Record-setting basketball seasons celebrated Wednesday
March 27, 2004
KALAMAZOO--Players and coaches from Western Michigan University's men's and women's basketball teams will be honored at a special program Wednesday, March 31, at 7 p.m. in University Arena. The celebration of both teams' record-setting seasons is free and open to the public.
WMU's men's team finished with a league-best 15-3 record in the Mid-American Conference and was 26-5 overall. The 26 wins is a school record for a season, and the men earned an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament with the program's first MAC Tournament title.
The Bronco women were 11-5 in the conference and finished the season 19-13 overall, including the program's first two victories ever in the Women's National Invitation Tournament. The women advanced to the third round of the WNIT, farther than any other basketball team in any postseason tournament in school history.
Individual honors included MAC Player of the Year recognition for junior Casey Rost and senior Mike Williams. This was the first season in more than 20 years that the conference's top men's and women's awards went to student-athletes from the same university.
Fans will hear from a variety of speakers, including head coaches Ron Stewart and Steve Hawkins and Kalamazoo Mayor Robert Jones. MAC Championship, NCAA Tournament and WNIT banners will be unfurled in the arena during the ceremony. Players will be available to sign autographs following the program.
Media contact: Jeff Rank, 269 387-3673, jeff.rank@wmich.edu