Western Michigan Broncos
Record: 23-9
Head coach: Steve Hawkins (11th season)
Season summary: Western Michigan took a share of the regular season Mid-American Conference title and defeated co-champion Toledo in the conference tournament final to earn its first NCAA tournament berth since 2004. The Broncos are led by senior guard David Brown and senior center Shayne Whittington on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Brown is Western Michigan's go-to scorer, and Whittington is the Broncos dominant force on the glass. Western Michigan played only one game against a ranked opponent—then-No. 24 ranked Missouri—and lost by just six points. The trademark of this Broncos team has been efficiency on the offensive end, where they rank 61st in the nation in field goal percentage (46.6% FG).
How they make a run: Catch a break by getting seeded against a team that has been awful of late (*cough* Syracuse *cough*) and continue to be efficient on the offensive end and making each shot count.
How they falter: The Broncos are unable to solve the zone defense of a more athletic Syracuse team and cannot find a way to put the ball in the basket.
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