Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball

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This article is about men's basketball team. For women's basketball team, see WKU Lady Toppers basketball.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
2018–19 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers wordmark.svg
UniversityWestern Kentucky University
Head coachRick Stansbury (3rd season)
ConferenceC-USA
LocationBowling Green, Kentucky
ArenaE. A. Diddle Arena
(Capacity: 7,500)
NicknameHilltoppers
ColorsRed and White[1]
         
Uniforms
Kit body thinsidesonwhite.png
Home jersey
Kit shorts thinsidesonwhite.png
Team colours
Home
Kit body thinwhitesides.png
Away jersey
Kit shorts whitesides.png
Team colours
Away


NCAA Tournament Final Four
1971*
NCAA Tournament Elite Eight
1940, 1971*
NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen
1960, 1962, 1966, 1971*, 1978, 1993, 2008
NCAA Tournament Round of 32
1976, 1978, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1995, 2008, 2009
NCAA Tournament Appearances
1940, 1960, 1962, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1971*,1976, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013
*vacated by NCAA
Conference Tournament Champions
1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1965, 1966, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1993, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013
Conference Regular Season Champions
1949, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1982 ,1987, 1994, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009
Conference Division Season Champions
Sun Belt East: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009[2]

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team is the men's basketball team that represents Western Kentucky University (WKU) in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The Hilltoppers currently compete in Conference USA; the team's most recent appearance in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament was in 2013. Rick Stansbury was announced as the team's current head coach on March 28, 2016.[3]

The men's basketball program has the 16th most victories in the history of the NCAA[4] and has attained the eighth best winning percentage in NCAA history;[4] the school made an NCAA Final Four appearance in 1971, which was later vacated, and has made four NIT Final Four appearances, including three in the early days of the NIT when it was on par with the NCAA tournament. The program has won numerous Ohio Valley Conference championships and was very competitive in its previous conference, the Sun Belt Conference, regularly finishing near the top of the conference and competing for the conference championship. In 2014, the Hilltoppers joined Conference USA following conference realignment.

Street & Smith's publication "100 Greatest Programs", ranked WKU #31. WKU has had 30 All Americans and 56 Hilltoppers have played professionally following their collegiate careers.

Season-by-season results[edit]

Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
J.L. Arthur (Independent) (1914–1916)
1914–15 Western Kentucky State Normal School 5–1
1915–16 WKS 2–1
J.L.Arthur: 7–2 (.875)
No Team (World War I) (1916–1921)
L.T. Smith (Independent) (1921–1922)
1921–22 Western Kentucky State Normal School and Teachers College 3–1
L.T.Smith: 3–1 (.750)
E. A. Diddle (Independent) (1922–1926)
1922–23 WKS 12–2
1923–24 WKS 9–9
1924–25 WKS 8–6
1925–26 WKS 10–4
E. A. Diddle (Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1926–1948)
1926–27 WKS 12–7
1927–28 WKS 10–7
1928–29 WKS 8–10
1929–30 WKS 4–12
1930–31 WKS 11–3
1931–32 WKS 15–8 1st KIAC
1932–33 WKS 16–6 1st KIAC
1933–34 WKS 28–8 1st KIAC 1st SIAA
1934–35 WKS 24–3 1st KIAC
1935–36 WKS 26–4 1st KIAC National Olympic Trials
1936–37 WKS 21–2 1st KIAC 1st SIAA
1937–38 WKS 30–3 1st KIAC 1st SIAA NAIA * (declined / forfeit)
1938–39 WKS 22–3 1st KIAC 1st SIAA
1939–40 WKS 24–6 1st KIAC 1st SIAA NCAA Elite 8
1940–41 WKS 22–4 1st SIAA
1941–42 WKS 29–5 1st KIAC 1st SIAA NIT Runner Up
1942–43 WKS 24–3 1st KIAC NIT Quarterfinals
1943–44 WKS 13–9
1944–45 WKS 17–10
1945–46 WKS 15–19
1946–47 WKS 25–4 1st KIAC 1st SIAA
1947–48 Western Kentucky State College 28–2 1st KIAC
NCAA Annual Team Champions		 NIT 3rd place
E. A. Diddle (Ohio Valley Conference) (1948–1964)
1948–49 WKSC 25–4 8–2 1st NIT Quarterfinals
1949–50 WKSC 25–6 8–0 1st NIT Quarterfinals
1950–51 WKSC 19–10 4–4 4th NCT 1st Round
1951–52 WKSC 26–5 11–1 1st NIT Quarterfinals
1952–53 WKSC 25–6 8–2 2nd NIT Quarterfinals
1953–54 WKSC 29–3 9–1 1st NIT 4th Place
1954–55 WKSC 18–10 8–2 1st
1955–56 WKSC 16–12 7–3 T-1st
1956–57 WKSC 17–9 9–1 T-1st
1957–58 WKSC 14–11 5–5 3rd
1958–59 WKSC 16–10 8–4 2nd
1959–60 WKSC 21–7 10–2 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1960–61 WKSC 18–8 9–3 T-1st
1961–62 WKSC 17–10 11–1 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1962–63 WKSC 5–16 3–9 7th
1963–64 WKSC 5–16 3–11 8th
E. A. Diddle: 759–302 (.715) 121–51
John Oldham (Ohio Valley Conference) (1964–1971)
1964–65 WKSC 18–9 10–4 2nd NIT Quarterfinals
1965–66 Western Kentucky University 25–3 14–0 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1966–67 WKU 23–3 13–1 1st NCAA Round of 23
1967–68 WKU 18–7 9–5 3rd
1968–69 WKU 16–10 9–5 3rd
1969–70 WKU 22–3 14–0 1st NCAA Round of 25
1970–71 WKU 24–6 12–2 1st NCAA Final Four * (Vacated)
John Oldham: 142–40 (.780) 81–17
Jim Richards (Ohio Valley Conference) (1971–1978)
1971–72 WKU 15–11 9–5 T-1st
1972–73 WKU 10–16 6–8 6th (NCAA Probation)
1973–74 WKU 15–10 8–6 4th (NCAA Probation)
1974–75 WKU 16–8 11–3 2nd (NCAA Probation)
1975–76 WKU 20–9 11–3 1st NCAA Round of 32
1976–77 WKU 10–16 6–8 T-5th
1977–78 WKU 16–14 9–5 t-3rd NCAA Sweet Sixteen
Jim Richards: 102–84 (.548) 60–38
Gene Keady (Ohio Valley Conference) (1978–1980)
1978–79 WKU 17–11 7–5 T-2nd
1979–80 WKU 21–8 10–2 T-1st NCAA Round of 48
Gene Keady: 38–19 (.667) 17–7
Clem Haskins (Ohio Valley Conference) (1980–1982)
1980–81 WKU 21–8 12–2 1st NCAA Round of 48
1981–82 WKU 19–10 13–3 T-1st NIT 1st Round
Clem Haskins (Sun Belt Conference) (1982–1986)
1982–83 WKU 12–16 4–10 7th
1983–84 WKU 12–17 5–9 6th
1984–85 WKU 14–14 5–9 7th
1985–86 WKU 23–8 10–4 2nd NCAA Round of 32
Clem Haskins: 101–73 (.580) 49–37
Murray Arnold (Sun Belt Conference) (1986–1990)
1986–87 WKU 29–9 12–2 1st NCAA Round of 32
1987–88 WKU 15–13 6–8 6th
1988–89 WKU 14–15 4–10 7th
1989–90 WKU 13–17 7–7 T-3rd
Murray Arnold: 71–54 (.568) 29–27
Ralph Willard (Sun Belt Conference) (1990–1994)
1990–91 WKU 14–14 8–6 T-3rd
1991–92 WKU 21–11 10–6 4th NIT 1st Round
1992–93 WKU 26–6 14–4 2nd NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1993–94 WKU 20–11 14–4 1st NCAA Round of 64
Ralph Willard: 81–42 (.667) 46–20
Matt Kilcullen (Sun Belt Conference) (1994–1998)
1994–95 WKU 27–4 17–1 1st NCAA Round of 32
1995–96 WKU 13–14 10–8 T-3rd
1996–97 WKU 12–15 9–9 T-6th
1997–98 WKU 10–19 6–12 T-8th (Ron Brown and Al Seibert named Co-head Coach after 23 games)
Ron Brown and Al Seibert (Co. head coaches last 6 games in 1997–98 season) (3–3)
Matt Kilcullen: 59–49 (.546) 42–30
Ron Brown and Al Seibert: 3–3 (.500)
Dennis Felton (Sun Belt Conference) (1998–2003)
1998–99 WKU 13–16 7–7 T-3rd
1999–00 WKU 11–18 8–8 5th
2000–01 WKU 24–7 14–2 1st (East) NCAA Round of 64
2001–02 WKU 28–4 13–1 1st (East) NCAA Round of 64
2002–03 WKU 24–9 12–2 1st (East) NCAA Round of 64
Dennis Felton: 100–54 (.649) 54–20
Darrin Horn (Sun Belt Conference) (2003–2008)
2003–04 WKU 15–13 8–6 5th
2004–05 WKU 22–9 9–5 2nd (East) NIT 2nd Round
2005–06 WKU 23–8 12–2 1st (East) NIT 1st Round
2006–07 WKU 22–11 12–6 2nd (East)
2007–08 WKU 29–7 16–2 T–1st (East) NCAA Sweet Sixteen
Darrin Horn: 111–48 (.698) 57–21
Ken McDonald (Sun Belt Conference) (2008–2012)
2008–09 WKU 25–8 15–3 1st (East) NCAA Round of 32
2009–10 WKU 21–13 12–6 3rd (East)
2010–11 WKU 16–16 8–8 3rd (East)
2011–12 WKU 5–11 1–2 – (Ray Harper promoted to Head Coach after 16 games)
Ken McDonald: 67–48 (.583) 36–19
Ray Harper (Sun Belt Conference) (2012–2014)
2011–12 WKU 11–8 10–7 T-3rd (East) NCAA Round of 64
2012–13 WKU 20–16 10–10 4th (East) NCAA Round of 64
2013–14 WKU 21–11 12–6 2nd
Ray Harper (Conference USA) (2014–2016)
2014–15 WKU 20–12 12–6 4th
2015–16 WKU 18–16 8–10 8th
Ray Harper: 90–63 (.588) 42–34
Rick Stansbury (Conference USA) (2016–present)
2016–17 WKU 15–17 9–9 8th
2017–18 WKU 27–11 14-4 3rd NIT Final Four
2018–19 WKU 20-14 11-7 2nd
Rick Stansbury: 62–42 (.939) 34–20
Total: 1782–914 (.661)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

