Men's Basketball | November 04, 2016

KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Both the Western Michigan men's and women's basketball teams will take the floor on Saturday, Nov. 5 in exhibition, as fans have a chance to get a final preseason look at both squads. The Bronco women host Alma College at 12:30 p.m. and the WMU men's team follows with their exhibition against Kalamazoo College at 3 p.m. Later in the evening, the WMU volleyball team hosts Eastern Michigan in University Arena at 8 p.m. in the spikers' final home game of 2016.
 
Tickets for the women's basketball exhibition are general admission $6 and chairback seating $8. Admission to the men's basketball exhibition is $10 for all seating areas. As part of the doubleheader special, a purchased women's basketball ticket can be redeemed at halftime for admission to the men's game as well. Due to the contests being exhibition, the games will not be aired on ESPN3 or the Bronco Radio Network.
 
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL NOTES
The Broncos bring back one full-time starter from a year ago in senior Meredith Shipman, who started all 32 games. Just 41-percent of WMU's total starts will be returning this season, as Jessica Jessing, Deborah Meeks, Alex Morton, and Miracle Woods finished up their careers at the end of last season. Including Shipman, WMU brings back six players that started at least one game last season with sophomore Breanna Mobley (16), junior Teagan Reeves (12), junior LaTondra Brooks (2), junior Najee Smith (2) and junior Alexis Parks (1).
 
Also returning for WMU are sophomores Meredith Miller, Deja Wimby and Logan McCane, who appeared in 26, 24 and 22 games, respectively. Expected to make a large impact this season is Cincinnati transfer Marley Hill, who redshirted last season due to NCAA transfer rules. Junior Aneisha Carlisle, who did not appear in any games last season, will also be returning after receiving playing time in 2014-15.
 
Last season, the Broncos finished 17-15 overall and 8-10 in the MAC, good for fifth in the MAC West. WMU opened up the season 7-3, with all three losses coming against top-25 teams (#24 Michigan State, #20 Northwestern, #8 Mississippi State). The Broncos went on the road and defeated the eventual MAC Tournament Champions in Buffalo (92-78) on Jan. 20, 2016. WMU earned the No. 7 seed in the MAC Tournament, knocking out Northern Illinois in the opening round 94-52, the largest win in the school history in a MAC Tournament game. Jessica Jessing went on to be named to the All-MAC Honorable Mention team.
 
Western Michigan is 34-20 when playing at University Arena under head coach Shane Clipfell, including an impressive 12-2 record in the 2014-15 season. Clipfell's team has never finished with a below .500 home record in four seasons. In 2015-16, the Broncos opened with a perfect 7-0 record at home and finished the home season with a 94-52 win over Northern Illinois in the MAC Tournament.
 
The WMU women officially open the 2016-17 season on Nov. 13 against Davidson at home at 1 p.m. The Broncos then play host to 2016 NCAA Tournament team Michigan State on Friday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. before traveling to Michigan on Nov. 21 for a 7 p.m. tip against the Wolverines.

MEN'S BASKETBALL NOTES
The Western Michigan men's basketball team returns six letterwinners, two redshirt freshmen and brings in seven true freshmen for 2016-17. Tucker Haymond is the lone returning senior and averaged 15.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game last year. Point guard Thomas Wilder and center Drake LaMont are the returning juniors while the sophomore class consists of center Seth Dugan and guards Bryce Moore and Josh Davis.
 
Joeviair Kennedy and Ryan Wade are the returning redshirts, unfortunately Wade will miss the season after suffering a knee injury in the preseason. The freshmen class consists of 6-4 guard Jared Printy, 5-11 guard Jarrin Randall, 5-10 guard Brandon Allen, 6-5 wingman Reggie Jones, 6-6 forward Adidia Ikongshul, 6-8 forward Brandon Johnson and 6-8 center Maxwell Omili.
 
Wilder is the top returning scorer, averaging 18.0 ppg through all games combined last season, while dishing out 98 assists and recording 52 steals on his way to Second Team All-Mid-American Conference honors. Wilder has been tabbed a First Team All-MAC selection this preseason.
 
The Broncos are coming off a 13-19 record last season and lost three seniors from that squad. WMU's 13-win season however may not properly reflect the level of play for the Broncos, who battled throughout the season and fell at the wire in a number of close games. Fourteen of WMU's 19 losses in 2015-16 were by 10 points or less, including four in overtime. Ten of WMU's losses were by six points or less, seven games by four points or less and WMU had two one-point losses.
 
Western Michigan is under the direction of head coach Steve Hawkins, who is entering his 14th season. Hawkins has led the Brown & Gold to two MAC Tournament Championships, two MAC regular season championships and seven MAC West titles in his tenure. Overall, the Broncos are 146-40 (.785) against opponents in Kalamazoo under Hawkins, including an 85-25 (.773) mark against conference opposition and a 61-15 (.803) record against non-conference opponents.
 
The Bronco men's season officially begins with a home game against Marygrove on Friday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. WMU travels to Rochester, Mich., for its first away game, Nov. 14, renewing the series with in-state Horizon League counterparts Oakland. Other highlights of the non-conference schedule includes three games at the ESPN Gildan Charleston Classic, where the Broncos will take on defending national champion Villanova; as well as a west coast trip that features Washington and UCLA.