YPSILANTI — The long and winding road there are too many twist and turns along the way you might never believe that you will ever arrive at home.
Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball coach Rob Murphy and the Eagles are in the middle of a nine game road swing that takes the Eagles from the mountains of New York, the flat farm fields of the Midwest, down the famed Tobacco Road that stretches through the Atlantic Coast Conference, continuing through the sunny state of California and finally ending the grueling nine game road trip by opening the 2012 Mid-American Conference basketball season at Northern Illinois University.
The last time the Eagles played a game in front of a friendly crowd at the friendliest basketball arena in the Mid-American Conference way back on November 27 against Michigan State University at the Convocation Center and despite the 72-40, setback against the Spartans, the Eagles were playing with a winning record.
Since the world keeps on turning and the basketball season continues for Eastern Michigan University, the grind of the season suddenly is becoming a long road trip.
The first game of a nine game road trip began in the northeast corner and inside the state of New York.
Leaving the city of Syracuse, New York and right now the No.1 team across the nation, the Eagles left behind at the Carrier Dome a 84-48 defeat by Syracuse University.
Murphy’s old boss and mentor the legendary basketball coach Jim Boeheim said that he felt his team had to work hard against the Eagles.
“I thought Rob (Murphy) did a tremendous job with just slowing down the and keeping control of the game,” Boeheim said about facing Murphy. “He is a great coach and he is a great guy. I really love the guy. They played great tonight and we obviously have some more personnel.”
The next stop for the Eagles on the Empire State tour, a visit to the quaint town of Hamilton, New York and the beautiful campus of Colgate University.
The Eagles faced a good Red Raider team and even senior guard Darrell Lampley contribution of 37 points could not take a victory away from Colgate University. The Red Raiders defeated the Eagles 74-70 at Reid Center continuing the home court excellence for Colgate University.
Eastern Michigan University’s Magical Mystery Tour continues across the Mississippi River and across the flat fertile farmland of Iowa and then back across the river and back into the state of Indiana but first the game against Drake University located in the city of Des Moines, Iowa.
The game’s outcome for the Eagles came during the conclusion of the second half against the Bulldogs. The Eagles only able to score 26 points and dropped a 66-53 decision to Drake University.
The good news for the Eagles is that the Bulldog offense could not establish a rhythm against the Eagles 2-3 zone defense.
“It is tough to play with any sort of pace against a 2-3 zone,” Drake University basketball coach Mark Phelps said. “We wanted to get the ball into the high post area and when we got those catches I thought good things happen.”
Eastern Michigan University’s Derrick Thompson made six three point shots and Lampley led all scores with 20 points but the Eagles could not overcome 31 percent from the field in the second half to keep up the pressure on the Bulldogs.
Leaving the plowed cornfields of Iowa, Eastern Michigan University the next stop for the Eagles a chance to play a game inside the famous Mackey Arena and the Boilermakers of Purdue University, Saturday December 10, 2011.
The experience playing against Purdue turned out to be a type of Boilermaker revenge for the Eagles. Eastern Michigan University offense failed to get off of the bus and the Eagles looked like they were a team off of the road and out of gas.
Purdue University defeated Eastern Michigan University 61-36, the Eagles put up 23 shots in the second half and only made five buckets and left the court at the end of the game scoring just 14 points in the half.
The losing streak is at five games and the next stop on the journey for the Eagles is a trip down Tobacco Road and the state of Virginia.
Stopping in the town of Radford Virginia on Dec. 20 to play Radford University before traveling to Blacksburg to play from the Atlantic Coast Conference Virginia Tech University on Thursday evening Dec. 22, 2011.
The road games do not end for the Eagles after making the two game swing through the state of Virginia, Eastern Michigan University will make an appearance in the legendary west coast basketball tournament the Cable Car Classic.
The tournament will be played December 28-29, 2011 and hosted by Santa Clara University in California.
Eastern Michigan University can play the 2-3 zone defense, it does push the opposing offense to the perimeter but the Eagles defense fail to get rebounds and also give up too many second chances.
Murphy is watching his team’s offense struggle with consistency, one night they look good and the next night the Eagles are fighting the game looking for a basket.
Murphy says this is something to be expected because of the new system but he does see his team making improvement during practice.
The Eagles are learning that playing on the road is a tough assignment and wins are hard to achieve a lesson they will have all ready learn when they begin playing in the Mid-American Conference.
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Written by Mel Suiter
Graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 2002 and have been working as a beat writer for The Ypsilanti Courier covering Eastern Michigan University football and men's basketball during my school career and after graduation.
I like the Mid-American Conference and the rest of the mid-major conferences.
