Central Michigan University Athletics
CMU players Keenan Garner (left) and Conrad Luczynski answer questions Wednesday during the men's basketball media day.
Photo by: Josie Ransley '25,M'27 - @josieransmedia
10/29/2026 9:21:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Watch: Andy Bronkema Preseason Press ConferenceWatch: Conrad Luczynski and Keenan Garner Preseason Press Conference2026-27 MBB Roster2026-27 MBB Schedule
Chippewas tip off the 2026-27 season at Louisiana-Monroe on Monday, Nov. 2 in MAC-SBC Challenge; home opener set for Friday, Nov. 6
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – There are plenty of new faces to blend with the key returning pieces.
In that regard, Central Michigan is no different than the vast majority of NCAA Division I men's basketball programs around the country.
But no matter the roster composition, the program foundation is there, laid and continues to be cultivated for the Chippewas under second-year coach Andy Bronkema.
"As you see this program, the next few years you'll start to see this player development theme," Bronkema said on Wednesday during the Chippewas' Media Day. "All the guys that returned, as you're watching this, you'll see how much better they have gotten and how hard they have worked to improve their game.
"And that's really what we're all about, taking young men into our program that fit us, our system, our program, our city, our school, developing them as much as we can so that they can be successful in life. If they're here for 11 months, if they're here their whole career, two years, three, whatever it is, we're investing in them. You're going to start to see that."
Key pieces return in junior guard Phat Phat Brooks, 6-foot-7 forward Keenan Garner, and guards Jalen Kampen and Jaxson Whitaker.
Brooks, the Chippewas' third-leading scorer who ranked 10th in the Mid-American Conference in assists per game a year ago, is a budding star. But he is far from the only weapon in Bronkema's arsenal.
"I believe the full roster, one through 15, have something great to offer our team," Bronkema said. "And we're expecting them to do that. We call it starring your role. So if everybody, all 15 on the roster, are starring their role -- and the roles can ebb and flow and they can change a little bit -- but if they're stars in their role, they can impact winning and losing. And that's our expectation.
"You're going to see a lot of similarities to last year's product on the floor as far as the way we play. But I think the chemistry is going to be higher, the knowledge of the system and players being comfortable and coaches being comfortable, is going to be even higher."
The Chippewas finished 10-21, 6-12 MAC in Bronkema's first season. They were closer than their record might indicate: Eight of their conference games were decided by six points or less, and they went 3-5 in such games.
"We always talk about the value of one, the value of one play, one moment," Bronkema said. "Every play within the game can be a game-winning play, especially when it's a one-possession game. You can get exposed when you're undisciplined; that attention to detail is very, very important."
The Chippewas have added front-court beef from the transfer portal in 7-foot-2 senior Conrad Luczynski (Lenoir-Rhyne) and 6-10 senior Brock Mendoza (Pima CC).
Jake Bascom, a 6-6 freshman and 6-8 Travis Ambrose – a former CMU football player – join the fray along with 6-9 5th year Kareem Aburashed, who transferred from Wayne State before last season.
"They all play the game just a little bit differently," Bronkema said. "So (if we're) shuffling them in and out, you have to prepare for each one a little bit differently. They all play basketball in their own unique way. And that combination is pretty powerful. So it's our job to coach the cans, not the can'ts."
Garner drew 18 starts while appearing in all 31 games last season, averaging nearly 24 minutes per game, while Whitaker and Kampen averaged 18.4 and 13.9 minutes, respectively.
Bronkema said he will rely on those returning veterans, particularly Brooks and Garner, to provide leadership early in the season while the newcomers become more acclimated.
"Expectations probably haven't changed," he said. "Their ability to execute has risen. And leadership is a daily thing. And it's every rotation, it's every play. Phat, Keenan, and leadership doesn't stop there. Everybody at some point in time has a chance to lead. We always say when the eyes are on you, that's when you lead. With leadership, sometimes it's time to follow, or be the first follower. That's a form of leadership.
"We are excited about the ability we have in the locker room to lead and the growth that they've shown."
The Chippewas, perhaps unsurprisingly, finished last in the 12-team MAC preseason poll.
Not a concern, Bronkema said.
