As I sat courtside during Eastern Michigan’s final home game this season, I couldn’t help but reflect on the journey this team has taken. The 2023 season was, in many ways, a tale of two halves—marked by flashes of brilliance, frustrating inconsistencies, and a few standout performances that kept fans like me hopeful. I’ve followed Eastern Michigan basketball for over a decade, and what stood out to me this year was how the team’s identity shifted, especially after mid-season adjustments. They finished with a 16-14 overall record, which, while not spectacular, showed resilience compared to last year’s 10-22 finish. But numbers only tell part of the story. The real intrigue lies in the players’ growth and the strategic shifts that defined their campaign.
One moment that really encapsulated the team’s potential was watching Emoni Bates, the highly-touted sophomore, drop 36 points against Toledo in February. It wasn’t just the scoring—it was the way he took over in clutch moments, something we hadn’t seen consistently earlier in the season. But then there were games where the offense looked disjointed, like that head-scratching 58-49 loss to Ball State where they shot just 32% from the field. As someone who’s analyzed college hoops for years, I believe the team’s biggest hurdle was offensive rhythm. They averaged 71.2 points per game, which placed them mid-table in the MAC, but their assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.05 left much to be desired. I remember thinking during timeouts how much they missed a true floor general, someone to steady the ship when defenses tightened up.
Defensively, though, Eastern Michigan made strides that shouldn’t be overlooked. They held opponents to 68.9 points per game, down from 74.1 the previous season, thanks in large part to Noah Farrakhan’s pesky on-ball pressure and Legend Geeter’s rim protection. Geeter, in particular, impressed me with his growth—he averaged 1.8 blocks per game, and his defensive rating improved by nearly 12 points from November to March. Still, the team struggled with defensive rebounding, allowing 11.2 offensive boards per game. I’ve always believed that winning the possession battle starts on the glass, and until Eastern Michigan addresses that, they’ll have a hard time closing out against physical opponents.
Looking ahead, the future hinges on player development and recruiting. With Bates likely declaring for the draft—he’s projected as a potential second-round pick—the Eagles will need to fill a 20-point-per-game void. I’m excited about the incoming freshman class, especially point guard Jordan Brumfield, who I saw play in high school and whose court vision reminds me of a young Jalen Pickett. But relying on freshmen comes with risks, as we saw this season when the team went 4-7 in games decided by five points or fewer. In my view, the coaching staff should prioritize adding a veteran transfer, maybe a grad student with NCAA Tournament experience, to provide leadership. The MAC is wide open next year, and with the right moves, Eastern Michigan could easily jump from a .500 team to a conference contender.
Of course, no discussion of Eastern Michigan’s season would be complete without mentioning that thrilling overtime win against Bowling Green. Down by seven with under two minutes left, they clawed back with a full-court press that had the crowd on its feet. Moments like that make me optimistic, even if the season had its share of letdowns. I’ll be keeping a close eye on offseason workouts and how the roster shapes up. If they can build on this year’s defensive improvements and find more offensive consistency, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them win 20 games next season. For now, though, I’m just grateful for the progress and the promise this team has shown. They’ve laid a foundation—now it’s about building something special on it.