[5][6] [7]

BOLD indicates lead the NCAA in victories.[8]
NCT – National Campus Tournament
NAIA – National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
NIT – National Invitation Tournament
NCAA – National Collegiate Athletic Association

Postseason[edit]

WKU has appeared in 39 national postseason tournaments and in four national final fours. Additionally, the Hilltoppers were scheduled to appear in the 1938 NAIA Tournament, but the team declined to participate after winning the SIAA tournament;[9] the school currently has a policy of only accepting invitations to the NCAA or NIT tournaments, which precludes participation in other tournaments such as the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament and College Basketball Invitational.[10]

NCAA tournament results[edit]

The Hilltoppers have appeared in the NCAA Tournament 23 times, their combined record is 19–24. Their appearance in the 1971 NCAA Tournament and third place finish were later vacated by the NCAA due to a player, Jim McDaniels, having signed a professional contract and accepted money during the season.[11]

Year Seed Round Opponent Result
1940 Elite Eight Duquesne L 29–30
1960 First Round
Sweet Sixteen
Regional 3rd Place Game		 Miami (FL)
Ohio State
Ohio		 W 107–84
L 79–98
W 97–87
1962 First Round
Sweet Sixteen
Regional 3rd Place Game		 Detroit
Ohio State
Butler		 W 90–81
L 73–93
L 86–87
1966 First Round
Sweet Sixteen
Regional 3rd Place Game		 Loyola (IL)
Michigan
Dayton		 W 105–86
L 79–80
W 82–62
1967 First Round Dayton L 67–69 OT
1970 First Round Jacksonville L 96–109
1971* First Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Final Four
National 3rd Place Game		 Jacksonville
Kentucky
Ohio State
Villanova
Kansas		 W 74–72
W 107–83
W 81–78 OT
L 89–92 2OT
W 77–75
1976 First Round Marquette L 60–79
1978 First Round
Sweet Sixteen		 Syracuse
Michigan State		 W 87–86 OT
L 69–90
1980 No. 10 First Round No. 7 Virginia Tech L 85–89 OT
1981 No. 10 First Round No. 7 UAB L 68–93
1986 No. 8 First Round
Second Round		 No. 9 Nebraska
No. 1 Kentucky		 W 67–59
L 64–71
1987 No. 10 First Round
Second Round		 No. 7 West Virginia
No. 2 Syracuse		 W 64–62
L 86–104
1993 No. 7 First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen		 No. 10 Memphis
No. 2 Seton Hall
No. 3 Florida State		 W 55–52
W 72–68
L 78–81 OT
1994 No. 11 First Round No. 6 Texas L 77–91
1995 No. 8 First Round
Second Round		 No. 9 Michigan
No. 1 Kansas		 W 82–76 OT
L 70–75
2001 No. 14 First Round No. 3 Florida L 56–69
2002 No. 9 First Round No. 8 Stanford L 68–84
2003 No. 13 First Round No. 4 Illinois L 60–65
2008 No. 12 First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen		 No. 5 Drake
No. 13 San Diego
No. 1 UCLA		 W 101–99 OT
W 72–63
L 78–88
2009 No. 12 First Round
Second Round		 No. 5 Illinois
No. 4 Gonzaga		 W 76–72
L 81–83
2012 No. 16 First Four
First Round		 No. 16 Mississippi Valley State
No. 1 Kentucky		 W 59–58
L 66–81
2013 No. 16 First Round No. 1 Kansas L 57–64

