2023–24 Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball team

2023–24 Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball
ConferenceMid-American Conference
Record12–20 (9–9 MAC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaUniversity Arena
Seasons
2023–24 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Toledo 14 – 4   .778 20 – 12   .625
Akron † 13 – 5   .722 24 – 11   .686
Ohio 13 – 5   .722 20 – 13   .606
Central Michigan 12 – 6   .667 18 – 14   .563
Bowling Green 10 – 8   .556 20 – 14   .588
Western Michigan 9 – 9   .500 12 – 20   .375
Miami (OH) 9 – 9   .500 15 – 17   .469
Kent State 8 – 10   .444 17 – 17   .500
Ball State 7 – 11   .389 15 – 16   .484
Eastern Michigan 6 – 12   .333 13 – 18   .419
Northern Illinois 5 – 13   .278 11 – 20   .355
Buffalo 2 – 16   .111 4 – 27   .129
† 2024 MAC tournament winner

The 2023–24 Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball team represented Western Michigan University in the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Broncos, led by second-year head coach Dwayne Stephens, played their home games at University Arena in Kalamazoo, Michigan as members of the Mid-American Conference (MAC).[1][2] They finished the season 12–20, 9–9 in MAC play, to finish in a tie for sixth place.[3] They lost to Ohio in the first round of the MAC tournament.[4][5]

Previous season

The Broncos finished the 2022–23 season 8–23 with a 4–14 MAC record.[6] They finished last in the MAC and failed to qualify for the MAC tournament.

Offseason

Departures

Departures
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for departure
Markeese Hastings 0 F 6' 7" 195 RS-Junior Grand Rapids, MI Transferred to Robert Morris
Shemani Fuller 1 F 6' 8" 205 RS-Freshman The Bronx, NY Transferred to Clark Atlanta
Tray Maddox Jr. 2 G 6' 4" 200 RS-Senior Novi, MI Exhausted eligibility
Lamar Norman Jr. 11 G 6' 1" 175 Senior Grand Rapids, MI Exhausted eligibility
Gus Etchison 21 F 5' 11" 145 Sophomore Arcadia, IN Transferred to Marian University
Tafari Simms 23 F 6' 6" 212 Senior Hamilton, ON Exhausted eligibility
Elisha Warren 24 G 6' 2" 175 Freshman Woodhaven, MI Transferred to Ranger College

Source:[7][8]

Incoming transfers

Incoming transfers
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous school
Anthony Crump 0 G 5' 8" 215 RS-Senior Inkster, MI Northern Illinois
Markhi Strickland 15 G/F 6' 6" 210 Junior Miami, FL Victoria College
Javonte Brown 31 C 7' 0" 255 Junior Toronto, ON Texas A&M

Source:[7]

Recruiting class

College recruiting information
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Josh Thomas
G/F 		Lincolnshire, IL Evanston Township 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg)  
Star ratings: Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Michael Sulaka
F 		Macomb, MI De La Salle 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg)  
Star ratings: Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2023 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

Roster

2023–24 Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
G 0 Anthony Crump 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) GS Northern Illinois Inkster, MI
G 1 Brandon Muntu 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jr Triton College Calgary, AB
G 2 Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) So Orangeville Prep LaSalle, QC
G 3 B. Artis White 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 155 lb (70 kg) RS Jr Canton High School Canton, MI
G 4 Javaughn Hannah 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) So Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Mount Clemens, MI
F 10 Max Burton 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) RS Fr Williamston Williamston, MI
G 12 Seth Hubbard 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 175 lb (79 kg) So Huntington Prep Jonesboro, GA
G/F 15 Markhi Strickland 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Jr Victoria College Miami, FL
F 20 Owen Lobsinger 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Jr Powers Catholic High School Flint, MI
C 22 Titus Wright 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Sr Thomasville High School Thomasville, GA
G/F 23 Josh Thomas 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Fr Evanston Township Lincolnshire, IL
F 24 Michael Sulaka 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Fr De La Salle Macomb, MI
F 31 Javonte Brown 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 255 lb (116 kg) RS So Texas A&M Toronto, ON
F 33 Jack Stefanski 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) RS So Frankfort High School Frankfort, MI
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: September 29, 2023

