MAC report

SportsLine Report
June 14, 2000

A glance at 2001

The Broncos, who have never have won the MAC title, fired coach Bob Donewald after the season and brought in Illinois assistant Robert McCullum.

McCullum has focused on bringing in talented guards that are capable of lighting it up from the perimeter, which was Western's biggest problem last season (they finished dead last in the MAC in 3-point shooting at 31 percent).

Ok, so they had more than one big problem, but good shooters will definitely benefit a team that finished 10-18.

The coach

Lon Kruger's top assistant at Illinois for the last three years, McCullum is well prepared to lead Western into the 2000-01 season. He's already hit the recruiting trail hard, landing a pair of guards that are capable of contributing immediately.

Who'll be back

Not much is coming back from Western, so McCullum will have to start from scratch. Forwards Taylor Bro and Jon Powell are the two biggest returners. Bro started 22 games a year ago and Powell started 16. The guard spots are the biggest question.

Who's gone

Tony Barksdale is a huge loss, considering he scored 19.1 points per game and carried Western on the offensive end. Guards Thadus Williams and Rod Brown, Western's second and third leading scorers, also depart.

Key newcomers

• G Reggie Berry (6-4, 180, Fr.): Texas prep star chose Western over Cal State-Fullerton and Houston.
• G Robby Collum (6-1, 200, So.): Electric point guard who led Kankakee College to a fourth-place finish in the junior college Division I national tournament.
• F Anthony Kann (6-7, 225, Fr.): Starred at Davison High School, where he averaged 21.8 points and 14.2 rebounds.