* Vacated by the NCAA

NIT results[edit]

The Hilltoppers have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) 14 times; when the NIT first started, it was considered the premiere college basketball tournament and remained on par with the NCAA Tournament through the mid 1950s, until the NCAA began giving automatic bids to conference champions in 1956.[12] Western Kentucky's first eight appearances occurred during this early period, including their 2nd place finish in 1942, 3rd place in 1948, and 4th place in 1954. WKU made the NIT Final Four in 2018. [13] Their combined record is 12–15.

Year Round Opponent Result
1942 Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals		 CCNY
Creighton
West Virginia		 W 49–46
W 49–36
L 45–47
1943 Quarterfinals Fordham L 58–60
1948 Quarterfinals
Semifinals
3rd Place Game		 La Salle
Saint Louis
DePaul		 W 68–61
L 53–60
W 61–59
1949 Quarterfinals Bradley L 86–95
1950 First Round
Quarterfinals		 Niagara
St. John's		 W 79–72
L 46–65
1952 First Round
Quarterfinals		 Louisville
St. Bonaventure		 W 62–59
L 69–70
1953 Quarterfinals Duquesne L 61–69
1954 Quarterfinals
Semifinals
3rd Place Game		 Bowling Green
Holy Cross
Niagara		 W 95–81
L 69–75
L 65-71
1965 First Round
Quarterfinals		 Fordham
Army		 W 57–53
L 54–58
1982 First Round Purdue L 65–72
1992 First Round Kansas State L 74–85
2005 Opening Round
First Round		 Kent State
Wichita State		 W 88–80
L 81–84
2006 First Round South Carolina L 55–74
2018 First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals		 Boston College
USC
Oklahoma State
Utah		 W 79–62
W 79–75
W 92–84
L 64–69

National Campus Basketball Tournament results[edit]

The Hilltoppers appeared in the only National Campus Basketball Tournament,[14] their record is 0–1.

Year Round Opponent Result
1951 Quarterfinals Bradley L 71–75

Milestones[edit]

Date Milestone Opponent Result (Won/Loss)
1914–1915 First win Bethel (Ky.) 38–21 (W)
1/28/1932 100th win Birmingham Southern 37–25 (W)
12/5/1949 500th win Kentucky Wesleyan 89–45 (W)
2/19/1977 1,000th win Murray State 82–81 (W)
2/5/2005 1,500th win Arkansas State 76–72 (W)
2/6/1943 500th game LaSalle 52–44 (W)
12/6/1960 1,000th game Lamar 74–71 (W)
1/25/1997 2,000th game New Orleans 70–66 (L)

E.A. Diddle Arena[edit]

E.A. Diddle Arena

The E.A. Diddle Arena is a 7,326-seat multi-purpose arena in Bowling Green, Kentucky, United States; the arena, built in 1963 is named after legendary WKU men's coach and Basketball Hall of Famer Edgar "E.A." Diddle.

Current coaching staff[edit]

  • Rick Stansbury - Head Coach
  • Mark Hsu - Assistant Coach
  • Nakita Johnson - Assistant Coach
  • Talvis Franklin - Director of Basketball Operations
  • Bob Hubbard - Academic Coordinator
  • Martin Cross - Associate Director of Basketball Operations
  • Erien Watson - Program Manager

All-Americans[edit]

