Feature special to wmubroncos.com by Paul Morgan

Is it better to be the hunter or the hunted?

Western Michigan sophomore forward Brandon Johnson might have put it the best. The Broncos will be the hunted coming into the 2017-18 men's basketball season as they won eight games in a row at the end of the regular season to win the Mid-American Conference West Division. WMU won its first game in the MAC postseason tournament before being edged by Ball State.

''It's a good feeling to be the hunted because if no one is gunning for you, you aren't doing anything right,'' he said.

That's a player's perspective. From a coach's point of view, it's a little different.

''It's nice to be the hunted and expectations are a good thing,'' Western Michigan head coach Steve Hawkins said. ''In polls, one team is picked to win it, but it's the same speech by the other coaches every year.

''I'm going to say the target is on our back. The other 11 coaches will say, 'Fellas, we're disrespected, they aren't expecting much, so we have to get them.' I've used that speech before, but it doesn't matter. We have to play the games.''

For Western Michigan, the games start with 6-3 senior point guard Thomas Wilder. The first-team All-MAC pick averaged 19.3 points and 3.8 assists per game last season in leading the Broncos to a 16-16 record and 11-7 record in the MAC. Wilder declared for the NBA Draft this past spring but then decided to withdraw his named to return to WMU for his senior season.

''This past draft was loaded with point guards and I just wanted to give myself a chance at the next level,'' he said. ''We have a great chance of winning the MAC championship and that's my ultimate goal, to win a championship and leave as a champion.''

Oddly enough, Hawkins was urging Wilder to go pro.

''People think I'm crazy when I say this, but I wish he would have gone to the NBA,'' Hawkins said. ''We're in the business of helping kids achieve their dreams and I wish it would have worked out for Thomas last year.

''Most of the publications have him the Player of the Year in the MAC, and to have it at point guard is critical.''

This isn't just the Thomas Wilder Show, though. Western Michigan returns four others with starting experience in Johnson (6-8 sophomore forward), Reggie Jones (6-6 sophomore guard/forward), Bryce Moore (6-2 junior guard) and Seth Dugan (7-foot junior center).

The second senior on the team is Drake LaMont (6-10 center). Josh Davis (6-5 guard/forward) is the team's third junior class member. The other sophomores are Jared Printy (6-4 guard), Jarrin Randall (5-11 guard) and Adida Ikongshul (6-6 forward). The freshmen are T.J. Clifford (6-5 forward), Michael Flowers (6-2 guard), Kyle McDermed (6-2 guard) and Jason Whitens (6-5 guard).

Johnson averaged over eight points and a team-high 5.5 rebounds per game last year. Now he has a year under his belt.

''I have a more mature outlook on things this season,'' he said. ''This is not going to be as much a learning experience because there was a lot thrown at me last year as a freshman.''

He will be a key part for Western Michigan as he's working on more of an overall game where last year he played a lot of back-to-the-basket game.

''I'm working on my ball handling and perimeter game this year,'' Johnson said. ''Those parts weren't lacking last year, but I didn't have as much of an opportunity to use them.''

Added Hawkins: ''Brandon is going to be a huge key for us and he's going to be featured more in our offense as will Reggie. Thomas, Brandon and Reggie are proven scorers.''

Jones didn't have much of a chance to play in Western Michigan's 'Breakfast with the Broncos' first practice of the season this past Saturday as he is recuperating from an injury.

Hawkins likes the versatility Johnson brings to each game.

''He's silky smooth, has a 15-foot shot, a back-to-the-basket game, a midrange game and can shoot the 3,'' the coach said. "The midrange game is something of a lost art.''

Even with the starting experience returning, Hawkins doesn't have a starting five in mind.

'We have depth,'' he said. ''If we know we have a top nine, there might be a freshman in there early or we may have an experienced guy coming in from the bench to calm the guys down.

''If you really want to know how we feel about the players, look at who is on the floor at the end of the game, not the beginning. I could care less about the starters.''

As far as being the hunter vs. the hunted.

''Growing up, I was always the underdog, but it doesn't matter to me,'' Wilder said. ''Either way, we're going to work hard in practice.

''It's a process and we're willing to do the process to reach our ultimate goal.''

The Broncos open up the season with exhibition games against Lourdes University on Oct. 29 and Kalamazoo College on Nov. 4. Both contests are set for 2:00 p.m. WMU begins the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 2:00 p.m. versus Siena Heights College inside University Arena.