"We don't pay attention to any of that," he said. "Nobody knows who's got who on their roster, how it's going to pan out. We have zero focus on that.
"The goal is always the same: Become the best you can be and plug into the process that can get you there; do all the right things that give you the best chance to reach your full potential. That's the goal. Reaching our full potential matters in the pursuit of that. That's it."
In that regard, Central Michigan is no different than the vast majority of NCAA Division I men's basketball programs around the country.
But no matter the roster composition, the program foundation is there, laid and continues to be cultivated for the Chippewas under second-year coach Andy Bronkema.
"As you see this program, the next few years you'll start to see this player development theme," Bronkema said on Wednesday during the Chippewas' Media Day. "All the guys that returned, as you're watching this, you'll see how much better they have gotten and how hard they have worked to improve their game.
"And that's really what we're all about, taking young men into our program that fit us, our system, our program, our city, our school, developing them as much as we can so that they can be successful in life. If they're here for 11 months, if they're here their whole career, two years, three, whatever it is, we're investing in them. You're going to start to see that."
Key pieces return in junior guard Phat Phat Brooks, 6-foot-7 forward Keenan Garner, and guards Jalen Kampen and Jaxson Whitaker.
Brooks, the Chippewas' third-leading scorer who ranked 10th in the Mid-American Conference in assists per game a year ago, is a budding star. But he is far from the only weapon in Bronkema's arsenal.
"I believe the full roster, one through 15, have something great to offer our team," Bronkema said. "And we're expecting them to do that. We call it starring your role. So if everybody, all 15 on the roster, are starring their role -- and the roles can ebb and flow and they can change a little bit -- but if they're stars in their role, they can impact winning and losing. And that's our expectation.
"You're going to see a lot of similarities to last year's product on the floor as far as the way we play. But I think the chemistry is going to be higher, the knowledge of the system and players being comfortable and coaches being comfortable, is going to be even higher."
The Chippewas finished 10-21, 6-12 MAC in Bronkema's first season. They were closer than their record might indicate: Eight of their conference games were decided by six points or less, and they went 3-5 in such games.
"We always talk about the value of one, the value of one play, one moment," Bronkema said. "Every play within the game can be a game-winning play, especially when it's a one-possession game. You can get exposed when you're undisciplined; that attention to detail is very, very important."
The Chippewas have added front-court beef from the transfer portal in 7-foot-2 senior Conrad Luczynski (Lenoir-Rhyne) and 6-10 senior Brock Mendoza (Pima CC).
Jake Bascom, a 6-6 freshman and 6-8 Travis Ambrose – a former CMU football player – join the fray along with 6-9 5th year Kareem Aburashed, who transferred from Wayne State before last season.
"They all play the game just a little bit differently," Bronkema said. "So (if we're) shuffling them in and out, you have to prepare for each one a little bit differently. They all play basketball in their own unique way. And that combination is pretty powerful. So it's our job to coach the cans, not the can'ts."
Garner drew 18 starts while appearing in all 31 games last season, averaging nearly 24 minutes per game, while Whitaker and Kampen averaged 18.4 and 13.9 minutes, respectively.
Bronkema said he will rely on those returning veterans, particularly Brooks and Garner, to provide leadership early in the season while the newcomers become more acclimated.
"Expectations probably haven't changed," he said. "Their ability to execute has risen. And leadership is a daily thing. And it's every rotation, it's every play. Phat, Keenan, and leadership doesn't stop there. Everybody at some point in time has a chance to lead. We always say when the eyes are on you, that's when you lead. With leadership, sometimes it's time to follow, or be the first follower. That's a form of leadership.
"We are excited about the ability we have in the locker room to lead and the growth that they've shown."
The Chippewas, perhaps unsurprisingly, finished last in the 12-team MAC preseason poll.
Not a concern, Bronkema said.
"We don't pay attention to any of that," he said. "Nobody knows who's got who on their roster, how it's going to pan out. We have zero focus on that.
"The goal is always the same: Become the best you can be and plug into the process that can get you there; do all the right things that give you the best chance to reach your full potential. That's the goal. Reaching our full potential matters in the pursuit of that. That's it."
Players Mentioned
C
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballWednesday, October 28
Wednesday, October 28
Thursday, October 22
Thursday, June 25