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Broncos on the Hardwood

A statistical chronicle of Western Michigan men's basketball, detailing achievements, leaders, and historical performance.

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Program Overview

University & Location

The Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball team represents Western Michigan University, located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The program competes as a member of the Mid-American Conference.

Coaching Staff

The team is currently coached by Dwayne Stephens, who is in his third season leading the Broncos. His tenure aims to build upon the program's historical performance.

Home Venue

The Broncos play their home games at the University Arena, also known as "The Zoo," which has a seating capacity of 5,421. This venue has been the team's home since 1994.

Conference Affiliation

As a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC), the Broncos compete against other universities in the region, vying for conference championships and NCAA tournament berths.

Postseason Appearances

NCAA Tournament

The Western Michigan Broncos have made four appearances in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. Their overall record in these tournaments stands at 2 wins and 4 losses.

Year Seed Round Opponent Result
1976 Quarterfinals
Regional semifinals		 Virginia Tech
Marquette		 W 77–67
L 62–57
1998 #11 First round
Second Round		 Clemson
Stanford		 W 75–72
L 83–65
2004 #11 First round Vanderbilt L 71–58
2014 #14 First round Syracuse L 77–53

NIT Appearances

The Broncos have participated in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) three times, achieving a combined record of 2 wins and 3 losses across these appearances.

Year Round Opponent Result
1992 First round Notre Dame L 63–56
2003 First round
Second Round		 Illinois–Chicago
Siena		 W 63–62
L 68–62
2005 First round
Second Round		 Marquette
Texas Christian		 W 54–50
L 78–76

Other Postseason Tournaments

Beyond the NCAA and NIT, the Broncos have also competed in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) and the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT).

CBI Results (Record: 2–1)

Year Round Opponent Result
2013 First round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals		 North Dakota State
Wyoming
George Mason		 W 72–71 OT
W 75–67 OT
L 62–52

CIT Results (Record: 1–2)

Year Round Opponent Result
2011 First round
Second Round		 Tennessee Tech
Buffalo		 W 74–66
L 49–48
2015 First round Cleveland State L 86–57

Program Records & History

All-Time Win-Loss Record

The Western Michigan Broncos have a long history of competition, with a cumulative record reflecting decades of performance in the Mid-American Conference and beyond.

