KALAMAZOO, Mich. - It's a whole new ball game for the Western Michigan men's basketball team this season.

A really new ballgame.

Four-year standout point guard Thomas Wilder is now playing professionally and center Drake Lamont also graduated from last year's team which went 17-15 overall and 9-9 in the Mid-American Conference.

That means a whole new set of leaders are ready to direct the Broncos for the 2018-19 season and that starts with seniors Josh Davis, Seth Dugan and Bryce Moore. However, Moore may miss the entire season with an injury and Davis and Dugan are also recovering from injuries.

''When you are a leader, people get used to hearing your voice which means you are on the floor and unfortunately, we haven't had any consistency yet with those guys being on the floor,'' said Western Michigan head coach Steve Hawkins. ''That is a bit of an issue.''

With six new players to get on the same page as the returners, that can be an issue.

However, there was some good news at WMU's annual Breakfast with the Broncos and first exhibition contest against Northwood University. Davis was running the floor and dunking as usual while Dugan was muscling down below and putting in some hook shots.

''Last year when I was hurt, I didn't practice and just played in games,'' Dugan said. ''It's been so much fun coming back to practice.''

Still…it's a team without Wilder, a player every opponent would focus on trying to slow down.

''It's still weird not seeing Thomas here,'' Davis said. ''I came in with him and he was like a big brother to me, a mentor, someone I could look up to.

''I have to step up and take his advice to the new guys, like staying true to yourself and work hard. I basically want to be a positive influence on the guys, to help them have that winning attitude.''

All the Broncos were showing that work ethic in the scrimmages as it didn't take long for everyone to be in a full sweat on the court.

''Everyone is enthusiastic, everyone is ready to learn and no one is thinking about themselves,'' Davis said. ''Everyone is focused on winning, making sure we get the best shot up.

''I have a great feeling about this team and its future.''

Davis averaged 10.7 points and a team-high 6.3 rebounds per game last season. He also had 39 assists, 21 blocked shots and 27 steals. Dugan only played in 23 games because of a foot injury, averaging 5.2 points and 4.1 rebounds.

''We brought in a group called The Program which is leadership training from our military and they worked with all the guys for two days,'' Hawkins said. ''They have been outstanding.

''If there is a group which needed it, it's this group because of all the new players. It's not just putting the onus on one or two guys to lead, it's everyone can be a leader because you have to hold yourself accountable as well as your teammates.

''It allows everyone to talk to each other and it also puts everyone in a position to listen. That's leadership.''

That's what Davis and Dugan what to do as much as anything…listen to their teammates.

''I just want to be a big brother to them, to be their best friend,'' Davis said. ''It's knowing that if they have anything they want to talk about outside of basketball or inside basketball, I'll be there for them.''

Dugan added: ''The freshman year is tough and we have guys from Canada and Los Angeles and we're just trying to make them feel a part of the family. It's not only about basketball, it's about being an outstanding citizen on and off the court and in the classroom.

''It's about building relationships and establishing relationships off the court. That creates trust and that is one of the most important things you can have as a leader is trust.''

The six new players are freshmen D.J. Houston, Adrian Martin, Luke Toliver, Patrick Emilien, William Boyer-Richard and sophomore Kawanise Wilkins. They join the three seniors, juniors Jared Printy, Adida Ikongshul and Brandon Johnson and sophomores, Michael Flowers, Jason Whitens and T.J. Clifford.

''No offense to Thomas because losing him is a bad thing, but I think our fans will see a difference in the team because we had been so Thomas Wilder centric over the past couple of years,'' Hawkins said. ''The ball was in his hands a lot.

''This team will share the ball more and the ball will move a lot more.''

At point guard, the returner behind Wilder last year was Flowers, ''and he's having a great preseason,'' the coach said. ''Boyer-Richard is very good, Martin is a combo guard and he can play. One of our walk-ons, Houston, is a tough, hard-nosed defender and will contend for playing time.''

Houston was the starting point guard for Crossroads High School in Santa Monica, Calif. He played with UCLA freshman Shareef O'Neal, the son of Shaquille O'Neal. The two helped Crossroads win the California Interscholastic Federation Class 2AA state championship last season.

''There is so much life in this team,'' Hawkins said. ''It's a very unselfish team and their natural instincts are to share the ball.''

Leaders like Davis, Dugan and Moore look to keep them on that track this season.