Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball

The Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball team represents Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The school's team competes in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and are coached by Dwayne Stephens. The team last played in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in 2014.

Western Michigan Broncos
2024–25 Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball team
University	Western Michigan University
Head coach	Dwayne Stephens (3rd season)
Conference	Mid-American
Location	Kalamazoo, Michigan
Arena	University Arena (capacity: 5,421)
Nickname	Broncos
Colors	Brown and gold[1]
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen
1976
NCAA tournament appearances
1976 • 1998 • 2004 • 2014
Conference tournament champions
2004 • 2014
Conference regular-season champions
1952 • 1976 • 1981 • 1998 • 2004 • 2014
Conference division regular-season champions
1998 • 2004 • 2005 • 2008 • 2009 • 2011 • 2013 • 2014 • 2017

Postseason

NCAA tournament results

The Broncos have appeared in four NCAA Tournaments. Their combined record is 2–4.

Year	Seed	Round	Opponent	Result
1976		Quarterfinals Regional semifinals	Virginia Tech Marquette	W 77–67 L 62-57
1998	#11	First round Second Round	Clemson Stanford	W 75–72 L 83-65
2004	#11	First round	Vanderbilt	L 71-58
2014	#14	First round	Syracuse	L 77-53

NIT results

The Broncos have appeared in three National Invitational Tournaments (NIT). Their combined record is 2–3.

Year	Round	Opponent	Result
1992	First round	Notre Dame	L 63-56
2003	First round Second Round	Illinois–Chicago Siena	W 63–62 L 68-62
2005	First round Second Round	Marquette Texas Christian	W 54–50 L 78-76

CBI results

The Broncos have appeared in one College Basketball Invitational (CBI). Their record is 2–1.

Year	Round	Opponent	Result
2013	First round Quarterfinals Semifinals	North Dakota State Wyoming George Mason	W 72–71 OT W 75–67 OT L 62-52

CIT results

The Broncos have appeared in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) two times. Their combined record is 1–2.

Year	Round	Opponent	Result
2011	First round Second Round	Tennessee Tech Buffalo	W 74–66 L 49-48
2015	First round	Cleveland State	L 86-57

Broncos in the NBA

• Don Boven, 1950–1953
• Dillard Crocker, 1949–1953
• Paul Griffin, 1977–1983
• Ben Handlogten, 2004–2005
• Reggie Lacefield, 1969
• Walker Russell, 1983–1988
• Shayne Whittington, 2014–2016

