The (4-8) Western Michigan Broncos will pay a visit to the (9-2) Wisconsin Badgers on Friday for a non-conference clash at the Kohl Center. The Broncos, 0-5 on the road this season, defeated Siena Heights in their most recent game. The Badgers, 4-1 at home, are on a four-game winning streak.
Tip-off from Madison, WI, is at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Badgers are 22-point spread favorites, and the game total is 128 points scored.
The Broncos opened the season with a one-point loss at Minnesota, their first game under head coach Dwayne Stephens, a longtime assistant under Tom Izzo at Michigan State. Moral victories aside, the 2022-23 season has been challenging for Western Michigan. A win over a Big Ten opponent would inspire confidence in the Broncos heading into conference play.
In its 61-41 win over Siena Heights, WMU held the Saints to eight first-half points and coasted after that. The Broncos shot 39.0 percent from the floor, outrebounded their opponent 50-33 (with 17 offensive rebounds), and recorded 13 assists on 23 made field goals. Sophomore forward Owen Lobsinger led Western Michigan with 12 points, senior guard Lamar Norman Jr. scored 10, and junior center Titus Wright contributed nine points.
Hastings Secures 18 Rebounds as Broncos Top Siena Heights, 61 -41
RECAP: https://t.co/ENjoPy0Rip #BroncosReign pic.twitter.com/EoKat1iyP0
— Western Michigan Men's Basketball (@WMUMBB) December 21, 2022
The Broncos are scoring 68.6 points per game this season, shooting 44.1 percent from the field, including 32.9 percent from long range. Their offensive efficiency rating, adjusted for strength of schedule, is ranked 268th in D-1, per KenPom. WMU's effective field goal percentage (50.7%) is ranked 194th. Norman Jr. leads WMU in scoring with 18.3 PPG, and senior guard Tray Maddox Jr. (10.5 PPG) is the other Bronco scoring double-digit points.
Western Michigan surrenders 67.6 points per game on 44.9 percent shooting, including 34.7 percent from distance. Its adjusted defensive efficiency rating is 329th, and its assist-to-turnover ratio (0.73) is 326th.