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Week 1: WIU men open season with busy week

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

Leathernecks play three games in five days

GAME INFO
Who: Western Illinois (0-0) at Illinois State (0-0)
When: Monday, Nov. 7, 7 p.m.
Where: Redbird Arena, Normal, Ill.
Social Media: Twitter; Facebook
Live stats
On the air
Audio
Television: Marquee Sports Network
 
 
Who: Rockford University (0-0) at Western Illinois (0-0)
When: Wednesday, Nov. 9, 6 pm.
Where: LeRoy A. Ufkes Court at Western Hall, Macomb, Ill.
Social Media: Twitter; Facebook
Live stats
On the air
Audio
 
 
Who: Western Illinois at DePaul (0-0)
When: Friday, Nov. 11, 9 p.m.
Where: Wintrust Arena, Chicago, Ill.
Social Media: Twitter; Facebook
Live stats
Audio
TV: FS2
On the air
 
The Western Illinois men's basketball program officially tips off the 2022-23 season this week with a trio of games.
 
The Leathernecks begin the year Monday, making the trip east to take on in-state rival, Illinois State. The game begins at 7 p.m. Two days later, Western Illinois christens the regular-season home schedule, taking on Rockford University. The Leathernecks close out the week on the road Friday night, traveling to Chicago to take on DePaul at 9 p.m. 

Notes:
-The Leathernecks won their exhibition opener on Tuesday, topping Monmouth College 89-61. Trenton Massner led the way, scoring a team-high 25 points. Alec Rosner added 14 while Vuk Stevanic scored 11, Quinlan Bennett tallied nine and Jesiah West and Steph Gabriel each chipped in with eight.

-Monday's game is the 105th time the Leatehrnecks and Redbirds have met. Illinois State leads the all-time series 63-41. The two programs have not met since an 87-83 ISU overtime win on Dec. 31, 2000.

-Wednesday's game is the first time Western Illinois and Rockford University have met on the basketball court.

-Friday is the fourth time the Leathernecks and Blue Demons have met. DePaul is 2-1 all-time against WIU, winning 84-80 last season and 91-72 in December of 2020. WIU's lone win against DePaul was a 72-69 triumph on Dec. 9, 1989.
 
About the Redbirds: Illinois State opens the season with a new head coach as Ryan Pedon takes over the program. Pedon was previously the assistant coach at Ohio State. The Redbirds went 13-20 last season. ISU returns six scholarship players from a season ago – led by forward Kendall Lewis who averaged 9.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Also back is Liam McChesney who averaged 4.5 points and 3.1. Newcomers to the squad include fifth-year guard Seneca Knight, a former All-Mountain West Third Team honoree who averaged 17.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game in 2019-20 and played last season at BYU, Darius Burford, who averaged 13.4 points per for Elon, former Leatherneck Colton Sandage and junior guards Luke Kasubke and Malachi Poindexter, who played for Kansas State and Virginia, respectively last season. Joe Petrakis comes to the Redbirds as a graduate transfer with two seasons of eligibility remaining after averaging eight points per game for Western Carolina.

About the Regents: Rockford is led by Jeremy Reigle, who is entering his third year as head coach. Rockford went 15-9 last season. The Regents must replace the top two scorers from last year's team, Brandon Emerick and DJ Bonds. Third-leading scorer TJ (Noody) Lacey returns from last season.
 
About the Blue Demons: DePaul is led by coach Tony Stubblefield, who enters his second season as head coach. Last year DePaul went 15-16 overall. The Blue Demons return starters Jalen Terry, Nick Ongenda  and Philmon Gebrewhit from last year's team.

Guess Who's Back:
Trenton Massner highlights the list of returnees for the Leathernecks. Massner led the team in every major statistical category last season (36 mpg, 16.4 ppg, 4 apg, 6.2 rpg, 1.8 spg and .6 bpg). Also back is sophomore KJ Lee who emerged at the end of the season, playing 10.2 minutes per game. Also back is Quinlan Bennett, who missed last season due to injury. Matthew Wade, Braden Lamar and Robert Jeter IV also return.

New Faces:
The Leathernecks brought in plenty of new faces with seven transfers and three true freshmen joining the roster. Alec Rosner (Winona State), Jesiah West (Southeastern CC), JJ Kalakon (Triton CC), Vuk Stevanic (St. Francis), Steph Gabriel (Highland CC), Coby Collinsworth (Clarendon) and Elijah Farr (Murray State) all joined the roster as transfers.
De'Meiko Anderson (Minneapolis North), Dirin Bihiray (Brebeuf Jesuit, Indianapolis) and Jake Fisher (Oconomowoc, Wis.) are freshmen new to the Leatherneck brigade.
 
Summit Projections:
Massner was selected Preseason All-Conference First Team honors.
 
Massner was one of six players named to the Summit League First Team, highlighted by Preseason Player of the Year, Max Abmas of Oral Roberts.
 
The conference also unveiled its preseason conference poll with the Leathernecks checking in at seventh. Western Illinois received 294 points. Oral Roberts was named the preseason favorite, earning 731 points and 28 of 40 first-place votes.
 
Up Next:
The hectic schedule continues for Western Illinois as the Leathernecks head to the Sunshine State. Playing their fourth game in eight days, Western Illinois takes on Central Florida at 6 p.m. on Monday.
 


 
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