Older, But Interesting Article I Came Across...

From USA TODAY:

GETTING INSIDE

Western Michigan was on the cusp of being a solid basketball team last season, but it just couldn't get past being mediocre.


The Broncos were among the better Mid-American Conference teams on offense. They ranked second in the league in 3-point shooting percentage (.384), and third in scoring (71.5) and free throws (.721).


But there was one problem that held Western Michigan back. It didn't take care of the ball. The Broncos averaged 15.4 turnovers per game, and had a minus turnover margin.


Improving in that area of the game has become their focus going into practice for the 2007-08 season.


"Our offense was feast or famine at times last year," coach Steve Hawkins told the Kalamazoo (Mich.) Gazette. "We would score, we would get to the free-throw line, we would hit a 3, or we'd turn it over. Too many times when we turned it over, it allowed immediate fast-break opportunities for them going the other way."


Most of what the Broncos did on offense last season went through center Joe Reitz, one of the top players in the MAC. Hawkins wants to see more balance on offense this season, especially when Western Michigan runs its half-court offense.


"We were very predictable when we had to show patience; everybody knew what we were going to do," Hawkins said.


NOTES, QUOTES

STRENGTHS: Western Michigan could be the most balanced offensive team in the Mid-American Conference West. The Broncos can go inside with C Joe Reitz, and they have good outside scoring threats in guards David Kool and Derek Drews.


WEAKNESSES: The Broncos must work on their ball-handling and ball movement. They committed 15.4 turnovers per game last season, a number exceeded by only four other MAC schools.


LAST YEAR: 16-16 overall, 9-7 in MAC.


HEAD COACH: Steve Hawkins (career 213-162); fifth year at Western Michigan (76-51).


QUOTE TO NOTE: "Our offense was feast or famine at times last year. We would score, we would get to the free-throw line, we would hit a 3, or we'd turn it over." — WMU coach Steve Hawkins on the inconsistency of the offense last year.


STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: The only new player is freshman guard/forward Juston Hairston. He's an athletic performer from whom much is expected, but there are so many returning players that the Broncos have the luxury of being patient with Hairston and letting him grow into the system.


KEY EARLY SEASON GAMES: Western Michigan should find out about two weeks before MAC play starts how much progress it has made in the non-conference season. The Broncos play host to perennially strong Southern Illinois of the Missouri Valley Conference on Dec. 18. The Broncos open the season Nov. 10-12 in a tournament in Eugene, Ore., and they will take on Oregon in the final game.


PROGRAM DIRECTION: The Broncos soared after Steve Hawkins took over as coach in 2003-04. He led them to a 25-5 record his first season, and they were 20-13 the next year. Western Michigan has fallen back the past two years with a 30-33 record.


PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Michael Redell, SG David Kool, G Shawntes Gary, PF Derek Fracalossi, C Joe Reitz.


ROSTER REPORT: F Jon Workman had ankle surgery during the summer and was sidelined much of the summer. He's working out, but he isn't 100-percent going into the start of fall practice.


—Several other players had surgeries that sidelined them for a month during the summer. Reitz had an appendectomy, F Dan Hess had a shoulder problem, G Shawntes Gary had a bad hand, and F Derek Drews had back problems.


—G Donald Cloutier transferred this year to Division II Indianapolis.