When a basketball team loses its top three scorers and leading rebounder from last season, an easy question is where are those points and rebounds going to come from this season?

For the Western Michigan University men's basketball team, those points and rebounds will be coming from everywhere in 2023-24. The Broncos open the regular season on Monday, Nov. 6, hosting North Dakota State. They also play at Ohio State on Nov. 19 and at Notre Dame on Dec. 5. WMU opens Mid-American Conference play on Jan. 2 at Miami.

"For us, a team can't come in and say they have to stop one guy," 6-foot, 4-inch sophomore guard Seth Hubbard said. "They have to stop the whole team and we have a lot of weapons."

Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro, a 6-4, sophomore guard, feels the same way.

"We have a lot of talent on the team so I feel someone could go for 20 points in one game, then someone else can get there the next game," he said. "A big thing with this team is we have a lot of talent so we could have a large rotation where everyone is going to get into the game."

A big place to start is point guard, where 5-10 redshirt junior B. Artis White returns after missing all of last season with an injury. In the 2021-22 season, he was second on the team with 39 assists and averaged 7.7 points per game.

With four good guards returning in White, Hubbard, De La Cruz Monegro and 6-4 sophomore JaVaughn Hannah, it could be a big strength of the team, according to second-year head coach Dwayne Stephens.

Last season, guards Lamar Norman Jr. averaged 17.3 points and Tray Maddox Jr. 12.5 points, with forward Markeese Hastings averaging 8.3 points and 9.3 rebounds. WMU led the Mid-American Conference in rebound margin, averaging 4.7 more boards per game than its opponents.

"B. Artis is back, being able to push the ball in transition and get others involved," Stephens said. "Jefferson had a heck of a spring and summer and is playing with more confidence.

"Seth is confident offensively and we're looking for him to expand his role to where he is good on both sides of the ball. Markhi Strickland (6-6 junior college transfer) has elite athletic ability, can score and draw fouls. JaVaughn played well for us last year and we're looking for him to continue where he left off, and walk-on Josh Thomas (6-6 freshman) is going to surprise some people."

Like every player, Hubbard is looking to take a big step forward this season.

"I'm looking to finish around the rim more, and making my teammates better has been the goal the coaches have been talking about," he said. "I'll do everything to help the team, rebounding and playing better defense on the other team's best player and holding him under his average is a main focus."

For De La Cruz Monegro, who was one of two players to start all 31 games for the Broncos in 2022-23 and played almost 20 minutes per game, "this season my pace is different, my confidence is different, the way I guard the ball and the way I rally my guys together is already different. This preseason, our team has been getting better and better every day."

Western Michigan's front line will look a bit different than last year. Senior Titus Wright, a 6-8 center, returns after averaging 8.0 points and 5.2 rebounds, which was second on the team. Owen Lobsinger (6-9 junior) and Max Burton (6-9 redshirt freshman) also return.

Graduate transfer Anthony Crump, a 6-8 forward who played for Northern Illinois last season and averaged 7.7 points and 5.1 rebounds, will grab his share of boards, too. Javonte Brown (7-foot redshirt sophomore center) transferred to Western Michigan from Texas A&M, however WMU is still waiting on an NCAA waiver so he can be eligible.

"Titus has the ability to score down there," Stephens said. "Sometimes he's too unselfish and we're encouraging him to take more shorts because he has good touch around the rim.

"Titus and Max both have really good touch around the rim. Owen had one of the best preseasons of anyone on the team. Anthony has length, athletic ability and should be one of our better defenders."

Stephens is looking for more growth in his second year at WMU.

"We're hoping to be able to defend better than we did last year and to take advantage of our size and length on the boards," he said. "Defense, rebound and run…that's what we preach.

"This team isn't one which is selfish. They enjoy sharing the ball with each other and we'll have to continue jelling, keep improving and go from there."

And hopefully that translates into moving up the MAC standings.

"Akron is being picked by many to win the league with Ohio, Kent State and Toledo in there," Stephens said. "There is room for us to move up this season.

"We lost a couple of good players, but we also are a little older and more experienced. Our team chemistry is only getting better and that started with our trip to Spain in August. We're looking to build on what we did over there."

This is Stephens' second year as head coach at WMU, "and having gone through my first preseason, that definitely makes it a little easier this season. You have a better idea of things you want to get in and a better feel for your team.

"The nerves are still there, naturally, and that's a good thing."