KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan men's basketball team begins a new era on Monday night as it takes the floor for its first game under new head coach Dwayne Stephens at Minnesota.
 

GAME INFO

Matchup: Western Michigan (0-0) at Minnesota (0-0)

Date/Time: Monday, Nov. 7 – 9 pm (EST)

Site: Williams Arena (Minneapolis, Minn.)

Radio: Bronco Media Network

Video: BTN+

Live Stats: SIDEARM

OPENING TIP

• Western Michigan basketball begins a new era on Monday evening as new head coach Dwayne Stephens takes the helm for his first game in charge of WMU.
• Stephens was hired as the 15th head coach in program history back in April.
• Western Michigan knocked off Kalamazoo College 82-59 in an exhibition game at University Arena back on Nov. 2. 
• WMU brings back 64.8% of its scoring from a year ago, led by the MAC's top scorer from last season, Lamar Norman Jr., who averaged 19.8 points per game.
• The Broncos also return Markeese Hastings, who finished second in the MAC in rebounding at 8.8 per game in 2021-22. 
• Monday's game marks the first all-time meeting between WMU and Minnesota.
• The Golden Gophers are the first of two Big Ten opponents on WMU's 2022-23 schedule (Dec. 30 at Wisconsin).
• The last win for the Broncos against a Big Ten foe was at Michigan on Nov. 30, 2002.

A NEW ERA
Western Michigan begins its 2022-23 season on Monday night as it travels to Big Ten country to face Minnesota. The Broncos are led by new head coach Dwayne Stephens, who became the 15th head coach in program history back in April after spending nearly two decades on head coach Tom Izzo's staff at his alma mater, Michigan State. 

FOR STARTERS
Heading into Monday, the Broncos have won five of their last six season openers. WMU has opened on the road just twice in the last seven seasons. The last time Western Michigan opened up the season away from home and came out victorious was a neutral site victory over New Mexico State in Hawaii to begin the 2013-14 campaign. 

FULL PLATE NOVEMBER
The Broncos open the season with eight games in the month of November, which makes it one game shy of its busiest month of the season (WMU will play nine times in January). The first two weeks in particular are packed, as Western Michigan will play six games, just one of which will be at home, during the first two weeks of the season. 

LAST TIME OUT
Western Michigan concluded the 2021-22 season with a one-point loss to Ball State, 64-63, on Senior Night at University Arena. Three players scored in double-figures for WMU, led by Mack Smith, who's 16 points tied his highest total for the Broncos in his final game in the Brown & Gold. Markeese Hastings chipped in 13 points and 12 rebounds to secure his fourth double-double.

WMU VS THE BIG TEN
The 2022-23 campaign marks the fifth straight season in which Western Michigan will face at least one opponent from the Big Ten. As WMU and Minnesota meet for the first time ever on Monday night, the Broncos will be in search of their first victory over a Big Ten foe since a 56-52 road triumph at Michigan on Nov. 30, 2002. In addition to the Golden Gophers, Western Michigan is also set to travel to Wisconsin for its final non-conference game on Dec. 30. 

FAMILIAR TERRITORY
New WMU coach Dwayne Stephens had a lot of success against Minnesota while on staff at MSU. During his 19 seasons, the Spartans were 28-6 against the Golden Gophers, including a 12-3 record in Minneapolis. 

SCORIN' NORMAN
Lamar Norman Jr. led the MAC in scoring at 19.8 points per game, and in conference play at 20.8 per contest, last season on his way to an All-MAC Third Team selection. In doing so, he became the first WMU player to lead the MAC in scoring since David Brown paced the league at 19.1 per game in 2013-14. Norman also made a league-high 3.4 three-pointers per contest. He was named to the Preseason All-MAC First Team, giving the Broncos a Preseason All-Conference honoree for the second straight season (B. Artis White, Second Team in 2021-22). 

MAKING HIS MARK
Markeese Hastings ranked in the top-10 of the MAC in several categories, including rebounding (2nd, 8.8), offensive rebounding (4th, 3.0), defensive rebounding (2nd, 5.8) and field goal percentage (7th, .505). In league play, Hastings was second in the MAC at 9.8 rebounds per game, and his 18 rebounds at Toledo on Dec. 29 tied for the highest single-game total by a MAC player.

THE GODWIN HEIGHTS CONNECTION
Former Godwin Heights HS teammates Lamar Norman Jr. and Markeese Hastings were all over the MAC leaderboards and the national rankings as well last season. Norman ranked 24th nationally in points per game (19.8), 11th in made three-pointers per game (3.4) and 19th in total threes made (101). Hastings finished the year 34th in 
rebounds per game (8.8) and 37th in offensive rebounds per game (3.0).

360 AND COUNTING
WMU has made at least one three-pointer in 360 straight games dating back to 2011. 

HALFTIME LEADS TURN INTO W'S
WMU owns a 49-20 record over the last four seasons when leading going into halftime.

ON THE HORIZON
Western Michigan begins its 2022-23 home slate on Thursday as it welcomes Goshen College to University Arena for a 7 pm tip.