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What can we say about Chris Fowler that hasn't already been said? The 6-1, 195 pound co-captain from Southfield, Michigan, has been the key contributor in the Central Michigan roster for his entire tenure. Now the all-time assist leader in CMU history, Fowler helped the Chippewas to their run to the MAC title game against Buffalo last year. The First Team All-MAC honoree has his team on track to win the MAC title this year and enter the NCAA tournament for the Chips first time since 2003.
In Chippewa history, Fowler ranks 10th on CMU career points list (1,308), now ranks sixth in career steals (152), and among all active NCAA players, ranks 14th in assists per game (5.67). Even more impressively, he is 16th in assist/turnover ratio (2.06), as he continues to be smart with the ball in his hand and the game on the line. To highlight just one game, Fowler scored a career-high and McGuirk Arena record 42 points versus Bowling Green on February 4th, the most points scored by a Chippewa since Chris Kaman posted 43 against Ball State in 2003 and tied for eighth in the CMU record book. That 42-point performance was the most by any player in the nation that day, the most in the MAC in 2014-15 and tied for fifth-highest in Division I college basketball for the season.
In the game against Western Michigan on February 7, Fowler had 17 points and nine rebounds in front of a sellout crowd inside McGuirk Arena in a 70-65 win. He also had 24 points and seven assists in home win over Toledo on March 3rd, helping CMU claim a share of the MAC regular season championship and the MAC West title outright.
The Countdown
This past season, Fowler had earned the following awards:
- 2015 Bill Boyden Award winner
- 2015 First Team All-MAC
- 2015 First Team NABC All-District
- Finalist for the 2015 Lou Henson National Player of the Year Award
- 2015 MAC Player of the Year runner-up
- 2015 MAC All-Tournament Team
- Central Michigan All-Time Assist Leader (533)
- 2015 NABC Honors Court
- 2015 Academic All-MAC
Last season, Fowler posted double-figure efforts in 26 games, including 10 20-plus point games, explaining not only that he can assist his team, but he can also score as many points as he wants against opposing team. To add to that, he was among the MAC leaders in points (4th, 16.2), assist/turnover ratio (4th, 2.1), minutes played (4th, 34.2), steals (5th, 1.5) and field goal percentage (8th, .507). The co-captain of the Chippewas can do it all. Fowler's free throw shooting has also been around 68%, showing that this has been about the only struggling factor, if you believe it's not good.
In his career, Fowler has shot at 50%, and he has a chance to get his percentage even higher this season. His 3-point shooting is at 34%, showing that you can't forget about him behind the line because he can also beat you there. Ball handling has been a strong point for Fowler as well, as he will drive the lane and force one to foul him and get to the free throw line.
Other awards Fowler has earned:
- 2014 Second Team NABC All-District
- 2014 Third Team All-MAC
- 2014 Academic All-MAC
- Central Michigan All-Time Freshman Assist Leader (176)
Fowler has been the go-to guy for the Chippewas all throughout his career. Central will look to him for one last ride in the 2015-2016 season, as Fowler tries to add to already historic career, and maybe even begin a draft stock if he so chooses. The Detroit Country Day High School star, looks to finish off his senior season on a high note.