Statistics overview
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Bill Spaulding (1913–1922)
1913–14Spaulding4–4
1914–15Spaulding7–5
1915–16Spaulding9–7
1916–17Spaulding7–6
1917–18Spaulding8–4
1918–19Spaulding11–3
1919–20Spaulding8–3
1920–21Spaulding12–5
1921–22Spaulding11–6
Bill Spaulding: 77–43
Buck Read (1922–1949)
1922–23Read17–6
1923–24Read13–8
1924–25Read17–4
1925–26Read15–4
1926–27Read16–2
1927–28Read9–8
1928–29Read10–9
1929–30Read17–0
1930–31Read14–3
1931–32Read14–5
1932–33Read14–3
1933–34Read12–5
1934–35Read11–5
1935–36Read15–3
1936–37Read13–4
1937–38Read6–12
1938–39Read7–10
1939–40Read10–9
1940–41Read9–9
1941–42Read12–8
1942–43Read15–4
1943–44Read15–4
1944–45Read8–10
1945–46Read15–7
1946–47Read17–7
1947–48Read12–101–25th
1948–49Read12–104–6T-3rd
Buck Read: 345–1695–8
Bill Perigo (1949–1952)
1949–50Perigo12–106–2T-2nd
1950–51Perigo13–94–4T-2nd
1951–52Perigo16–89–3T-1st
Bill Perigo: 41–2719–9
Joe Hoy (1952–1958)
1952–53Hoy12–96–64th
1953–54Hoy10–114–55th
1954–55Hoy12–109–53rd
1955–56Hoy13–97–5T-3rd
1956–57Hoy9–134–85th
1957–58Hoy5–181–117th
Joe Hoy: 61–7031–40
Don Boven (1958–1966)
1958–59Boven2–201–117th
1959–60Boven12–115–75th
1960–61Boven10–144–8T-5th
1961–62Boven13–116–6T-4th
1962–63Boven12–127–55th
1963–64Boven10–146–64th
1964–65Boven8–163–96th
1965–66Boven8–144–85th
Don Boven: 75–11236–60
Sonny Means (1966–1970)
1966–67Means10–144–85th
1967–68Means11–135–74th
1968–69Means11–136–6T-3rd
1969–70Means6–172–8T-5th
Sonny Means: 38–5717–29
Eldon Miller (1970–1976)
1970–71Miller14–105–53rd
1971–72Miller10–145–54th
1972–73Miller8–182–107th
1973–74Miller13–135–76th
1974–75Miller16–108–65th
1975–76Miller25–315–11stNCAA Sweet Sixteen
Eldon Miller: 86–6840–34
Dick Shilts (1976–1979)
1976–77Shilts14–138–85th
1977–78Shilts7–204–12T-9th
1978–79Shilts7–233–1310th
Dick Shilts: 28–5615–33
Les Wothke (1979–1982)
1979–80Wothke12–147–9T-4th
1980–81Wothke15–1310–6T-1st
1981–82Wothke15–148–8T-4th
Les Wothke: 42–4125–23
Vernon Payne (1982–1989)
1982–83Payne5–233–1510th
1983–84Payne4–222–1610th
1984–85Payne12–167–11T-7th
1985–86Payne12–167–11T-6th
1986–87Payne12–167–9T-5th
1987–88Payne12–177–9T-5th
1988–89Payne12–166–10T-6th
Vernon Payne: 69–12639–81
Bob Donewald (1989–2000)
1989–90Donewald9–183–139th
1990–91Donewald5–222–149th
1991–92Donewald21–911–5T-2ndNIT first round
1992–93Donewald17–1212–63rd
1993–94Donewald14–147–118th
1994–95Donewald14–139–97th
1995–96Donewald16–1113–52nd
1996–97Donewald14–149–9T-5th
1997–98Donewald21–814–4T-1st (West)NCAA round of 32
1998–99Donewald11–156–124th (West)
1999–00Donewald10–186–125th (West)
Bob Donewald: 152–15492–100
Robert McCullum (2000–2003)
2000–01McCullum7–217–114th (West)
2001–02McCullum17–1310–83rd (West)
2002–03McCullum20–1110–83rd (West)NIT first round
Robert McCullum: 44–4527–27
Steve Hawkins (2003–2020)
2003–04Hawkins26–515–31st (West)NCAA round of 64
2004–05Hawkins20–1311–7T-1st (West)NIT second round
2005–06Hawkins14–1710–8T-2nd (West)
2006–07Hawkins16–169–72nd (West)
2007–08Hawkins20–1212–41st (West)
2008–09Hawkins10–217–9T-1st (West)
2009–10Hawkins18–158–8T-2nd (West)
2010–11Hawkins21–1311–51st (West)CollegeInsider.com second round
2011–12Hawkins14–206–10T-3rd (West)
2012–13Hawkins22–1310–61st (West)CBI semifinals
2013–14Hawkins23–1014–41st (West)NCAA round of 64
2014–15Hawkins20–1410–83rd (West)CIT first round
2015–16Hawkins13–197–116th (West)
2016–17Hawkins16–1611–7T-1st (West)
2017–18Hawkins17–159–94th (West)
2018–19Hawkins8–242–166th (West)
2019–20Hawkins13–196–12T-5th (West)
Steve Hawkins: 291–262158–134
Clayton Bates (2020–2022)
2020–21Bates5–164–123rd (West)
2021–22Bates8–234–166th (West)
Clayton Bates: 13–398–28
Dwayne Stephens (2022–present)
2022–23Stephens8–234–1412th
Dwayne Stephens: 8–234–14
Total: 1,370–1,283

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Notable Players

Several Western Michigan Broncos have gone on to play professionally, including in the NBA. Their contributions are a significant part of the program's legacy.

