KALAMAZOO -- Western Michigan men's basketball head coach Steve Hawkins has announced the Broncos' 2009-10 non-conference schedule. The two-time defending Mid-American Conference West Division champions will open the season on Nov. 15 at in-state rival Detroit and play their home opener three days later against defending Colonial Athletic Association champion VCU on Nov. 18.

"I think this schedule will give us a lot of preparation for MAC play," Hawkins said. "The one thing that is interesting about this schedule is for the first time since I've been here, we have more home games than true road games, which I'm happy about. The thing the fans should be happy about is the quality of those home games with VCU, Temple, Holy Cross and Sam Houston State.

"At first glance, (the schedule) appears to be a little bit more balanced than in the past, but you just don't know. You can schedule with the best of intentions, yet it may end up being a tougher schedule than you originally thought or it may be a weaker schedule. We won't know until the end of the year and look back."

This season's home schedule is highlighted by six games against outstanding competition that includes two 2009 NCAA Tournament teams in VCU on Nov. 18 and Temple on Dec. 1 and two other perennial conference championship contenders in Holy Cross on Nov. 28 and Sam Houston State on Jan. 3.

The away portion of the schedule is highlighted by the inaugural Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu from Dec. 22-25 that features USC, UNLV, Saint Mary's, SMU, Hawai'i, College of Charleston and Northeastern. USC, UNLV, Saint Mary's, College of Charleston and Northeastern all reached the postseason in 2009.

The Broncos will also play at 2009 NCAA Tournament team Illinois on Dec. 13 in the start of a home-and-home series that will see the Illini return to Kalamazoo in 2010-11.

"(Playing the Illini) will give our kids a chance to go into a big-time atmosphere and play in front of a very enthusiastic crowd," Hawkins said. "It will be a lot of fun. It could also give us a frame of reference to draw from when we do play in some tough gyms in the MAC."

For the first time since the 1999-2000 season, the Broncos will open with in-state rival Detroit on Nov. 15. WMU has won two meetings in a row for the first time since 1974-75 and will be looking for back-to-back wins at Detroit for the first time since 1966 and 1968.

The Broncos return to Kalamazoo for their home opener against VCU on Nov. 18. The Rams went 24-10 and lost to UCLA in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

WMU goes back on the road to play another Horizon League opponent at Loyola (Ill.) on Nov. 23 and a return BracketBusters engagement on Dec. 9 at Eastern Illinois.

The Broncos have back-to-back home games against Holy Cross and Temple on Nov. 28 and Dec. 1. The Crusaders went 18-14 last season on the way to a second place finish in the Patriot League and a berth in the Patriot League Tournament championship game. The Owls went 22-12 and won the Atlantic 10 Tournament for the second season in a row before falling to Arizona State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

After a road stretch at Eastern Illinois and Illinois on Dec. 9 and Dec. 13, the Broncos will tune up for the Diamond Head Classic with a home game against Kennesaw State of the Atlantic Sun Conference on Dec. 19.

Upon their return from Hawai'i, the Broncos will play two more home games before conference play picks up against Sam Houston State on Jan. 3 and Michigan-Dearborn on Jan. 5. The Bearkats went 18-12 last season, including a 12-4 mark in the Southland Conference.

The Broncos return three starters among six returning letterwinners from last season's MAC West champions, including Second Team All-MAC guard David Kool and MAC All-Freshman Team forward Flenard Whitfield.

Season ticket renewals will be mailed out at the beginning of August, while individual game tickets go on sale Sept. 28. Stay tuned to WMUBroncos.com for more ticket information.

2009-10 Western Michigan Men’s Basketball Schedule

Nov. 15 at Detroit
Nov. 18 VCU
Nov. 23 at Loyola (Ill.)
Nov. 28 HOLY CROSS
Dec. 1 TEMPLE
Dec. 9 at Eastern Illinois
Dec. 13 at Illinois
Dec. 19 KENNESAW STATE
Dec. 22-25 Diamond Head Classic
Jan. 3 SAM HOUSTON STATE
Jan. 5 MICHIGAN-DEARBORN