KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan men's basketball team tips off its 2021-22 season on Wednesday night as it welcomes Hope College to University Arena. Tip is set for 7 pm. Tickets are available at wmubroncos.com/tickets, or by calling 1-888-4-WMU-TIX.
GAME INFO
Matchup: Western Michigan vs. Hope College
Date/Time: Wednesday, Nov. 10 – 7 pm
Site: University Arena (Kalamazoo, Mich.)
Radio: Bronco Radio Network
Video: ESPN3
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
OPENING TIP
· Western Michigan opens up its 2021-22 season on Wednesday night at University Arena against Hope College.
· Nine players will be suiting up for the Broncos for the first time, four incoming transfers and five true freshmen.
· Western Michigan is coming off of a 77-47 win over Kalamazoo College in an exhibition on Saturday.
· Gus Etchison netted a team-high 16 points off of the bench for the Broncos, while Lamar Norman Jr. added 12.
· WMU lost its 2020-21 season opener at Butler, ending a four-game winning streak in season openers for the Broncos.
· Hope went 7-5 in 2020-21 and is playing Wednesday's game as an exhibition. The Flying Dutchmen begin their regular season on Friday at Illinois Wesleyan.
· The series between WMU and Hope dates back to the 1913-14 season.
· The last meeting between the two was an 80-58 Broncos win on Nov. 30, 2011.
FOR STARTERS
Western Michigan begins its 2021-22 season on Wednesday night against Hope College. WMU has won four of its last five season openers, and 10 straight home openers.
TUNING UP
In its final tune-up before regular season play, the Broncos cruised past Kalamazoo College, 77-47, last Saturday at University Arena. Western Michigan went on a 12-0 run late in the first half and never looked back. Freshman Gus Etchison scored a team-high 16 points off of the bench, while Lamar Norman Jr. added 12 for WMU. All 14 Broncos saw action, with 11-of-14 scoring and 13-of-14 grabbing at least one rebound.
WMU VS HOPE
The series between WMU and Hope dates back to Western Michigan's first season of varsity basketball, 1913-14. The Broncos and Flying Dutchmen have not played since an 80-58 Broncos win on Nov. 30, 2011.
SCOUTING THE FLYING DUTCHMEN
Hope College went 7-5 during an abbreviated 2020-21 season and is coming off of an 82-58 win over Chicago in an exhibition contest back on Oct. 29. Wednesday's game is set to be the final exhibition for the Flying Dutchmen before their regular season tips off on Friday night at Illinois Wesleyan.
BACK IN BROWN
Western Michigan has five returning players from its 2020-21 team, with B. Artis White (19 GP/17 GS), Titus Wright (18 GP/16 GS), Adrian Martin (20 GP, 11 GS), Josiah Freeman (20 GP/4 GS) and Danny Kolp (11 GP/1 GS) back in the fold. White averaged a team-best 14.3 PPG last season and was an All-MAC Honorable selection. Wright is the top returning rebounder from a year ago at 5.4 per game.
HI, MY NAME IS...
Of the 14 players on Western Michigan's roster, nine are new to the program for the 2021-22 season. Second-year head coach Clayton Bates brought in four transfers and five true freshmen in the offseason, all of whom will be suiting up for the first time as Broncos on Wednesday night.
WHITE HONORED BY MAC
Western Michigan guard B. Artis White was selected to the Preseason All-MAC Second Team, the league office announced last week. An All-MAC Honorable Mention selection last season, White was WMU's leading scoring at 14.3 points per game. He enters the 2021-22 campaign just two points shy of reaching 500 in his career as a Bronco.
B MAKES THE THREES
Last season, B. Artis White was one of the most prolific three-point shooters in the Mid-American Conference, averaging 2.9 made threes per game, fourth-most in the league. The Canton, Mich., native hit 44.1 percent of his triple tries, the four-highest percentage in the conference. White enters the 2021-22 season having made at least one three-pointer in 19 straight games.
THE WRIGHT STUFF
Titus Wright was a big presence inside for Western Michigan last season. The Thomasville, Ga., native shot 55.6 percent from the floor, the fourth-highest field goal percentage in the MAC. Wright was second on the team with three double-doubles, and is the leading returning rebounder for WMU, having averaged 5.4 per game last season.
BRINGING THE DEFENSE
During the 2020-21 campaign, the Broncos were one of four teams to rank in the top half of the MAC in scoring defense (3rd), opponent field goal percentage (6th) and opponent three-point percentage (5th).
HALFTIME LEADS TURN INTO W'S
The Broncos enter the 2021-22 season having gone 45-15 over the last three campaigns when leading at halftime.
329 AND COUNTING
WMU has made at least one three-pointer in 329 straight games, dating back to 2011.
ON THE HORIZON
It will be a quick turnaround for WMU after Wednesday's season opener, as the Broncos are set to visit Michigan State on Friday night. It will be the third straight year that the Broncos and Spartans have met.
