WMU fends off Northern Illinois, 71-52

By Phill Swanson

(Robert Youngs / Western Herald) Broncos guard Mike Redell works against Northern Illinois’ Mike DiNunno during their 71-52 win on Saturday. Redell popped in 15 points on 8 of 14 shooting.w

Western Herald

Head coach Steve Hawkins said senior point guard Michael Redell is the quietest guy off the court. Saturday afternoon he blew out the speakers at University Arena.

Redell ignited the Broncos (6-10, 3-0 Mid-American Conference) outside shooting in their 71-52 victory over Northern Illinois University (5-10, 1-2). The Broncos finished 14-for-28 from behind the arc, the second most single-game three-pointers made in school history.

“We were saving them up, that’s all,” senior forward Derek Drews, who led the Broncos with 17 points, said. “We thought it was time to start shooting well, so we turned that switch on.”

Redell, who has been a lightning rod for criticism this year, was first to flip the switch. Redell buried his foot in critics’ mouths, shooting 4-for-7 from behind the arc while playing nearly flawless in the frontcourt. But
it wasn’t a conscious decision on Redell’s part before the game to shoot the ball more than normal.

“Every team defensively, their philosophies are different, so you have an idea going in on how teams are going to guard you,” Redell said. “Northern Illinois, with their zone, there are a lot of spots that are open for drive and kicks, especially with all of the attention on Dave [David Kool] and Drews. I was open and hit some shots.”

As for the criticism, Redell  showed on Saturday that he won’t let it distract his play.

“I really don’t listen to it,” Redell said. “I’ve been playing this game for a long time and I know what I can and I can’t do. I’m comfortable in my own skin. People are going to praise you when you don’t necessarily deserve it and people are going criticize you when you don’t necessarily deserve it. As long as you’re comfortable in your own skin and what you’re doing and how hard you’re working that’s really all that matters.”

Redell wasn’t the only Bronco hot from behind the arc. Drews added four threes and senior guard Andre Ricks hit three of his own.

However, both teams started the night slow before the Broncos finished the first half on a 22-8 run and with a 17-point lead, 37-20. Twenty points is the fewest the Broncos have allowed all season in a half.

The Huskies came out strong in the second half though, mounting a 15-6 run in the first seven minutes of the half. Ricks and junior Martelle McLemore hit back-to-back three balls, sinking the Huskies hopes and extending the lead to 12, giving the Broncos a double-digit lead for the remainder of the game.

The Broncos have now had three straight wins, 70-point games and seen  an emergence of freshman talent. But, the Bronco recipe has been different each night, an advantage when opposing teams go to game plan.
“I have no idea how a team is going to play us from game to game because I wouldn’t know how to play us from game to game,” Hawkins said. “Should you go zone, should you go man?”

In two different games this week the Broncos have had four players in double digits. Only two were the same in each game (Kool and Drews). The Broncos’ quick start in the MAC was no accident. During what Hawkins admits is a rebuilding year, he and his coaching staff have finally unveiled what they think will give the Brown and Gold the best chance in conference play.

“We knew as a coaching staff changes we wanted to make and we started making them a month ago and told the team we weren’t going to show them until conference play because there was just no sense in it,” Hawkins said. “We knew we needed to get off to a quick start.”

That quick start is in jeopardy of slowing down this week. With a two game road trip starting Tuesday at Ball State University, the Broncos will depend on the leadership of its seniors and the emergence of a consistent freshman presence to extend the lead in the MAC West. The Broncos return home Jan. 27 against the University at Buffalo.

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Posted by HeraldAdmin on Jan 19 2009. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

Cody Kimball
Web Manager: I'm a Communication Student at WMU, a SCUBA Diver, Boater, Ordained Minister, Notary Public, Web Designer, Film Maker, DJ, and of course a Journalist. Born and raised in Port Huron, MI and a graduate of SC4. http://www.codykimball.com