against each other as Tropf comes from Holt, which is just south of Lansing, but it was Tropf who got the scholarship to play at Michigan State.  He transferred here after one year and has shown he can put the ball in the basket. At 6’8 and a slim 200 pounds Tropf is not exactly the banger you are looking for down low and defense is not his middle name so Poquette will almost assuredly start once again as Parfitt preaches defense. Parfitt is a graduate of this University and has been a huge part of the transition from NAIA to Division One and knows how to recruit players and this team will score but he also knows that defense wins so he will gladly go with the shot blocking center over the high scoring post player.  Unless of course one of those two seven footers can do both?

The biggest issue going into the season for the Chippewas is depth as their starting five is solid and complement each other well.  The bench will be a hodge-podge of carryover guys from their days before they were D-1 and some kids trying to earn some minutes. Senior Don Edwards is an undersized forward (six one) who accepted a smaller role with Majerle around and was his mentor in the physicality of the game.  Edwards, from Grand Rapids, was the star here when the Chippewas were a NAIA power and can jump through the roof but was nowhere near big enough for the Mighty MAC. Seniors Dave Nelson, Ken Van Dyke and Glenn Stuart have almost went the way of the Dodo Bird as teams just do not play many 6’5 post players anymore.  Two years ago this trio rotated in up front and performed admirably against that level of competition but they are way out of their depth here though with a 13 man traveling roster Parfitt will almost for sure keep them around for security. Stuart might not still be around however as he is the # 1 guy on the Golf team and once spring hits in Central Michigan he will be on the course.  Seniors Gary Lee and Chuck Smith are in the same boat.  One time scoring champs here they are now relegated to deep bench work because after all 5’7 shooting guards (Lee) do not play in D-1.  Juniors Paul Botts and Dave Grauzier, however, will most definitely have roles unless the fresh-faced recruits Parfitt is bringing aboard pass them on the ole Chippewa totem pole.  Botts is a 6’4 wing who can scored and defend and though he is not overly athletic can help from the perimeter. Grauzier played often last year after transferring in from Detroit of Mercy and will again this year.  He is a natural point guard who is the best passer on the roster and with his size he can defend bigger guards.  He might not beat out Iverson but Parfett saw potential there and this coach is not afraid to pull the trigger on the transfer portal.  He has at least three back court kids coming to Mount Pleasant through transfers and has even ‘stole’ a 6’9 260 pound big man (Mike Robinson) from the Wolverines.  Yes, even Michigan will lose players in this process but they are not complaining as they have supposedly brought in the best recruiting class in the country (dubbed the Fab 5) with a post player that might be the best ever at that prodigious school and that is indeed saying something. 

Coach Dick Parfitt, who once was a stud here and bleeds maroon and gold, knows how to find talent.  Parfitt is a great recruiter who knows how to find superb talent other programs miss for a variety of reasons.  He is not afraid to beat the bushes and give some kids a chance to play (he found Ben Kelso who became his star at a city rec game after he was already married with a child and 21 years old) and get an education at a major University and go to a beautiful campus in Mount Pleasant.  It may not be Ann Arbor but these Chippewas are proud of their heritage and know they have something special with this team.  What started as a half-filled arena renowned for its throwing toilet paper to stop the games has become a SRO only place to be in Mt. Pleasant knowing you are watching something special simmering right in front of your eyes.  The best thing about this program is virtually the entire team is coming back.  And somehow Parfitt has brought in the perfect balance of big post players and superb wings.  All he was missing was a point guard to run the team and he found one of those like he always does, beating the bushes of a JUCO just up the road.  They should be one of the favorites to win the MAC and who knows from there.  They definitely have the team to make some of the bigger programs a little worried and with the schedule they have coming up maybe these Chippewas will finally get the recognition they believe they deserve!