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LOCATION: Kalamazoo, MI
CONFERENCE: Mid-American (West)
LAST SEASON: 11-15 (.423)
CONFERENCE RECORD: 6-12 (4th)
STARTERS LOST/RETURNING: 2/3
NICKNAME: Broncos
COLORS: Brown & Gold
HOMECOURT: University Arena (5,800)
COACH: Bob Donewald (Hanover '64)
record at school 141-137 (10 years)
career record 349-258 (21 years)
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ASSISTANTS: Kirk Manns (Michigan State '91)
Chris Davis (Michigan '83)
Christian Wilson (Northern Michigan '92)
TEAM WINS: (last 5 years) 14-15-14-21-11
RPI (last 5 years) 128-104-145-53-156
1998-99 FINISH: Did not qualify for postseason.
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Western Michigan fell hard after its 1998 NCAA Tournament appearance. Losing the top three scorers from that team proved too much to overcome and the Broncos struggled to their first losing record since 1990-91. Things started to go downhill when forward Isaac Bullock, one of two seniors on last year's team, was diagnosed with diabetes during the summer. Bullock (9.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg) had a good senior season but never played up to his potential. The other senior, center Shaun Jackson (11.1 ppg, 8.5 rpg), was plagued by injuries that included a broken foot, sprained knee and a pulled groin muscle. Western Michigan was hoping for much more from its senior leaders. Add to that the mysterious midseason departure of promising sophomore guard Kylo Jones (14.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg), who abruptly left the squad on Jan. 15. Jones said his reasons for leaving were strictly personal and he had no ill feelings toward Western Michigan. That's nice, but it didn't help the Broncos. "It was a very difficult season for us," coach Bob Donewald said.
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Blue Ribbon Analysis |
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BACKCOURT B BENCH/DEPTH C
FRONTCOURT C INTANGIBLES C
Bob Donewald got just about as much as he could out of last year's graduation-riddled and injury-depleted roster. "Our kids played with heart and determination," he said. "What I'm happiest about is the effort our players gave at both ends of the floor." Western Michigan, however, joined with Eastern Michigan to make MAC history as the only schools to go to the NCAA Tournament one year, then not even qualify for the league tournament the next. That won't happen again, as a revamped format for the MAC Tournament includes all 13 schools. Besides, Western Michigan should be a better ballclub. Getting to the tournament is the easy part. Winning it is another matter. "Miami may be down a little, but everybody else will be better," Donewald said. "Kent has just about everybody back, so does Marshall and Akron, and Northern Illinois gets T.T. Lux, who missed the whole season with leg problems. There won't be a patsy in the league." Western Michigan is counting on a lot of newcomers to surround proven performers Tony Barksdale and Rod Brown. How quickly the newest residents of Kalamazoo adjust to the NCAA Division I level and chemistry develops are critical factors. |
The year wasn't without its bright moments, however. Western Michigan beat rival Michigan from the Big Ten Conference for the second consecutive season. The Broncos, who failed to qualify for the Mid-American Conference tournament, scraped out regular-season victories against Kent the MAC Tournament winner Marshall and Ball State while losing to Miami (Ohio) by one point. Along the way Western Michigan recorded the 1,000th victory in school history. And 6-2 senior guard Tony Barksdale developed into one of the MAC's top performers. Barksdale (17.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg) was a transfer from Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College who almost immediately became the Broncos' go-to guy on offense and was chosen honorable mention All-MAC. Barksdale had big scoring games of 30 against Buffalo and Kent, 29 against Miami (Ohio) and 25 against Ball State and Ohio. He was Western Michigan's leading scorer for the year and in 15 games. Barksdale finished sixth in MAC scoring and was among the leaders in free-throw percentage (.765, eighth), field-goal percentage (.430, 10th) and three-point field goal percentage (.333, 11th). Point guard Rod Brown (7.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg), a 6-1 senior, reached double figures in eight games. Brown was second in the conference in assists (5.0) and third in steals (2.1) He had 51 steals, only six shy of the school record. Thadus Williams (8.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg) was a big reason the Broncos shattered the school record for free-throw shooting (.766). Williams, a 6-4 senior, hit 55-of-59 free throws (school-record 93.2 percent) and had two strings of 21 consecutive made free throws. The other seniors are 6-7 Brad Van Timmeren (5.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg) and 6-9, 240-pound Emil Mulic (6.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg). Van Timmeren was redshirted as a freshman and has since played in all 83 games the last three seasons. Mulic started a dozen games last season. Donewald will also take a look at 6-4 junior Bronson Nichols (0.6 ppg, 0.6 rpg), who started three times, and 6-3 junior Tony Collins (0.2 ppg, 0.6 rpg). Two redshirt freshmen, both with abundant size, have the opportunity to work into the picture. Thomas Haskell, 6-10, 260 (Alexander HS/Albany, Ohio), averaged 18.5 points, 15.0 rebounds and six blocked shots as a high school senior. Jesse Slauter, 6-8, 220 (Northwest HS/Cincinnati), averaged 17.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 6.0 blocks. Western Michigan added size and athletic ability with a potentially strong recruiting class. Junior-college transfer Virgil Singleton (Arizona Western College) is a 6-0 junior who adds depth at both guard positions. Singleton (15.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 6.9 apg) led the Matadors to a 26-8 record and 10th place in the NJCAA national tournament. He was a starter in every game at point guard, "Virgil Singleton is an excellent perimeter scorer," Donewald said. As a high school player, Singleton (Edmundson HS/Baltimore) led the city with a 29.0 average. Transfer forward Jon Powell (Owens CC/Toledo, Ohio) was a Division II junior-college All-American. The 6-5 Powell (22.0 ppg, 6.6 rpg) finished seventh in the nation in scoring while leading Owens to a fifth-place national finish. Detroit native and 6-7, 225-pound junior transfer Bobby Brand is an athletic player from Holy Redeemer High School and McCook (Neb.) Community College. He averaged 13.4 points and 8.0 rebounds last season. "Bobby's size and strength gives us additional inside scoring and rebounding," Donewald said. "But he also possessess the ability to step out on the floor and shoot the ball. That will allow us more versatility." Brand (14.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg) previously played at Fullerton (Calif.) Junior College as a freshman. While a senior in high school, 6-6, 260-pound transfer Rob Watson (Raytown South HS/Grandview, Mo.) finished second to Larry Hughes of the Philadelphia 76ers in Missouri's Mr. Basketball voting. Watson (20.1 ppg, 9.9 rpg) played last year at Kansas City (Kan.) Community College. He is expected to be a physical presence on the court. Also joining the Broncos is 6-7 freshman forward Taylor Bro (Rockford HS/Rockford, Mich.), who finished seventh in Michigan Mr. Basketball voting. Bro (22.0 ppg, 11.0 rpg) made the Class B all-state first team. Freshman guard K.C. Cavette joins the program after a year of prep school (Cheshire Academy/Flint, Mich.) in which he averaged 18.0 points and 7.3 assists. Cavette was a second-team all-state player at Flint Northern High School, where he averaged 17.4 points and 8.0 assists.
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