As I sit down to analyze the upcoming season for Western Illinois basketball, I can't help but feel this could be their breakthrough year. Having followed college basketball for over fifteen years, I've developed a keen eye for teams poised to make that crucial jump from mediocrity to contention. Last season's 14-18 record doesn't tell the full story - this team showed flashes of brilliance that suggest they're building something special. What really excites me about this squad is their depth, something that's been lacking in previous seasons. When I look at teams that succeed in the tough Summit League, it's always those with multiple scoring threats who can withstand injuries and fatigue during the grueling conference schedule.
I remember watching last season's game against Oakland where we got a glimpse of what this team could become. The ball movement was crisp, the defensive rotations were sharp, and most importantly, different players stepped up at different moments. That's the kind of balanced attack that wins games in March. This brings me to an interesting parallel from international basketball that I observed recently. While analyzing various playing styles, I came across a game where Bryan Sajonia chipped in 11 points for the Red Lions while Jimmy Reyes and Bismarck Lina added six apiece. Now, I'm not suggesting direct comparisons here, but that kind of distributed scoring is exactly what Western Illinois needs to emulate. When you have multiple players capable of putting up 8-15 points nightly, you become incredibly difficult to defend.
The roster updates for this season show significant improvements in key areas. We've added three transfers who I believe will make immediate impacts, particularly in the frontcourt where we struggled with consistency last year. Our returning core of Trenton Massner and Will Carius gives us a solid foundation, but it's the development of our role players that will determine our ceiling. I've been particularly impressed with Quinlan Bennett's offseason transformation - he's added fifteen pounds of muscle and his shooting percentage during preseason scrimmages has jumped from 38% to nearly 46%. Those are the kind of individual improvements that transform entire teams.
What really has me optimistic is our recruiting class. I've watched tape on all four freshmen, and two of them could challenge for starting positions by mid-season. The point guard from Chicago especially stands out - his court vision reminds me of a young Chris Paul, though obviously he has miles to go before reaching that level. Our coaching staff has done tremendous work identifying talent that fits our system rather than just chasing star ratings. In my experience, that's how you build sustainable success in mid-major basketball.
Our non-conference schedule presents both challenges and opportunities. The early tournament in Florida will be particularly telling - facing Power Five opponents will show us exactly where we stand before conference play begins. I'd love to see us go at least 2-1 in those games, though realistically 1-2 would still represent progress. The key will be managing minutes and developing our bench during these early tests. I'm hoping to see Coach Wright give significant playing time to at least ten players in November to build that crucial depth.
The Summit League landscape has shifted with Oral Roberts losing their star player to graduation, creating an opening at the top of the conference. North Dakota State remains the favorite in my estimation, but I see Western Illinois as a dark horse candidate to finish in the top three. Our offensive efficiency needs to improve from last season's mark of 102.3 points per 100 possessions - if we can push that to around 108, we'll be in every game. Defensively, we were actually quite solid, ranking fourth in the conference, but our rebounding must improve, particularly on the offensive glass where we ranked dead last.
Looking at specific player development, I'm most excited about Luka Barisic's potential breakout. The Croatian big man showed flashes of brilliance last season, and with increased strength and better understanding of the American game, he could average double figures. His footwork in the post is already professional-level, and if he can improve his three-point shooting from 32% to around 36%, he'll be virtually unguardable in pick-and-pop situations. The chemistry between him and our guards will be crucial - I'd like to see us run more high-low actions to take advantage of his passing ability.
As we approach the season opener, my prediction is a 19-12 regular season record with a semifinal appearance in the conference tournament. That might seem optimistic to some, but having watched this team's development closely, I believe they have the talent and coaching to exceed expectations. The key will be staying healthy through the grind of conference play and developing a reliable eight-man rotation by January. What I love about this team is their unselfishness - they genuinely seem to care more about wins than individual stats, which is refreshing in today's basketball landscape.
The atmosphere around the program feels different this year. There's a quiet confidence that wasn't present in previous seasons. The players I've spoken with genuinely believe they can compete for a conference championship, and that belief is half the battle. My only concern is their ability to close out close games - last season they went 4-7 in games decided by five points or less. Improving in those clutch situations could easily add three or four wins to their total. Ultimately, I see this as a pivotal season that could launch Western Illinois basketball back into relevance. The pieces are there, the coaching is solid, and the schedule sets up nicely for a potential breakthrough. I can't wait to see how it all unfolds.