All-time win–loss record

Loyola-Chicago at Western Michigan, January 10, 1963

Statistics overview

Season	Coach	Overall	Conference	Standing	Postseason
Bill Spaulding (1913–1922)
1913–14	Spaulding	4–4
1914–15	Spaulding	7–5
1915–16	Spaulding	9–7
1916–17	Spaulding	7–6
1917–18	Spaulding	8–4
1918–19	Spaulding	11–3
1919–20	Spaulding	8–3
1920–21	Spaulding	12–5
1921–22	Spaulding	11–6
Bill Spaulding:		77–43
Buck Read (1922–1949)
1922–23	Read	17–6
1923–24	Read	13–8
1924–25	Read	17–4
1925–26	Read	15–4
1926–27	Read	16–2
1927–28	Read	9–8
1928–29	Read	10–9
1929–30	Read	17–0
1930–31	Read	14–3
1931–32	Read	14–5
1932–33	Read	14–3
1933–34	Read	12–5
1934–35	Read	11–5
1935–36	Read	15–3
1936–37	Read	13–4
1937–38	Read	6–12
1938–39	Read	7–10
1939–40	Read	10–9
1940–41	Read	9–9
1941–42	Read	12–8
1942–43	Read	15–4
1943–44	Read	15–4
1944–45	Read	8–10
1945–46	Read	15–7
1946–47	Read	17–7
1947–48	Read	12–10	1–2	5th
1948–49	Read	12–10	4–6	T-3rd
Buck Read:		345–169	5–8
Bill Perigo (1949–1952)
1949–50	Perigo	12–10	6–2	T-2nd
1950–51	Perigo	13–9	4–4	T-2nd
1951–52	Perigo	16–8	9–3	T-1st
Bill Perigo:		41–27	19–9
Joe Hoy (1952–1958)
1952–53	Hoy	12–9	6–6	4th
1953–54	Hoy	10–11	4–5	5th
1954–55	Hoy	12–10	9–5	3rd
1955–56	Hoy	13–9	7–5	T-3rd
1956–57	Hoy	9–13	4–8	5th
1957–58	Hoy	5–18	1–11	7th
Joe Hoy:		61–70	31–40
Don Boven (1958–1966)
1958–59	Boven	2–20	1–11	7th
1959–60	Boven	12–11	5–7	5th
1960–61	Boven	10–14	4–8	T-5th
1961–62	Boven	13–11	6–6	T-4th
1962–63	Boven	12–12	7–5	5th
1963–64	Boven	10–14	6–6	4th
1964–65	Boven	8–16	3–9	6th
1965–66	Boven	8–14	4–8	5th
Don Boven:		75–112	36–60
Sonny Means (1966–1970)
1966–67	Means	10–14	4–8	5th
1967–68	Means	11–13	5–7	4th
1968–69	Means	11–13	6–6	T-3rd
1969–70	Means	6–17	2–8	T-5th
Sonny Means:		38–57	17–29
Eldon Miller (1970–1976)
1970–71	Miller	14–10	5–5	3rd
1971–72	Miller	10–14	5–5	4th
1972–73	Miller	8–18	2–10	7th
1973–74	Miller	13–13	5–7	6th
1974–75	Miller	16–10	8–6	5th
1975–76	Miller	25–3	15–1	1st	NCAA Sweet Sixteen
Eldon Miller:		86–68	40–34
Dick Shilts (1976–1979)
1976–77	Shilts	14–13	8–8	5th
1977–78	Shilts	7–20	4–12	T-9th
1978–79	Shilts	7–23	3–13	10th
Dick Shilts:		28–56	15–33
Les Wothke (1979–1982)
1979–80	Wothke	12–14	7–9	T-4th
1980–81	Wothke	15–13	10–6	T-1st
1981–82	Wothke	15–14	8–8	T-4th
Les Wothke:		42–41	25–23
Vernon Payne (1982–1989)
1982–83	Payne	5–23	3–15	10th
1983–84	Payne	4–22	2–16	10th
1984–85	Payne	12–16	7–11	T-7th
1985–86	Payne	12–16	7–11	T-6th
1986–87	Payne	12–16	7–9	T-5th
1987–88	Payne	12–17	7–9	T-5th
1988–89	Payne	12–16	6–10	T-6th
Vernon Payne:		69–126	39–81
Bob Donewald (1989–2000)
1989–90	Donewald	9–18	3–13	9th
1990–91	Donewald	5–22	2–14	9th
1991–92	Donewald	21–9	11–5	T-2nd	NIT first round
1992–93	Donewald	17–12	12–6	3rd
1993–94	Donewald	14–14	7–11	8th
1994–95	Donewald	14–13	9–9	7th
1995–96	Donewald	16–11	13–5	2nd
1996–97	Donewald	14–14	9–9	T-5th
1997–98	Donewald	21–8	14–4	T-1st (West)	NCAA round of 32
1998–99	Donewald	11–15	6–12	4th (West)
1999–00	Donewald	10–18	6–12	5th (West)
Bob Donewald:		152–154	92–100
Robert McCullum (2000–2003)
2000–01	McCullum	7–21	7–11	4th (West)
2001–02	McCullum	17–13	10–8	3rd (West)
2002–03	McCullum	20–11	10–8	3rd (West)	NIT first round
Robert McCullum:		44–45	27–27
Steve Hawkins (2003–2020)
2003–04	Hawkins	26–5	15–3	1st (West)	NCAA round of 64
2004–05	Hawkins	20–13	11–7	T-1st (West)	NIT second round
2005–06	Hawkins	14–17	10–8	T-2nd (West)
2006–07	Hawkins	16–16	9–7	2nd (West)
2007–08	Hawkins	20–12	12–4	1st (West)
2008–09	Hawkins	10–21	7–9	T-1st (West)
2009–10	Hawkins	18–15	8–8	T-2nd (West)
2010–11	Hawkins	21–13	11–5	1st (West)	CollegeInsider.com second round
2011–12	Hawkins	14–20	6–10	T-3rd (West)
2012–13	Hawkins	22–13	10–6	1st (West)	CBI semifinals
2013–14	Hawkins	23–10	14–4	1st (West)	NCAA round of 64
2014–15	Hawkins	20–14	10–8	3rd (West)	CIT first round
2015–16	Hawkins	13–19	7–11	6th (West)
2016–17	Hawkins	16–16	11–7	T-1st (West)
2017–18	Hawkins	17–15	9–9	4th (West)
2018–19	Hawkins	8–24	2–16	6th (West)
2019–20	Hawkins	13–19	6–12	T-5th (West)
Steve Hawkins:		291–262	158–134
Clayton Bates (2020–2022)
2020–21	Bates	5–16	4–12	3rd (West)
2021–22	Bates	8–23	4–16	6th (West)
Clayton Bates:		13–39	8–28
Dwayne Stephens (2022–present)
2021–22	Stephens	8–23	4–14	12th
Dwayne Stephens:		8–23	4–14
Total:		1,370–1,283
National champion         Postseason invitational champion         Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion       Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion       Conference tournament champion

Records

Through 2019–20 season

See also: Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball statistical leaders