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
November 1, 2023*
7:00 p.m. 		Kalamazoo W 94–63  –
   –      –      –    University Arena 
Kalamazoo, MI
Non-conference regular season
November 6, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		North Dakota State L 76–80 OT 0–1
  20 – White   11 – Wright   4 – White  University Arena (1,364)
Kalamazoo, MI
November 11, 2023*
1:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Georgia State
MAC–SBC Challenge 		L 70–77  0–2
  12 – tied   7 – Strickland   2 – tied  University Arena (1,313)
Kalamazoo, MI
November 14, 2023*
8:00 p.m., BTN+ 		at Northwestern L 59–63  0–3
  17 – Hubbard   9 – Crump   10 – De La Cruz Monegro  Welsh–Ryan Arena (4,143)
Evanston, IL
November 19, 2023*
4:00 p.m., BTN 		at Ohio State
Emerald Coast Classic campus-site game 		L 56–73  0–4
  24 – Hubbard   11 – Lobsinger   3 – Muntu  Value City Arena (9,505)
Columbus, OH
November 24, 2023*
2:30 p.m., FloHoops 		vs. Southeastern Louisiana
Emerald Coast Classic consolation game 		W 68–67  1–4
  18 – Hubbard   8 – tied   4 – Wright  The Arena at NFSC (450)
Niceville, FL
November 25, 2023*
1:30 p.m., FloHoops 		vs. Mercer
Emerald Coast Classic 5th-place game 		W 72–66  2–4
  25 – Lobsinger   8 – Lobsinger   6 – De La Cruz Monegro  The Arena at NFSC (150)
Niceville, FL
December 1, 2023*
5:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		St. Thomas L 51–66  2–5
  12 – Crump   7 – Lobsinger   2 – Hubbard  University Arena (1,411)
Kalamazoo, MI
December 5, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ACCNX 		at Notre Dame L 65–86  2–6
  14 – Wright   6 – Wright   4 – White  Joyce Center (4,883)
South Bend, IN
December 9, 2023*
1:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Youngstown State L 68–72  2–7
  18 – Hannah   9 – Lobsinger   6 – White  University Arena (1,598)
Kalamazoo, MI
December 16, 2023*
2:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at UIC L 68–89  2–8
  16 – Hubbard   11 – Brown   3 – Wright  Credit Union 1 Arena (1,329)
Chicago, IL
December 21, 2023*
6:00 p.m., ESPN3/ESPN+ 		at Cleveland State L 77–90  2–9
  23 – Hubbard   11 – Lobsinger   6 – De La Cruz Monegro  Wolstein Center (1,473)
Cleveland, OH
December 29, 2023*
4:00 p.m. 		Aquinas W 127–71  3–9
  27 – Hubbard   6 – White   8 – White  University Arena (1,581)
Kalamazoo, MI
MAC regular season
January 2, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN3/ESPN+ 		at Miami (OH) W 83–74  4–9
(1–0) 		 17 – Hubbard   9 – Crump   5 – White  Millett Hall (1,005)
Oxford, OH
January 6, 2024
2:00 p.m., ESPN3/ESPN+ 		at Buffalo W 82–77  5–9
(2–0) 		 19 – Hubbard   10 – Crump   6 – White  Alumni Arena (2,260)
Buffalo, NY
January 9, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN3/ESPN+ 		Northern Illinois W 95–90 OT 6–9
(3–0) 		 25 – White   10 – Lobsinger   3 – tied  University Arena (1,339)
Kalamazoo, MI
January 13, 2024
12:00 p.m., ESPN3/ESPN+ 		Ohio W 81–79  7–9
(4–0) 		 15 – Hubbard   9 – Crump   5 – White  University Arena (1,650)
Kalamazoo, MI
January 16, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN3/ESPN+ 		at Akron L 66–77  7–10
(4–1) 		 17 – De La Cruz Monegro   7 – Brown   3 – De La Cruz Monegro  James A. Rhodes Arena (2,061)
Akron, OH
January 20, 2024
2:00 p.m., ESPN3/ESPN+ 		at Bowling Green L 79–84  7–11
(4–2) 		 25 – Lobsinger   7 – Lobsinger   5 – White  Stroh Center (2,232)
Bowling Green, OH
January 23, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN3/ESPN+ 		Eastern Michigan W 73–56  8–11
(5–2) 		 15 – Hubbard   11 – Lobsinger   4 – De La Cruz Monegro  University Arena (2,208)
Kalamazoo, MI
January 27, 2024
1:00 p.m., ESPN3/ESPN+ 		Central Michigan L 55–62  8–12
