I'm pretty excited for where this season is headed after that 45-minute thriller on Saturday. And there's only one place to go when one gets as excited as I am right now, and that's Kalamazoo, Michigan for Wednesday's game against the Broncos.

One thing not to miss when you go to a game in University Arena, which is what they call the half of Read Fieldhouse they don't use for administrative offices, is get there early, get your hot roasted nuts from Heilman's Confections, and get in your seat in time for the WMU pep band to play "I've Got a Gal (In Kalamazoo)". That song sure takes me back. Now I'm far too young to have known Glenn Miller and His Orchestra, but I think the next best thing may have been my work as a gaffer during Ben Vereen's version on Lynda Carter's "Body and Soul" song and dance special in 1984. It took 6 takes because every time he said the word "pipperoo" a network censor would shut down the production. I could not believe the abuse the censor took from Ms. Carter; you really haven't lived until you've seen Wonder Woman concuss a man with a boom microphone in real life. But Mr. Vereen was a pro and never said an angry word. After a moment like that, I could never understand how they could cast him as the evil uncle on "Webster'. And man, oh man, could that man wear a suit. I made such an impact on me that I spent many years after that trying to convince every coach in the Convo, on both our own and the visiting benches to adapt that look. Stan Joplin is the only man that ever listened to me.

Say what you will about Steve Hawkins, but one thing is certain. The man never, and I mean never, has a hair out of place. And he's got the Broncos on the right track, having won three of their last four.

The game is going to revolve around Shayne Whittington. In losses to Buffalo and Bowling Green, he totaled 12 rebounds. In wins over Central Michigan and Ball State, he ripped down 23 boards. If he's hungry for the ball, he's hard to stop. If he's hungry.

Last year's game at WMU was a grinder but the Bobcats found a way. Don't expect the story to change this time up.

Hey guess what, it might snow. That's going to be a new twist on travel this winter. But I'm so sick of being in the house that I might make the drive. I will feel extra safe passing through Michigan's Route 23 Penal Corridor; inmates are far less likely to attempt to hitchhike in inclement conditions.

Is anyone other than a fictional man going to be at this game?  I'll be working about 2 hours away and may try to jet out at 5:00 to get there in time...but the possible snow storm may derail that.

I also don't agree with the comment that our bench is short.  Even without Ric, we still have a good bench.

Oh, I doubt P.J. Fleck shows up at the basketball games.

This is your classic "let down" type game.  Hope not and they keep the momentum moving forward, which I'm sure they fully intend to do.  But it's only natural to have a bit of a hangover after such an emotional home win. 

For me, a win against WMU tonight would say more about Ohio's team this year than the Toledo victory last Saturday.  While the Toledo win was fantastic, it was a home win and a very good MAC team (like Ohio) should win most if not all of the their home MAC games, even against MAC teams as good as Toledo.  Road wins are far more difficult (just ask TOS).  Western's a very good team who plays very well at home and will probably play with a chip on their shoulder tonight.  Ohio beat them twice last year, including the MAC semis.  So WMU will come out tonight with vengeance on their mind.  So as great as Saturday was, I'll be even more impressed with Ohio if Ohio comes out with a win tonight.

* Our big men have to stay out of serious early foul trouble.
* Brown will probably get his points for Western, but we have to control their other players. That means we have to hope a player like Tava doesn't go off for a career game tonight. Against Toledo, Tava was 9 of 9 from the field and scored 25. Western will get some open looks from three. We have to hope they are not on fire, because sometimes they are at home. If so, that's trouble.
* I don't want to see this turn in to a grind it out half court game. If it does, that favors Western, because they often execute very well offensively in the half court. I'd like to see us get out in transition off steals and rebounds as much as possible.
* Don't underestimate Whittington. He's good. But he alone can't beat us.

This team beat Oakland who we lost too. One of the more underrated teams in the MAC. If we don't bring our A game we're gonna get upset.

Coach Christian makes a very good point:  we have to make some perimeter shots because the Broncos do such a good job of protecting the lane.  Does this mean we may see Mo taking several 15 foot shots or three pointers tonight?

Disappointing..but pretty predictable. Team effort of horribleness..especially interior defense. Jon Smith played one of his worst games in a Bobcat uniform tonight. Never seemed into it from the opening tip. 

Egg. Laid.