By JOHN BOHNENKAMP

MACOMB, Ill. — The summer was about blending the returners and the newcomers for Western Illinois’ men’s basketball team.

New head coach Chad Boudreau was hoping that the first few days of workouts since the Leathernecks got back on campus wouldn’t be about starting over.

They weren’t.

“You worry about the summers and the reset,” Boudreau said. “Last week and this week, it’s been a review, and I’m shocked where we’re at. We’re far enough along with the returners that they’re able to teach the new guys. That’s good to see.”

It’s a mix of seven returning players and eight newcomers among the scholarship players and the walk-ons, but Boudreau added two players — 6-9 forward Tay Knox and 6-7 forward Jacksun Hamilton — since the summer workouts ended.

“Any time you bring this many new faces in, there’s a lot to bring together,” Boudreau said. “But we have guys who know how to play. It’s been an easy transition, and it’s only going to get better.”

Boudreau, the associate head coach for the last three seasons under former coach Rob Jeter, wanted to build a deep roster. The Leathernecks lost their three top scorers from last season’s 16-14 team, but return guard Quinlan Bennett and forward Jesiah West, who each averaged 9.7 points per game.

The recruiting class was a mix of junior-college players and transfers, and the result was a roster that Boudreau said has more depth.

“We have good depth, we have good athleticism,” Boudreau said. “I wanted a lot more size and athleticism, the ability to make outside shots, and it’s all coming together.”

The Leathernecks released their 2023-24 schedule on Wednesday, including their 18-game schedule in their first season in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Western Illinois opens at Texas-San Antonio on November 6, followed by a game two days later at SMU. The Leathernecks also have road games against Big Ten teams Illinois and Wisconsin, Valparaiso of the Missouri Valley Conference, Green Bay from the Horizon League and Central Arkansas from the ASUN. Home games include Southern on November 17 and December 3 against former Summit League foe South Dakota.

“The next two or three months will be about getting us to where we’re a machine on offense, a machine on defense, and be able to make adjustments,” Boudreau said. “I want to play different ways. In the past, because of our depth, we had to play a certain way. We’ll have a core where we’re really good at. But I want us to be able to play different ways, and be able to adjust.

“The nice thing is we really have a good group of older, more mature guys. And it’s easier to coach that way, when they’re buying in. We’re not forcing anybody to buy in. Everybody is already bought in, doing what we ask them to do.”

COACHING STAFF: Kyle Heikkinen has been promoted to associate head coach. Chris Hill and John Clancy join the program as assistant coaches. Kamrein Street has been promoted to assistant coach after being the team’s director of basketball operations. Kris Glover is now assistant coach and director of player personnel.

NONCONFERENCE SCHEDULE

November 6 — at Texas-San Antonio; November 8 — at SMU; November 12 — St. Ambrose; November 17 — Southern; November 21 — at Valparaiso; November 24 — at Illinois; November 27 — at Wisconsin; November 30 — Hannibal-LaGrange; December 3 — South Dakota; December 6 — Coe; December 9 — at Green Bay; December 18 — Eureka; December 20 — at Central Arkansas 

OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

December 31 — At SIU-Edwardsville; January 4 — Southeast Missouri State; January 6 — Lindenwood; January 11 — At Tennessee-Martin; January 13 — At Eastern Illinois; January 20 — Tennessee State; January 25 — At Southern Indiana; January 27 — At Morehead State; February 1 — At Lindenwood; February 3 — At Southeast Missouri State; February 8 — Little Rock; February 10 — Tennessee-Martin; February 15 — At Tennessee Tech; February 17 — At Tennessee State; February 22 — Morehead State; February 24 — Southern Indiana; February 29 — Eastern Illinois; March 2 — SIU-Edwardsville

Photo: Jesiah West drives to the basket during last March’s Summit League tournament. (Dave Eggen/Inertia)