Year Name Position Notes
1938 Red McCrocklin Center (Chuck Taylor)
1940 Carlisle Towery Center (Chuck Taylor)
1941 Carlisle Towery Center (Chuck Taylor)
1943 Oran McKinney Center (Helms Foundation)
1948 Dee Gibson Guard (Associated Press***)
1948 Don Ray Forward (Helms Foundation*)
1948 Odie Spears Forward (Associated Press***)
1949 Bob Lavoy Center (Associated Press***)
1949 John Oldham Guard (United Press**, Associated Press***)
1950 Buddy Cate Forward (Associated Press***)
1950 Bob Lavoy Center (Chuck Taylor*, Associated Press***)
1953 Tom Marshall Forward (Look Magazine**, Associated Press***)
1953 Art Spoelstra Center (Associated Press***)
1954 Tom Marshall Forward (Associated Press*, United Press*, Look Magazine*)
1958 Ralph Crosthwaite Center
1962 Bobby Rascoe Guard
1964 Darel Carrier Guard (Helms Foundation)
1965 Clem Haskins Forward (Associated Press***, United Press***)
1966 Clem Haskins Forward (Associated Press, United Press, Converse*)
1967 Clem Haskins Forward (USBWA, Associated Press,United Press,Helms Foundation, NABC*)
1969 Jim McDaniels Center (Helms Foundation, Associated Press***, United Press***, Converse***)
1970 Jim McDaniels Center (Helms Foundation, Associated Press***, United Press***, Converse*)
1971 Jim McDaniels Center (NABC, USBWA, Associated Press, Sporting News, United Press, NBA)
1976 Johnny Britt Guard (Associated Press***)
1984 Kannard Johnson Forward (Sporting News All-Freshman)
1987 Tellis Frank Forward (Associated Press***, Sporting News***)
1989 Brett McNeal Guard (Associated Press***, Basketball Times***)
1993 Darnell Mee Guard (Associated Press***)
1996 Chris Robinson Forward-Guard (Basketball Weekly***)
2001 Chris Marcus Center (Associated Press***)
2002 Chris Marcus Center (Associated Press***, Basketball America***)
2004 Mike Wells Guard (Associated Press***)
2006 Anthony Winchester Guard (Associated Press***)
2008 Courtney Lee Guard (Associated Press***,The NBA Draft Report**, Basketball Times**)
2009 Orlando Mendez-Valdez Guard (Associated Press***)
*Second team – **Third team – ***Honorable mention

[15]

Retired jerseys[edit]

  • 42 – Carlisle Towery (1939–1941)
  • 42 – John Oldham (1943; 1947–1949)
  • 41 – Tom Marshall (1951–1954)
  • 45 – Bobby Rascoe (1959–1962)
  • 35 – Darel Carrier (1961–1964)
  • 22 – Clem Haskins (1965–1967)
  • 44 – Jim McDaniels (1969–1971)
  • 32 – Courtney Lee (2004–2008)
  • E. A. Diddle (1923–1964) – Coach
  • Wes Strader (1964–2000) – Radio voice

Note: The first jerseys retired in honor of Hilltopper basketball greats were hung in E.A. Diddle Arena during the 1999–2000 season; also even though the jerseys are retired current and future players can and do use the numbers of the players whose jerseys are retired.

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]


References[edit]

  1. ^ WKU Colors (PDF). WKU Communication & Branding Manual. August 21, 2018. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  2. ^ "Sun Belt All-Time Standings" (PDF). 2011–12 Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Media Guide. Sun Belt Conference. pp. 93–95. Retrieved 2012-03-06.
  3. ^ http://www.wkusports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/032816aac.html
  4. ^ a b "NCAA All Time Winningest Teams at ncaa.org" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-08-12.
  5. ^ http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_RB/2012/DI.pdf
  6. ^ "College Basketball - Standings - Rivals.com". Rivals.yahoo.com. 2011-04-20. Retrieved 2012-08-12.
  7. ^ https://admin.xosn.com/fls/5400//Misc%20Files/Copy%20of%202011-12%20WKU%20Men%27s%20Basketball%20Media%20Information%20Guide.pdf?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=5400
  8. ^ E.A. Diddle College Record https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/coaches/ea-diddle-1.html. Retrieved October 6, 2018. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. ^ https://sites.google.com/site/naiahistoryandrecords/basketball-championships/1938
  10. ^ "HILLTOPPER FOCUS: WKU would not accept bid to CBI, CIT". Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved 2017-08-15.
  11. ^ Pratt, Elliott. "Standing Alone: WKU's 1971 Final Four team remains in a league of its own". College Heights Herald. Retrieved 2017-08-15.
  12. ^ Miller, Ralph (1990). "Ralph Miller: Spanning the Game." Sagamore Publishing LLC. p. 56. ISBN 0915611384. "Had the Aggies lost one, we would have been forced to have a playoff, and that was the problem. We had already accepted a bid to play in the [1954] National Invitation Tournament (NIT); the tournament picture was much different then. There was no announcement of NIT teams following the selection of the NCAA field as exists today; the reason was that the NIT was still considered a premier tournament."
  13. ^ https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2018-03-27/nit-bracket-2018-scores-times-printable-pdf-years-tournament
  14. ^ http://www.luckyshow.org/basketball/campustourney.htm
  15. ^ 2011–12 WKU media guide

External links[edit]

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