  • Don Boven (1950–1953)
  • Dillard Crocker (1949–1953)
  • Paul Griffin (1977–1983)
  • Ben Handlogten (2004–2005)
  • Reggie Lacefield (1969)
  • Walker Russell (1983–1988)
  • Shayne Whittington (2014–2016)

Statistical Leaders

Career Leaders

Explore the all-time leaders in key statistical categories, showcasing the most impactful players in Western Michigan basketball history.

Points

RankPointsPlayerCareer
12,122David Kool2006–10
22,040Thomas Wilder2014–18
31,787Manny Newsome1961–64
41,743Booker James1983–87
51,713Joe Reitz2004–08

Rebounds

RankReboundsPlayerCareer
11,008Paul Griffin1972–76
2947Tom Cutter1973–77
3939Joe Reitz2004–08
4864Booker James1983–87
5846Anthony Kann2000–04

Assists

RankAssistsPlayerCareer
1477Mike Douglas2008–12
2427Billy Stanback1986–90
3418Thomas Wilder2014–18
4406Brian Snider2002–06
5391Connor Roberts1977–81

Single-Season Leaders

Discover the top single-season performances that highlight individual brilliance and team success during specific seasons.

Points

RankPointsPlayerSeason (games)
1714David Kool2009–10 (33)
2654Manny Newsome1963–64 (20)
3631David Brown2013–14 (33)
4630Kenny Cunningham1979–80 (26)
5626Saddi Washington1997–98 (29)

Rebounds

RankReboundsPlayerSeason (games)
1324Edgar Blair1957–58 (24)
2316Seth Dugan2018–19 (32)
3313Bob Bolton1960–61 (24)
4308Shayne Whittington2012–13 (35)
5300Earl Jenkins1970–71 (24)

Assists

RankAssistsPlayerSeason (games)
1170Rod Brown1999–00 (28)
2168Mike Douglas2010–11 (33)
3166Jason Kimbrough1997–98 (29)
4160Rickey Willis2004–05 (33)
5159Brian Snider2005–06 (31)

NCAA Records

The Western Michigan Broncos have achieved notable distinctions within NCAA Division I basketball history.

  • Ben Handlogten: Highest single-game field goal percentage (100%, 13–13) on January 22, 1996, vs. Toledo.
  • David Kool: Fourth highest single-season free throw percentage by a freshman (91.7%, 99–108) in 2006–07.
  • Sean Wightman: Second highest single-season three-point field goal percentage (63.2%, 48–76) in 1991–92.

Program Milestones

Historical Context

The Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball program has a history dating back to the early 20th century. The team's journey includes significant coaching tenures, conference championships, and postseason appearances that have shaped its identity.

The program's early years were marked by coaches like Bill Spaulding and Buck Read, establishing a foundation. Eldon Miller's tenure in the 1970s saw the program's most significant NCAA achievement: a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 1976. Later coaches like Bob Donewald and Steve Hawkins led the team to multiple conference titles and NCAA/NIT bids, solidifying the Broncos' presence in the Mid-American Conference.

The team has won multiple conference regular-season and tournament championships, demonstrating periods of sustained success within the competitive MAC landscape.

Venue Evolution

The home venue for the Western Michigan Broncos has evolved over the decades, reflecting the program's growth and changing needs.

  • East Hall gymnasium (1913–1938)
  • Oakland Gymnasium (1938–1957)
  • Read Fieldhouse (1957–1992)
  • Lawson Arena (1992–1994)
  • University Arena ("The Zoo") (1994–present)
  • Kalamazoo Event Center (planned for 2027)

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References

References

A full list of references for this article are available at the Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball Wikipedia page

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Disclaimer

Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.

This is not professional sports analysis or advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for consulting official team resources or seeking expert opinions on sports statistics and history. Always refer to official sources for the most current and accurate data.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.