Home Is Where the Heart Is

Breslin Center-Mich.

The Western Michigan Broncos will make the short bus ride from I-94 to I-69 to East Lansing on Monday to square off against in-state MSU. While the records may not suggest a close battle, there is plenty of pride on the line as 3rd year Head Coach Dwayne Stephens returns to a very familiar setting at the Breslin Center. It will surely be with mixed emotions as Tom Izzo had him as his long-time assistant for 19 years. That was after Coach Stephens completed a 4-year playing career under Izzo’s predecessor, Jud Heathcote. More to proceed after the matchup breakdown.

Checking in at #18 this week 🟢⚪️ pic.twitter.com/tZsNYORgsU

— Michigan State Men’s Basketball (@MSU_Basketball) December 23, 2024

RISING & FALLING STOCKS

This tale-of-the-tape reflects programs in opposite directions in 2024-2025. MSU is on 5-game winning streak while WMU is currently looking to buck a 4-game slide culminating with a heart-breaking, buzzer-beater loss to Valparaiso, 76-79 on 12/20. The half-court shot finished a 33-9 run by Valpo over the final 6+ minutes of the game.

MSU averages almost 13 points more-per-game, outscoring their opponents by +14.7 while WMU sits at a -6.6-scoring margin, a 20+ point difference. WMU has the assists edge per game almost 8 more to MSU, but the Broncos do rebound well offensively, only 3.5% less than MSU and holds a lower turnover percentage of 12.1% to MSU’s 14.2%. On the defensive side, WMU holds a higher Off Reb/Game at 11.2, just over the Spartan’s 10.9 per game which could pick up a few more second chance opportunities and perhaps an uptick of person fouls on MSU’s forwards if they cannot secure the initial attempt. Aside from that, MSU holds virtually every defensive advantage while WMU yields a high Opponent Effective FG % of 54.9% to MSU’s 46.1% which may open the flood gates sooner-or-later.

KEY BRONCOS

Coach Stephens currently spreads his minutes across similar status to Coach Izzo with 8 averaging over 20 minutes/game and three additional players with 10+ minutes/game. He is led by Jr Guard, Chansey Willis Jr (Detroit King HS- 2022 MI Mr. Basketball Winner) with 17.0 ppg, almost 6 rebounds/game and assists/game; Jr Guard Markhi Strickland (2-year transfer from St. Louis U.) 12.5 ppg, almost 4 rebounds/game on 49% FG shooting; Sr Forward Owen Lobsinger (Flint Powers Catholic HS) averaging 11.4 ppg, 7 rebounds/game and a healthy 84.4% FT and Jr Guard JaVaughn Hannah (Orchard Lake St. Mary’s HS) chipping in with 11.2 ppg, 3.9 rebounds/game and a respectable 46.0% FG. All 4 average over 24 minutes a game of action.

HALF-COURT BUZZER BEATER FOR THE WIN! 🚨@ValpoBasketball trailed by 22 points with just 6:51 left 🤯 pic.twitter.com/gqDKXvaEvr

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) December 20, 2024

RETURN OF “DJ”

After playing for the Spartans Coach Stephens, or “DJ” as affectionately known to those close to the program, spent 1997-1999 as an assistant at Oakland under Greg Kampe prior to coming back to East Lansing under Coach Izzo (1999-2022). During his time, Coach Stephens helped recruit and/or develop several successful big men/forwards over his time including Zach Randolph, Delvon Roe, Paul Davis, Andre Hudson, Adam Granger, Jaren Jackson Jr., Draymond Green, Goran Sutton, Xavier Tillman and Kenny Goins, among others. The Breslin Center and Izzone is expected to give him a deservedly warm return now donning the Brown and Gold, contributing a sizeable amount to the program’s sustained success under Coach Izzo’s tenure and 2000 National Championship to go along with 9 Big Ten Regular Season Championships and 6 Conference Tournament Championships.

He departed in 2022 to take over the Broncos, his first head coaching role and currently sits at 23-47 in his 3rd year.