KALAMAZOO (NEWS 3) - A sold out crowd is expected tonight to watch the Western Michigan men?s basketball team host a second round game in the National Invitational Tournament.
Only a handful of tickets remained as of Monday morning.
The Broncos host Texas Christian University. Game time at University Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m.
This is also the first time in school history that Western will host a second round postseason game. The WMU men?s team has never won two postseason games in a year.
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Bronco seniors enjoy 'bonus games'
Monday, March 21, 2005
They've been through it all before -- the ceremony and emotion of senior night and the this-might-be-the-last-time-we-do-this moments that fill the final weeks of a senior's career.
Yet, for the four Western Michigan University seniors -- Ben Reed, Rickey Willis, Jeff Bronson and Levi Rost -- it
wasn't the last time. A berth in the National Invitation Tournament gave them a few more practices and a first-round NIT win at Marquette produced another home game against Texas Christian.
For this group, the nostalgia has passed -- at least temporarily -- but the pleasure of another date with Bronco fans has not.
"It's lovely," Willis said. "I can't wait and I know the fans can't wait. I'm glad we were able to do this for them."
The foursome sees this past week's practices and tonight's game as a bonus, sort of like playing with house money, only with time.
A misstep, and it's been a great career, but nothing is lost, not the memories nor the adult friendships ready to take hold. A win and it's another blackjack, a potential matchup with Maryland with a trip to New York City's Madison Square Garden on the line.
Western's seniors know this, but to win, they can't catch themselves daydreaming.
"We want to keep playing as long as we can," Rost said. "We can't have that (nostalgic) mindset. If we let that get in our head, we risk losing it.
"There's always time to be reminiscent after the season's over."
Said Reed: "I can't let it affect me. I've never been in a position where I've gotten that much love from a community."
In a safe moment, though, shortly after a recent practice, all of them easily let their guard down when talking about the others. They may not be reflecting while playing, but they've thought about the end of their time together at WMU.
"I love them," Reed said. "I love everybody on this team, especially Levi, Rickey and JB. Me, Rickey and JB met at freshman orientation. We all came from different backgrounds but we came together the first day we knew each other."
Reed talked about his roommate, Willis, and how the two of them could still relate to each other, having been through similar hardships growing up.
"Rickey might be the truest person I know," Reed said. "Jeff's the same type of person and Levi works so hard it inspires me."
Bronson said he and his fellow seniors can focus on the task at hand because they've reflected on their time together much of the season. It's out of their system, sort of.
"Ben and Rick, I love those boys to death. I'll love those boys like family forever," Bronson said. "As soon as Levi came, he was my roommate so we had time to get to know each other. He's a brother and like part of my family forever, too."
WMU coach Steve Hawkins said he'll remember something different about each of them: Reed, for stopping by Hawkins' office every day even though it's no longer required; Willis, for his smile which ultimately leaves everyone around him smiling; Bronson, for his courage playing through painfully bad knees without complaint; and Rost for how hard he worked to become the player he is.
"What I'll remember is very different from what the general public sees. I'll miss that stuff, but I'll miss this stuff more," Hawkins said.
Then again, all that mushy stuff is for tomorrow or maybe a few weeks from now. Tonight, Reed, Willis, Bronson and Rost will step on the court at University Area one more time as teammates --on bonus time.
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TCU's defense has Broncos' attention
The Western Michigan University men's basketball team spent much of Saturday's practice going over the Texas Christian scouting report -- who to guard where, what defenses the Horned Frogs play and how to recognize the defense and beat it.
The Broncos play host to TCU at 7 p.m. Monday in the second round of the NIT.
The Horned Frogs' aggressive and ever-changing defense is of major concern.
"They do a good job trying to keep you off balance with their defense and pressure," WMU coach Steve Hawkins said. "They like to be aggressive all game long and keep you reactive."
"The seniors have to handle that," senior Levi Rost said. "The younger guys have to step in, too, and not be rattled."
When TCU is on, that frenetic defense can be a pain. The Horned Frogs average more than eight steals a game and have won two of their last three games despite scoring only 60 points per game.
Yet, even with Hawkins' praise and their recent effort, the Horned Frogs were only eighth in Conference USA in scoring defense and 10th in the league in field-goal defense.
TCU relies on a three-guard lineup led by Flint (Southwestern Academy) native Corey Santee, who scores nearly 14 points per contest. The WMU coaching staff made it clear to its players that as Santee goes, so go the Horned Frogs.
"They've got good guard play. Corey Santee, he was in the same class and me and Rickey (Willis). He's got a lot of one-on-one game. He's going to be trying to win like we're trying to win."
According to WMU coaches, TCU's post players shoved Miami (Ohio) around, keying the first-round victory over the RedHawks. The Broncos will need to be physical to avoid being the Horned Frogs' second MAC victim.
