The unofficial online home for fans of the Western Michigan University Broncos. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

Every new season offers hope.

This year I believe those that hope WMU will vastly improve have merit.

But before this year lets look even further down the road.

Two recruits verballed and will sign shortly. Their positions back fill what will graduate off of the current squad. There was and may still be talk about adding an additional player (wing and or big body). Only reading common available sources I'm not seeing any movement. But that's ok. The existing depth, even the green untested "shoots" have the ceiling to bloom and bear fruit later. I think the current first year players all have potential to contribute significantly. Some sooner than others but if kept intact it should pay large dividends.

SO I'm not worried that its "All quiet on the Western Front" to add another player or two.

First year players aside looking at the coming campaign Greg Lee will be missed. He was a talent still scratching the surface of potential. Given the latitude to assert himself going into conference play he excelled. He played both ends of the floor and could make others better as he could and did pass well. The only knock was he didn't have much support around him on the front line in particular. Titus had become a strategic defensive focus of other teams. Initially he didn't fair well with double teams. It only got worse. On the perimeter B Artis displayed his athleticism but played with velcro hands. Unless he was looking to score (90% of time) he rarely made others around him better.

The others who left were all great reps of the university. However, their skill set and production will be replaced and augmented by both new faces but others who finally got the wraps taken off them.

There is only 1 ball but 5 players on the court. If you need the ball in your hands to display success you're a liability in my book. I suspect that this year there is ample talent 1-5 that anyone spot can make a difference in a game or in a run during the game. I also think the bench will be far deeper and more talented. Add in that several players can play multiple positions the staff will have no excuse other than players effort and ability to execute. Ability includes making 90% of "bunnies" even when contested. Consistently averaging getting to the line 25x a game and making 76% or 19 FT. Drawing fouls and making FT's is a skill. If player A isn't cutting it there is a quality replacement on the bench. A positive TO ratio is a collective skill.

Someone mentioned from observing the recent Hardwood scrimmages that his mind drifted to who wouldn't play. Implying what he was watching was higher talent than expected. Again, only 5 at a time and generally only 40 min available so who sits?' A good "issue" to have.

I haven't seen any of the new faces play. But I will speculate on a starting 5 and those pushing them. Again, I have no inside knowledge. I do know that the staff is in the 2nd year of a 2 year contract. Winning is an imperative. And it is attainable.

Norman, White, Freeman, McMillen, Wright. Are starters. I can see McMillen not with possibly Hastings playing a stretch 4. At times I can see Martin, Smith and or Etchison when going small with Wright, McMillen or Kolp at the 5 .

The next 3 in the rotation are Martin, Smith and Hastings.

Others who likely will vie for immediate time though maybe limited initially are Etchison and Kolp. If there is a wild card I would say Gus tops the list. Many buzz about his skill and toughness. If reports are 75% accurate he will see the floor more. You don't sit someone who is putting in the hole and ball hawking and not backing off on D.

The other wild card is Smith. He's established. He has a wider body that he can play the 3 using his arse to block out and keep others off the glass. But his game is centered around shooting and making 3's. If he is and isn't hurting the team on D he gets more minutes. If he isn't there are viable options with higher ceilings.

Kimble and Fuller intrigue me. Less is known (by me). I don't see them as warm bodies or back fillers. Last year Covid really put a curve in assessing talent and recruiting. To the staff's credit I think they stole some legit talent.

Lobsinger is a known quantity to the staff. They were on him for a long time and I think he is a good get. A bigger body with shooting range the key for him is quickness and lift. You are who you can guard. Playing against others 3-4 years older at this stage can be a challenge. Not sure he would actually push McMillen, Hastings or Kolp. Maybe he sees minutes as a pick n pop 5 using his range on O and bulk down low on D and going with better athletes around him.

I trust the staff will see any and all of this through.

Hoping to catch a game or two this season. This could be an exciting season.

^ Tony Paul of Detroit News reported that Clayton’s contract has been extended to third year.

(10-22-2021 06:35 AM)okgc Wrote:  ^ Tony Paul of Detroit News reported that Clayton’s contract has been extended to third year.

Deserved

His recruiting has been off the charts.

(10-22-2021 06:02 PM)pono Wrote:  His recruiting has been off the charts.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/st...ts-players

Somewhat related

What a great writeup. You're a sage GB.

Thanks a ton for the write up! So much more than we get in local coverage. Always appreciate the insight.

Decisions Decision time
Signing Day Wednesday
Regular season starts Wednesday.
With the college game experience of the probable top 9 or so players will any of the new kids get an option to Red Shirt? ?

I think this staff, with their development chops and the work ethic of the young fellas, would love 1 or 2 to redshirt.