(5–3) 		 16 – Hubbard   12 – Lobsinger   9 – De La Cruz Monegro  University Arena (3,110)
Kalamazoo, MI
January 30, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN3/ESPN+ 		at Toledo L 63–88  8–13
(5–4) 		 12 – Wright   8 – Crump   6 – De La Cruz Monegro  Savage Arena (3,915)
Toledo, OH
February 3, 2024
1:00 p.m., ESPN3/ESPN+ 		Ball State L 67–77  8–14
(5–5) 		 21 – De La Cruz Monegro   11 – Crump   4 – De La Cruz Monegro  University Arena (1,729)
Kalamazoo, MI
February 6, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN3/ESPN+ 		at Kent State L 61–63  8–15
(5–6) 		 14 – Brown   12 – Crump   5 – De La Cruz Monegro  MAC Center (2,564)
Kent, OH
February 10, 2024*
3:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Southern Miss
MAC–SBC Challenge 		L 54–86  8–16
  17 – Hubbard   8 – Crump   5 – De La Cruz Monegro  Reed Green Coliseum (3,842)
Hattiesburg, MS
February 17, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN3/ESPN+ 		at Central Michigan L 42–69  8–17
(5–7) 		 12 – White   10 – Lobsinger   3 – Lobsinger  McGuirk Arena (5,032)
Mount Pleasant, MI
February 20, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN3/ESPN+ 		Miami (OH) W 77–58  9–17
(6–7) 		 19 – Hubbard   7 – tied   5 – De La Cruz Monegro  University Arena (1,436)
Kalamazoo, MI
February 24, 2024
2:30 p.m., ESPN3/ESPN+ 		Buffalo W 91–72  10–17
(7–7) 		 18 – tied   7 – tied   8 – White  University Arena (1,928)
Kalamazoo, MI
February 27, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN3/ESPN+ 		at Eastern Michigan L 67–70  10–18
(7–8) 		 18 – Hannah   8 – Hubbard   5 – Hubbard  George Gervin GameAbove Center (1,612)
Ypsilanti, MI
March 2, 2024
2:00 p.m., ESPN3/ESPN+ 		at Ball State W 78–76 OT 11–18
(8–8) 		 17 – Hannah   9 – Lobsinger   4 – White  Worthen Arena (5,223)
Muncie, IN
March 5, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN3/ESPN+ 		Bowling Green L 65–73  11–19
(8–9) 		 12 – Hubbard   10 – Crump   3 – De La Cruz Monegro  University Arena (1,243)
Kalamazoo, MI
March 8, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN3/ESPN+ 		Akron W 90–84  12–19
(9–9) 		 23 – White   9 – Lobsinger   4 – Hannah  University Arena (1,636)
Kalamazoo, MI
MAC tournament
March 14, 2024
6:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		(6) vs. (3) Ohio
Quarterfinals 		L 55–82  12–20
  12 – White   8 – Lobsinger   2 – tied  Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (7,854)
Cleveland, OH
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Eastern.

Sources:[9][10]

References

  1. ^ "DWAYNE STEPHENS". Western Michigan University Athletics.
  2. ^ "University Arena". Western Michigan Athletics. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  3. ^ Clark, Dave (March 9, 2024). "MAC basketball tournament bracket set; Miami RedHawks face Akron in first round". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  4. ^ "Ohio 82, Western Michigan 55". ESPN. March 15, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  5. ^ "No. 6 Seed Broncos Fall to No. 3 Ohio in MAC Quarterfinals". Western Michigan University Athletics. March 14, 2024. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  6. ^ "MAC Basketball Standings - 2022-23". ESPN. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  7. ^ a b "2023 D1 Basketball Transfers". Verbal Commits. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  8. ^ "2022–23 Men's Basketball Roster". Western Michigan Athletics. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  9. ^ "2023-24 Men's Basketball Schedule". Western Michigan University Athletics. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  10. ^ "Western Michigan Broncos Schedule 2023-24". ESPN. Retrieved December 23, 2024.