Only a handful of tickets remained as of Monday morning.
The Broncos host Texas Christian University. Game time at University Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m.
This is also the first time in school history that Western will host a second round postseason game. The WMU men?s team has never won two postseason games in a year.
=======
Bronco seniors enjoy 'bonus games'
Monday, March 21, 2005
They've been through it all before -- the ceremony and emotion of senior night and the this-might-be-the-last-time-we-do-this moments that fill the final weeks of a senior's career.
Yet, for the four Western Michigan University seniors -- Ben Reed, Rickey Willis, Jeff Bronson and Levi Rost -- it
wasn't the last time. A berth in the National Invitation Tournament gave them a few more practices and a first-round NIT win at Marquette produced another home game against Texas Christian.
For this group, the nostalgia has passed -- at least temporarily -- but the pleasure of another date with Bronco fans has not.
"It's lovely," Willis said. "I can't wait and I know the fans can't wait. I'm glad we were able to do this for them."
The foursome sees this past week's practices and tonight's game as a bonus, sort of like playing with house money, only with time.
A misstep, and it's been a great career, but nothing is lost, not the memories nor the adult friendships ready to take hold. A win and it's another blackjack, a potential matchup with Maryland with a trip to New York City's Madison Square Garden on the line.
Western's seniors know this, but to win, they can't catch themselves daydreaming.
"We want to keep playing as long as we can," Rost said. "We can't have that (nostalgic) mindset. If we let that get in our head, we risk losing it.
"There's always time to be reminiscent after the season's over."
Said Reed: "I can't let it affect me. I've never been in a position where I've gotten that much love from a community."
In a safe moment, though, shortly after a recent practice, all of them easily let their guard down when talking about the others. They may not be reflecting while playing, but they've thought about the end of their time together at WMU.
"I love them," Reed said. "I love everybody on this team, especially Levi, Rickey and JB. Me, Rickey and JB met at freshman orientation. We all came from different backgrounds but we came together the first day we knew each other."
Reed talked about his roommate, Willis, and how the two of them could still relate to each other, having been through similar hardships growing up.
"Rickey might be the truest person I know," Reed said. "Jeff's the same type of person and Levi works so hard it inspires me."
Bronson said he and his fellow seniors can focus on the task at hand because they've reflected on their time together much of the season. It's out of their system, sort of.
"Ben and Rick, I love those boys to death. I'll love those boys like family forever," Bronson said. "As soon as Levi came, he was my roommate so we had time to get to know each other. He's a brother and like part of my family forever, too."
WMU coach Steve Hawkins said he'll remember something different about each of them: Reed, for stopping by Hawkins' office every day even though it's no longer required; Willis, for his smile which ultimately leaves everyone around him smiling; Bronson, for his courage playing through painfully bad knees without complaint; and Rost for how hard he worked to become the player he is.
"What I'll remember is very different from what the general public sees. I'll miss that stuff, but I'll miss this stuff more," Hawkins said.
Then again, all that mushy stuff is for tomorrow or maybe a few weeks from now. Tonight, Reed, Willis, Bronson and Rost will step on the court at University Area one more time as teammates --on bonus time.
=====
TCU's defense has Broncos' attention
The Western Michigan University men's basketball team spent much of Saturday's practice going over the Texas Christian scouting report -- who to guard where, what defenses the Horned Frogs play and how to recognize the defense and beat it.
The Broncos play host to TCU at 7 p.m. Monday in the second round of the NIT.
The Horned Frogs' aggressive and ever-changing defense is of major concern.
"They do a good job trying to keep you off balance with their defense and pressure," WMU coach Steve Hawkins said. "They like to be aggressive all game long and keep you reactive."
"The seniors have to handle that," senior Levi Rost said. "The younger guys have to step in, too, and not be rattled."
When TCU is on, that frenetic defense can be a pain. The Horned Frogs average more than eight steals a game and have won two of their last three games despite scoring only 60 points per game.
Yet, even with Hawkins' praise and their recent effort, the Horned Frogs were only eighth in Conference USA in scoring defense and 10th in the league in field-goal defense.
TCU relies on a three-guard lineup led by Flint (Southwestern Academy) native Corey Santee, who scores nearly 14 points per contest. The WMU coaching staff made it clear to its players that as Santee goes, so go the Horned Frogs.
"They've got good guard play. Corey Santee, he was in the same class and me and Rickey (Willis). He's got a lot of one-on-one game. He's going to be trying to win like we're trying to win."
According to WMU coaches, TCU's post players shoved Miami (Ohio) around, keying the first-round victory over the RedHawks. The Broncos will need to be physical to avoid being the Horned Frogs' second MAC victim.
