2007–08 Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball team

{{Infobox college sports team season

| year = 2007–08

| team = Western Michigan Broncos

| sport = Basketball

| image = Western Michigan Broncos text logo.svg

| conference = Mid-American Conference

| division = West

| short_conf = MAC

| CoachRank =

| APRank =

| record = 20–12

| conf_record = 12–4

| head_coach = Steve Hawkins

| asst_coach1 = Clayton Bates

| asst_coach2 = Cornell Mann

| asst_coach3 = Andy Hipsher

| stadium = University Arena

| champion = MAC West Division Champions

| tourney =

| tourney_result =

}}

The 2007–08 Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball team is an NCAA Division I college basketball team competing in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The Broncos, 20–12 overall and 12–4 in the conference, captured the MAC West Division championship by four games and earned the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament. WMU reached the semi-finals of the MAC tournament before falling to No. 3 seed Akron.

During the regular season, Western Michigan defeated No. 25 ranked Davidson College, a team that reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament. WMU finished the non-conference portion of their schedule 7–7, defeating Davidson, Detroit Mercy, Loyola Chicago, North Carolina Central, Pepperdine, Southern Illinois and Wisconsin–Green Bay.

WMU also retained the Michigan MAC Trophy for the third consecutive season.

Sophomore David Kool and senior Joe Reitz earned First Team All-MAC honors. Reitz was also named to the MAC All-Tournament team.

Preseason

The Broncos were picked to win the West Division by members of the MAC News Media Association, receiving 23 of 32 possible first place votes ({{cbb link|year=2007–08|sex=men|team=Toledo Rockets|school=University of Toledo|title=Toledo}} received six votes and {{cbb link|year=2007–08|sex=men|team=Central Michigan Chippewas|school=Central Michigan University|title=Central Michigan}} three). Western Michigan also received six votes to win the MAC Tournament, which was second to Kent State (7 votes).

Joe Reitz was named to the Preseason All-MAC Team.

Awards

Derek Drews
West Division Player of the Week (week 1)
David Kool
All-MAC First Team
3-time West Division Player of the Week (weeks 12, 16, 17)
Joe Reitz
All-MAC First Team
4-time West Division Player of the Week (weeks 2, 7, 13, 14)
Academic All-District IV First Team
Mid-American Conference Academic Player of the Week (February 7)

Roster

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 92%;" ! No. !! Name !! Pos. !! Height !! Weight !! Year !! Hometown (Previous school)
4	Derek Drews	F	6'5"	224	Jr.	Elkhart, IN (Elkhart Central)
1	Derek Fracalossi	G/F	6'5"	203	Sr.	Davison, MI (Davison)
34	Shawntes Gary	G	6'2"	207	Jr.	Elkhart, IN (Concord)
13	Justin Hairston *	F	6'5"	215	Fr.	Fort Wayne, IN (Fort Wayne South)
5	Andrew Hershberger	F	6'7"	223	Sr.	Goshen, IN (Goshen)
0	Dan Hess	F/C	6'7"	225	Sr.	Owosso, MI (Corunna)
23	David Kool	G	6'3"	200	So.	Grand Rapids, MI (South Christian)
2	Silver Laku	G	6'2"	180	Sr.	Toronto, ON (Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute)
33	Donald Lawson	C	6'9"	234	So.	Chicago, IL (Leo Catholic)
21	Martelle McLemore	G	6'5"	198	So.	Detroit, MI (Consortium Prep)
22	Michael Redell	G	6'0"	183	Jr.	Rockford, MI (Cleveland State)
42	Joe Reitz	C	6'7"	256	Sr.	Fishers, IN (Hamilton Southeastern)
12	Andre Ricks	G	5'9"	159	Jr.	Detroit, MI (Pershing)
15	Alex Wolf	G	5'11"	198	\| Fr.-R	Parchment, MI (Parchment)
3	Jon Workman *	F	6'9"	220	So.	LaGrange, IN (Lakeland)

* Will redshirt the 2007–2008 season

Schedule

|-

!colspan=9 style="background:#6a3e0f; color:#e3bc85;"| Exhibition

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = November 1, 2007

| time = 7:00pm

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2007–08|sex=men|team=Tri-State Thunder|school=Tri-State University|title=Tri-State}}

| site_stadium = University Arena

| site_cityst = Kalamazoo, MI

| gamename = Exhibition

| tv =

| score = 94–54

| attend = 2,088

| record = 0–0

}}

|-

!colspan=9 style="background:#6a3e0f; color:#e3bc85;"| Regular season

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = November 10, 2007

| time = 9:30pm

| nonconf = yes

| neutral = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2007–08|sex=men|team=Pacific Tigers|school=University of the Pacific|title=Pacific}}

| opprank =

| site_stadium = McArthur Court

| site_cityst = Eugene, OR

| gamename = World Vision Invitational

| tv =

| score = 90–76

| record = 0–1

| attend = 8,601

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = November 11, 2007

| time = 6:30pm

| nonconf = yes

| neutral = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2007–08|sex=men|team=Pepperdine Waves|school=Pepperdine University|title=Pepperdine}}

