WMU struggling under new system
SCOTT SWAIN

     MUNCIE — After spending the past 10 years as an assistant at Florida and Illinois, Western Michigan first year head coach Robert McCullum leads his Broncos into Worthen Arena Saturday to face Ball State (6-5, 1-1 MAC).
     The Broncos (1-12, 1-3 MAC) are led in scoring by 6-7 junior forward Steve Reynolds. Reynolds is averaging 14.8 ppg and 5.3 rpg.
     Reynolds, a South Bend native, is a transfer player from Treasure Valley Community College. At Treasue Valley Reynolds was named to the Scenic West Athletic Conference all-region team following a season in which he averaged 19.1 ppg.
     The team's second leading scorer is Jon Powell. Powell is also a transfer (Owens [OH] Community College). He is averaging 10.6 ppg this year.
     Gone from the Western lineup is Tony Barksdale, who lit Ball State up last year with games of 17 and 24. The Broncos are much like the Cardinals, in that they are rebuiling a program with a first year coach and are bringing in their own players for their new system.
     New faces on the Bronco bench include: Robby Collum (6-1 guard, 9.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg), Nate Ritchie (6-1 guard, limited PT), Reggie Berry (6-4 guard, 7.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg), Maverick Carter (6-4 guard, 2.4 ppg, 21.5 mpg), Anthony Kann (6-7 forward, 6 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Reynolds and Terrance Slater (6-5 guard).
     Returning to the court is: Taylor Bro (6-7 forward, 6.3 ppg), KC Cavette (6-0 guard, 8.6 ppg), Tom Haskell (red shirt sophomore), Bronson Nichols (6-4 forward, walk-on).
     Western is averaging 67.8 ppg as a team, but they are letting their opponents have their way with an average of 77.5 ppg.
     Ball State should have a large advantage inside with Theron Smith, Josh Murray and Lonnie Jones on patrol.
     Smith and Murray are No. 3 & 4 in the MAC in rebounding.
     Ball State sweep the season meetings between the two teams last year. On Feb. 9 the Cardinals won 80-60 at Worthern Arena, and on Feb. 26 Ball State downed Western 91-82 in Kalamazoo.
     The keys to the game for Ball State include getting off to a good start, hustling to every loose ball and rebound, the big three inside (Smith, Murray, Jones) and keeping Smith out of foul trouble. Other important factors are for Ball State's guards to slow down and keep in check with Western's guard lineup. The Cardinals need good shot selection from Cedric Moodie and Patrick Jackson.
     Western is coming off an 79-64 loss to Akron Monday night and will be hungry for another MAC win.
     However, Ball State should be seeking to show the MAC that they are champions and that the first part of this season was about adjusting to the new Buckley system.

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