Career leaders

Points Rank Points Player Career 1 2,122 David Kool 2006–10 2 2,040 Thomas Wilder 2014–18 3 1,787 Manny Newsome 1961–64 4 1,743 Booker James 1983–87 5 1,713 Joe Reitz 2004–08 Rebounds Rank Rebounds Player Career 1 1,008 Paul Griffin 1972–76 2 947 Tom Cutter 1973–77 3 939 Joe Reitz 2004–08 4 864 Booker James 1983–87 5 846 Anthony Kann 2000–04 Assists Rank Assists Player Career 1 477 Mike Douglas 2008–12 2 427 Billy Stanback 1986–90 3 418 Thomas Wilder 2014–18 4 406 Brian Snider 2002–06 5 391 Connor Roberts 1977–81 Field goal percentage (3 made per game) Rank Field goal pct Player Career 1 59.5% (459–771) Tom Cutter 1973–77 2 59.3% (176–297) Russ DesErmia 1995–97 3 56.7% (421–743) Paul Griffin 1972–76 4 55.3% (283–512) Matt Stainbrook 2010–12 5 54.8% (568–1036) Joe Reitz 2004–08 Free throw percentage (2 made per game) Rank Free throw pct Player Career 1 90.5% (86–95) Kylo Jones 1997–99 2 89.0% (605–680) David Kool 2006–10 3 82.9% (247–298) Billy Stanback 1986–90 3 82.6% (266–322) Jason Black 1994–97 4 82.5% (329–399) Manny Newsome 1961–64

Three point field goal percentage (1 made per game) Rank 3-pt field goal pct Player Career 1 50.7% (139–274) Sean Wightman 1990–93 2 47.6% (70–147) Eli Parker 1987–89 3 46.6% (165–354) Mark Brown 1987–90 4 41.3% (171–414) Darrick Brooks 1989–93 5 40.9% (128–313) Levi Rost 2003–05 Blocks Rank Blocks Player Career 1 149 Matt Van Abbema 1991–95 2 137 Mike Seberger 1978–82 3 130 Shayne Whittington 2009–14 4 116 Ben Handlogten 1992–96 5 104 Donald Lawson 2006–10 Steals Rank Steals Player Career 1 199 Robby Collum 2000–03 2 190 Thomas Wilder 2014–18 3 185 Booker James 1983–87 4 177 Anthony Kann 2000–04 5 173 Saddi Washington 1993–98 Games played Rank Games Player Career 1 135 David Brown 2009–15 1 135 Nate Hutcheson 2009–13 3 130 Drake LaMont 2014–18 3 130 Austin Richie 2011–15 3 130 Demetrius Ward 2008–12 3 130 Thomas Wilder 2014–18

Single-season leaders

Points Rank Points Player Season (games) 1 714 David Kool 2009–10 (33) 2 654 Manny Newsome 1963–64 (20) 3 631 David Brown 2013–14 (33) 4 630 Kenny Cunningham 1979–80 (26) 5 626 Saddi Washington 1997–98 (29) Rebounds Rank Rebounds Player Season (games) 1 324 Edgar Blair 1957–58 (24) 2 316 Seth Dugan 2018–19 (32) 3 313 Bob Bolton 1960–61 (24) 4 308 Shayne Whittington 2012–13 (35) 5 300 Earl Jenkins 1970–71 (24) Assists Rank Assists Player Season (games) 1 170 Rod Brown 1999–00 (28) 2 168 Mike Douglas 2010–11 (33) 3 166 Jason Kimbrough 1997–98 (29) 4 160 Rickey Willis 2004–05 (33) 5 159 Brian Snider 2005–06 (31) Field goal percentage (3 made per game) Rank Field goal pct Player Season (games) 1 64.5% (140–217) Tom Cutter 1975–76 2 60.5% (78–129) Russ DesErmia 1995–96 3 59.92% (154–257) Ben Handlogten 1995–96 4 59.90% (115–192) Paul Griffin 1975–76 5 59.8% (134–224) Tom Cutter 1974–75

Free throw percentage (2 made per game) Rank Field throw pct Player Season (games) 1 93.2% (55–59) Thadus Williams 1998–99 2 91.7% (99–108) David Kool 2006–07 3 89.7% (209–233) David Kool 2009–10 4 89.4% (161–180) David Kool 2008–09 5 89.2% (58–65) Sean Wightman 1992–93 Three point field goal percentage (1 made per game) Rank 3-pt field goal pct Player Season (games) 1 63.2% (48–76) Sean Wightman 1991–92 2 49.3% (37–75) William Boyer-Richard 2018–19 3 48.8% (63–129) Sean Wightman 1992–93 4 48.2% (67–139) Mark Brown 1989–90 5 47.3% (61–129) Mark Brown 1987–88 Blocks Rank Blocks Player Season (games) 1 58 Shayne Whittington 2012–13 (35) 2 56 Matt Van Abbema 1993–94 (28) 3 48 LaMarcus Lowe 2008–09 (28) 4 47 Donald Lawson 2009–10 (33) 4 47 Matt Van Abbema 1992–93 (29) 4 47 Shayne Whittington 2013–14 (31) Steals Rank Steals Player Season (games) 1 83 Robby Collum 2002–03 (31) 2 72 Robby Collum 2001–02 (30) 3 63 Brian Snider 2005–06 (31) 4 62 Thomas Wilder 2017–18 (32) 5 60 Mike Williams 2003–04 (31)

NCAA records

• Ben Handlogten, highest single game field goal percentage, 100% (13–13), January 22, 1996 vs. Toledo
• David Kool, fourth highest single-season free throw percentage by a freshman, 91.7% (99–108), 2006–07
• Sean Wightman, second highest single-season three-point field goal percentage, 63.2% (48–76), 1991–92