• Blog
  • About Us
  • Links
  MAC Reporter Online

MRO PRE-LAUNCH CHECK:  Western Michigan

1/3/2015

 
With Mid-American Conference basketball teams about to launch their MAC schedules, MAC Reporter Online takes a look at what they’ve done in non-conference play. 

Team: Western Michigan Broncos
Coach: Steve Hawkins
Record Last year:  23-10, 14-4 MAC
Early 2014-15 record: 8-4

*All rankings/stats are among MAC teams unless otherwise noted:


Standout big man Shayne Whittington (Indiana Pacers) is gone, but when guard David Brown was granted another year of eligibility, it meant the Western Michigan Broncos would once again be a major player in Mid-American Conference basketball this season.

The Broncos shared a MAC West title last year and then thumped West co-champ Toledo, 98-77, in the conference tourney title game. Brown had a big part in that game, which put WMU in the NCAA tournament for the first time in 10 years. But then, Brown played a big part in many things over the course of a season in which he led the league scorers with a 19.1 ppg average.

Three other solid starters are also returning, so opponents have plenty to worry about once again. If the Broncos can work out kinks in the center position and tweak a few other things (e.g. turnovers), they should be right there in the hunt. Of course, so will several others as the MAC West should be particularly strong this year.

So, how has it been going for WMU thus far?

(CLICK READ MORE TO CONTINUE . . . )
--  Two of the Broncos four losses came on a late November trip to California for the Wooden Legacy. San Diego (77-70) and Long Beach State (73-55) handed WMU back to back losses. However, Western gave USD a little payback by pulling out a come-from-behind 68-66 win when the two teams met again almost a week later. Brown scored the winning buck -- part of an 8-0 run -- with one second left.

-- Western Michigan ranks 27th nationally in field goal percentage. It’s 48.3 percentage is second in the MAC, one spot behind Central Michigan (49.6).

-- The Broncos are next-to-last in field goal defense. Opponents are connecting on 45.1 percent of their attempts.

-- WMU’s 73.6 ppg production is third in the conference while it is 10th in scoring defense (68.1%). That leaves the Broncos seventh in scoring margin (5.5 ppg).

-- Western is eighth in 3-point goal attempts (210), but it is nonetheless fairly successful when it does, connecting on 40.5 percent (second in MAC). Of course, opponents are also doing well in that department as the Broncos are last in 3-point goal defense (36.5%).

-- WMU ranks fourth in free throws made (186 total, 15.5 per game) and fifth in free throw percentage (71.8%). Opponents have converted 178 tosses (14.83 per contest).

--  Forward Connar Tava is third in MAC scoring (13.8 ppg). Brown is ninth with a 13.8 ppg average. Others in double figures are Tucker Haymond (12.8 ppg) and Austin Richie (11.8 ppg). All four are returning starters from last year’s title team.

-- Drake Lamont a 6-10 freshman center, is averaging 4.8 points and 3.8 rebounds. Sophomore forward Kellen McCormick (6-8) has a 5.9 ppg average and is pulling down 1.6 rebounds per outing. Both are potential parts in effort to fill at least some of the departed Whittington’s contributions. That project is very much a work in progress as WMU is last in blocked shots (1.83).

-- Western Michigan ranks 11th in rebounding (30.4), trailing only Miami (29.2). However, the Broncos are tied for first in rebounds allowed (30.3 rpg).

-- The Broncos average 2.17 turnovers (fifth) and are third in assist/turnover ratio (1.08).

-- The Broncos open MAC play Tuesday, Jan. 6 at Akron. The two teams last met in last year’s MAC tourney semi-final, with Western pulling out a 64-60 overtime victory.


Comments are closed.
    Picture

    MAC Football 

    MAC FOOTBALL 
    2024
    REGULAR SEASON
    FINAL STANDINGS
    CLICK HERE

    Picture
    MAC Basketball 
    MAC BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

    MAC BASKETBALL
    STATISTICS

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Basketball
    Football
    Other

    Archives

    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

Proudly powered by Weebly