| opprank =

| site_stadium = McArthur Court

| site_cityst = Eugene, OR

| gamename = World Vision Invitational

| tv =

| score = 70–65

| record = 1–1

| attend = 8,406

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = November 12, 2007

| time = 10:30pm

| nonconf = yes

| away = yes

| opponent = Oregon

| opprank = 13

| site_stadium = McArthur Court

| site_cityst = Eugene, OR

| gamename = World Vision Invitational

| tv = ESPN Full Court

| score = 97–88

| record = 1–2

| attend = 8,341

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = November 16, 2007

| time = 8:00pm

| nonconf = yes

| away = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2007–08|sex=men|team=Loyola Ramblers|school=Loyola University Chicago|title=Loyola Chicago}}

| site_stadium = Alumni Gym

| site_cityst = Chicago, IL

| tv = WYIN

| score = 63–61

| record = 2–2

| attend = 1,100

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = November 19, 2007

| time = 7:00pm

| nonconf = yes

| away = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2007–08|sex=men|team=Detroit Titans|school=Detroit Mercy|title=Detroit Mercy}}

| site_stadium = Calihan Hall

| site_cityst = Detroit, MI

| tv =

| score = 60–59

| record = 3–2

| attend = 2,085

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = November 21, 2007

| time = 7:00pm

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = Davidson

| opprank = 25

| site_stadium = University Arena

| site_cityst = Kalamazoo, MI

| tv =

| score = 83–76

| record = 4–2

| attend = 3,542

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = November 28, 2007

| time = 8:05pm

| nonconf = yes

| away = yes

| opponent = Valparaiso

| site_stadium = Athletics-Recreation Center

| site_cityst = Valparaiso, IN

| tv =

| score = 77–65

| record = 4–3

| attend = 3,678

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = December 1, 2007

| time = 10:00pm

| nonconf = yes

| away = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2007–08|sex=men|team=San Diego State Aztecs|school=San Diego State University|title=San Diego State}}

| site_stadium = Cox Arena

| site_cityst = San Diego, CA

| tv =

| score = 72–61

| record = 4–4

| attend = 7,122

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = December 8, 2007

| time = 2:00pm

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2007–08|sex=men|team=Northwestern Wildcats|school=Northwestern University|title=Northwestern}}

