2023–24 Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball team

2023–24 Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball
2023–24 Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball
Conference	Mid-American Conference
Record	12–20 (9–9 MAC)
Head coach	Dwayne Stephens (2nd season);
Assistant coaches	Jeff Rutter; Chris Fowler; Manny Dosanjh;
Home arena	University Arena
	Seasons ← 2022–23 2024–25 →

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]

2023–24 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings
v t e	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

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
Josh Thomas G/F	Lincolnshire, IL	Evanston Township	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	185 lb (84 kg)
Josh Thomas G/F	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)
Michael Sulaka F	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

Dwayne Stephens (Michigan State)

Assistant coach(es)

Jeff Rutter (Winona State)
Chris Fowler (Central Michigan)
Manny Dosanjh (Oral Roberts)

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
(W) Walk-on

Injured
Current redshirt

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

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

[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.

[transfer-7] "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.

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