The Western Michigan Broncos (1-1, 1-0 ATS, 0-1 O/U) collide with the Valparaiso Crusaders (0-1, 0-1 ATS, 1-0 O/U) in non-conference play on Sunday evening. The Broncos defeats Goshen College in their previous action. The Beacons went 13-17 last season and lost against Toledo in the opener. Valparaiso posted a 71-60 road win against Western Michigan last season.
The Western Michigan Broncos are 1-1 after the opening two games. They almost recorded the stunning upset win in the season opener. They were labeled nine-point dogs in a narrow 61-60 road loss to Minnesota of the Big Ten. They replied to that defeat with a 99-62 win against non-DI opponent Goshen College on Thursday night. The Broncos struggled last season, winning just eight games but will be more competitive this year.
The squad is led by Lamar Norman Jr. The senior guard was named to the All-MAC first team in the preseason poll and for good reason. Norman Jr. sported an average of 19.8 PPG in 30 games played and has collected a total of 25 points in the first two games this year. The squad also returns last year’s second-leading scorer, Markeese Hastings. The junior forward spent a few seasons with Butler and logged 9 PPG and a team-leading 8.8 RPG with the Broncos last season. He has re corded 19 points and 20 boards already this year. Western Michigan brought in Tray Maddox Jr. on a transfer from Cal State Fullerton. The senior guard is a proven scorer, averaging 9.5 PPG last season.
That first win feeling!#BroncosReign pic.twitter.com/io4R8bI8IK
— Western Michigan Men's Basketball (@WMUMBB) November 11, 2022
Western Michigan is ranked 254th in the country in Ken Pomeroy’s college basketball ratings and was voted to finish in seventh place in the MAC preseason poll. The Broncos scored an average of 65.4 points last year, pegging them 308th, but will definitely score more this year. They allowed an average of 75.1 points in 2021-2022, positioning them 316th in DI.