| site_stadium = University Arena

| site_cityst = Kalamazoo, MI

| tv =

| score = 65–63

| record = 4–5

| attend = 4,112

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = December 15, 2007

| time = 7:00pm

| nonconf = yes

| away = yes

| opponent = Indiana-Purdue Indianapolis

| site_stadium = IUPUI Gymnasium

| site_cityst = Indianapolis, IN

| tv =

| score = 71–63

| attend = 972

| record = 4–6

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = December 18, 2007

| time = 7:00pm

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = Southern Illinois

| site_stadium = University Arena

| site_cityst = Kalamazoo, MI

| tv =

| score = 57–41

| record = 5–6

| attend = 3,168

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = December 22, 2007

| time = 2:00pm

| nonconf = yes

| away = yes

| opponent = Iona

| site_stadium = Hynes Athletic Center

| site_cityst = New Rochelle, NY

| tv =

| score = 67–62

| record = 5–7

| attend = 1,411

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = January 2, 2008

| time = 7:00pm

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = North Carolina Central

| site_stadium = University Arena

| site_cityst = Kalamazoo, MI

| tv =

| score = 70–43

| record = 6–7

| attend = 2,832

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = January 5, 2008

| time = 2:00pm

| opponent = Northern Illinois

| site_stadium = University Arena

| site_cityst = Kalamazoo, MI

| tv =

| score = 86–69

| record = 7–7

| conference = 1–0

| attend = 3,204

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = January 12, 2008

| time = 4:00pm

| away = yes

| opponent = Eastern Michigan

| site_stadium = Convocation Center

| site_cityst = Ypsilanti, MI

| gamename = Michigan MAC Trophy

| tv =

| score = 81–71

| record = 7–8

| conference = 1–1

| attend = 1,397

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = January 16, 2008

| time = 7:00pm

| away = yes

| opponent = Ball State

| site_stadium = John E. Worthen Arena

| site_cityst = Muncie, IN

| tv = Ball State Sports Network

| score = 71–45

| record = 8–8

| conference = 2–1

| attend = 3,201

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = January 19, 2008

| time = 2:00pm

| opponent = Toledo

| site_stadium = University Arena

| site_cityst = Kalamazoo, MI

| tv =

| score = 75–62

| record = 9–8

| conference = 3–1

| attend = 4,157

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = January 22, 2008

| time = 7:00pm

| opponent = Central Michigan

| site_stadium = University Arena

| site_cityst = Kalamazoo, MI

| gamename = Michigan MAC Trophy

| tv = ESPNU

| score = 72–52

| record = 10–8

| conference = 4–1

| attend = 3,859

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = January 27, 2008

| time = 2:00pm

| away = yes

| opponent = Kent State

| site_stadium = Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center

| site_cityst = Kent, OH

| tv =

| score = 67–58

| record = 10–9

| conference = 4–2

| attend = 3,674

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = January 29, 2008

| time = 7:00pm

| away = yes

| opponent = Buffalo

| site_stadium = Alumni Arena

| site_cityst = Buffalo, NY

| tv =

| score = 100–90

| overtime = 2OT

| record = 11–9

| conference = 5–2

| attend = 1,787

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = February 2, 2008

| time = 4:00pm

| opponent = Bowling Green

| site_stadium = University Arena

| site_cityst = Kalamazoo, MI

| tv =

| score = 64–50

| record = 12–9

| conference = 6–2

| attend = 4,116

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = February 6, 2008

| time = 7:00pm

| opponent = Akron

| site_stadium = University Arena

| site_cityst = Kalamazoo, MI

| tv = Comcast Local

| score = 86–66

| record = 13–9

| conference = 7–2

| attend = 2,733

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = February 9, 2008

| time = 2:30pm

| away = yes

| opponent = Ohio

| site_stadium = Convocation Center

| site_cityst = Athens, OH

| tv = Comcast Local, FSN Ohio

| score = 57–54

| record = 13–10

| conference = 7–3

| attend = 6,884

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = February 12, 2008

| time = 7:00pm

| opponent = Miami

| site_stadium = University Arena

| site_cityst = Kalamazoo, MI

| tv =

| score = 78–75

| overtime = 2OT

| record = 14–10

| conference = 8–3

| attend = 3,172

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = February 20, 2008

| time = 9:00pm

| opponent = Eastern Michigan

| site_stadium = University Arena

| site_cityst = Kalamazoo, MI

| gamename = Michigan MAC Trophy

| tv = ESPNU

| score = 70–52

| record = 15–10

| conference = 9–3

| attend = 3,014

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = February 23, 2008

| time = 8:05pm

| nonconf = yes

| away = yes

| opponent = Wisconsin–Green Bay

| site_stadium = Resch Center

| site_cityst = Green Bay, WI

| gamename = ESPN Bracket Busters

| tv =

| score = 74–67

| record = 16–10

| conference =

| attend = 3,414

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = February 26, 2008

| time = 8:00pm

| away = yes

| opponent = Northern Illinois

| site_stadium = Convocation Center

| site_cityst = DeKalb, IL

| tv =

| score = 56–49

| record = 17–10

| conference = 10–3

| attend = 2,032

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = March 1, 2008

| time = 7:00pm

| away = yes

| opponent = Toledo

| site_stadium = Savage Hall

| site_cityst = Toledo, OH

| tv =

| score = 69–55

| record = 18–10

| conference = 11–3

| attend = 6,813

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = March 4, 2008

| time = 7:00pm

| away = yes

| opponent = Central Michigan

| site_stadium = Daniel P. Rose Center

| site_cityst = Mount Pleasant, MI

| gamename = Michigan MAC Trophy

| tv = Comcast TV

| score = 72–68

| record = 18–11

| conference = 11–4

| attend = 1,178

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = March 9, 2008

| time = 2:00pm

| opponent = Ball State

| site_stadium = University Arena

| site_cityst = Kalamazoo, MI

| tv = Ball State Sports Network

| score = 57–53

| record = 19–11

| conference = 12–4

| attend = 4,546

}}

|-

!colspan=9 style="background:#6a3e0f; color:#e3bc85;"| MAC Tournament

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = March 13, 2008

| time = 12:00pm

| nonconf = yes

| neutral = yes

| opponent = Eastern Michigan

| site_stadium = Quicken Loans Arena

| site_cityst = Cleveland, OH

| gamename = MAC Tournament quarterfinals

| tv = FSN Ohio, FSN Plus

| score = 70–61

| record = 20–11

| attend = TBA

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = March 14, 2008

| time = 7:00pm

| nonconf = yes

| neutral = yes

| opponent = Akron

| site_stadium = Quicken Loans Arena

| site_cityst = Cleveland, OH

| gamename = MAC Tournament semifinals

| tv = FSN Ohio, FSN Plus

| score = 73–62

| record = 20–12

| attend = TBA

}}

{{CBB schedule end

| rank = yes

| poll =

| timezone = Eastern Time

}}

Coaching staff

Steve Hawkins – Head coach
Clayton Bates – Assistant coach
Cornell Mann – Assistant coach
Andy Hipsher – Assistant coach
Phil Sayers – Director of Basketball Operations

2008–2009 recruits

Western Michigan signed forwards Muhammed Conteh, Justin Hairston and Flenard Whitfield, center Lemarcus Lowe and guards Mike Douglas and Demetrius Ward during this season.[http://www.mlive.com/broncos/index.ssf/2008/02/broncos_land_flint_big_man_to.html Broncos land Flint big man to replace Workman Western Michigan Broncos – MLive.com] Each player will be a freshman for the 2008–09 season. Lowe was rated the #1 Michigan high school center in 2007.{{Cite web |url=http://www.insidepreps.net/07rankings.html |title=Page Title |access-date=February 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015131247/http://insidepreps.net/07rankings.html |archive-date=October 15, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:2007-08 Western Michigan Broncos Men's Basketball Team}}

Western Michigan

Category:Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball seasons