Men's basketball season preview and schedule
Sept. 21, 2000
KALAMAZOO -- The Western Michigan University men's basketball program is slated to open a challenging 2000-01 campaign on Nov. 18 against Hampton in University Arena.
Following a pair of exhibition tuneups, the Broncos will open the regular season by taking on the Pirates in first-year head coach Robert McCullum's collegiate debut. The contest will mark the first-ever meeting between the two programs. [Season Schedule]
Following the home opener, WMU will continue its series versus Michigan (Nov. 21) in Ann Arbor. The Broncos have claimed two of the last three meetings with the Wolverines. In 2001-02 UM will make its first trip to Kalamazoo since the national championship season of 1989.
Richmond (Nov. 25), Youngstown State (Nov. 28) and Marist (Dec. 2) are the next three opponents for WMU, a group the Broncos went 3-0 against in 1999-2000.
That trio of games leads up to the Indiana Classic Dec. 8-9. The Broncos will take on the host Hoosiers in the first round and will face either Texas Tech or Ball State the final day of the event. In WMU's NCAA Tournament season of 1997-98, the team advanced to the championship game of the classic, falling to Indiana 70-63.
Western Michigan wraps up non-league play against in-state rivals Detroit (Dec. 21) and Oakland (Dec. 30). Both matchups will take place at University Arena.
Four of the squad's first seven conference games occur on the road, including a date (Jan. 13) at MAC Tournament champion Ball State. For the second straight campaign the Mid-American Conference schedule moves into the month of December. The Broncos open league play on Dec. 16 against Ohio at University Arena. The matchup marks the start of the longest homestand of the year, a three-game stretch against the Bobcats, Detroit and Oakland.
Rival Central Michigan comes to Kalamazoo on Jan. 15 and home dates against Kent State (National Invitation Tournament participant) and Ball State (MAC Tournament Champion) highlight the University Arena schedule.
"We are elated that our schedule is finally complete," McCullum said. "Our non-league schedule is very challenging and will allow us to prepare our student-athletes for conference play. Taking a young team like we have on the road to play programs that include Indiana and Michigan gives us the opportunity to gain valuable experience."
The 2000-01 edition of Bronco men's basketball features only three returning players from the previous season and only one senior, Jon Powell.
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| November 2000 - home contests in bold | ||
| Mon., Nov. 6 | 7:30 p.m. | NBC Thunder (exhibition) |
| Sat., Nov. 11 | 7:30 p.m. | Marathon Basketball (exhibition) |
| Sat., Nov. 18 | 8 p.m. | Hampton |
| Tues., Nov. 21 | 7 p.m. | at Michigan |
| Sat., Nov. 25 | 2 p.m. | Richmond |
| Tues., Nov. 28 | 7 p.m. | at Youngstown State |
| December 2000 - home contests in bold | ||
| Sat., Dec. 2 | 7:30 p.m. | at Marist |
| Fri., Dec. 8 | 7 p.m. | vs Indiana at Indiana Classic |
| Sat., Dec. 9 | 4:45 or 7 p.m. |
vs Ball State or Texas Tech at Indiana Classic |
| Sat., Dec. 16 | 2 p.m. | Ohio |
| Thurs., Dec. 21 | 7 p.m. | Detroit |
| Sat., Dec. 30 | 2 p.m. | Oakland |
| January 2001 - home contests in bold | ||
| Weds., Jan. 3 | 7 p.m. | at Marshall |
| Sat., Jan. 6 | 2 p.m. | Toledo |
| Tues., Jan. 9 | 7:30 p.m. | at Akron |
| Sat., Jan. 13 | 1 p.m. | at Ball State |
| Mon., Jan. 15 | 7 p.m. | Central Michigan |
| Mon., Jan. 22 | 7 p.m. | at Miami (Ohio) |
| Weds., Jan. 24 | 7 p.m. | Buffalo |
| Sat., Jan. 27 | 2 p.m. | Northern Illinois |
| Weds., Jan. 31 | TBA | at Bowling Green |
| February 2001 - home contests in bold | ||
| Weds., Feb. 7 | 7 p.m. | at Eastern Michigan |
| Sat., Feb. 10 | 2 p.m. | at Central Michigan |
| Weds., Feb. 14 | 7 p.m. | Kent State |
| Sat., Feb. 17 | 2 p.m. | at Toledo |
| Weds., Feb. 21 | 7 p.m. | Akron |
| Sat., Feb. 24 | 3 p.m. | Ball State |
| Weds., Feb. 28 | 7 p.m. | at Northern Illinois |
| March 2001 - home contests in bold | ||
| Sat., March 3 | 2 p.m. | Eastern Michigan |
| Mon.., March 5 | TBA | MAC Tournament First Round |
| Thurs., March 8 | TBA | MAC Tournament Quarterfinals |
| Fri., March 9 | TBA | MAC Tournament Semi-finals |
| Sat., March 10 | TBA | MAC Finals |
For more information, visit the Broncos on the Web <www.wmubroncos.com>.
Media contact: Scott Kuykendall; 616 387-4138; scott.kuykendall@wmich.edu