2015–16 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team

The 2015–16 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky University during the 2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Hilltoppers were led by head coach Ray Harper in his fourth season. They played their home games at E. A. Diddle Arena and were second year members of Conference USA. They finished the season 18–16, 8–10 in C-USA play to finish in eighth place. They defeated North Texas and UAB to advance to the semifinals of the C-USA Tournament where they lost to Old Dominion. Despite having 18 wins and a better they .500 record, they did not participate in a postseason tournament.[1]

2015–16 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball
ConferenceConference USA
2015–16 record18–16 (8–10 C-USA)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • David Boyden
  • Shawn Forrest
  • Chris Shumate
Home arenaE. A. Diddle Arena
2015–16 Conference USA men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
UAB162 .889  267  .788
Middle Tennessee135 .722  2510  .714
Marshall126 .667  1716  .515
Louisiana Tech126 .667  2310  .697
Old Dominion126 .667  2513  .658
UTEP108 .556  1914  .576
Charlotte99 .500  1419  .424
Western Kentucky810 .444  1816  .529
North Texas711 .389  1220  .375
Rice711 .389  1220  .375
FIU711 .389  1319  .406
Florida Atlantic513 .278  825  .242
Southern Miss*513 .278  821  .276
UTSA315 .167  527  .156
*Ineligible for postseason play due to self-imposed postseason ban.
2016 C-USA Tournament winner

On March 17, 2016, head coach Ray Harper resigned after three players were suspended by a university disciplinary committee.[2][3][4] He finished at WKU with a record of 90–62. On March 28, the school hired Rick Stansbury as head coach.[5]

Previous season

The Hilltoppers finished the season 20–12, 13–5 in C-USA play to finish in a tie for the second place. They advanced to the quarterfinals of the C-USA Tournament where they lost to UAB. Despite having 20 wins they didn't play in a postseason tournament.

Departures

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Ayinde Sprewell0G6'3"188JuniorOrlando, FLGraduate transferred to St. Thomas
Kevin Kaspar1G6'0"173SeniorIstanbul, TurkeyGraduated
Derrick Clayton2G6'6"184FreshmanCastro Valley, CATransferred to Palm Beach State College
Trency Jackson3G6'2"188RS SeniorJackson, MSGraduated
Brandon Price5G5'9"151SophomoreRadcliff, KYTransferred to Georgia Southwestern
Jordan Green10F6'7"193FreshmanLexington, KYTransferred to Coppin State
Avery Patterson15G6'0"190FreshmanDecatur, GATransferred to Columbia State Community College
Rob Marberry33F6'8"230FreshmanNashville, TNWalk-on; transferred to Lipscomb
George Fant44F6'6"250SeniorBowling Green, KYGraduated
T. J. Price52G6'4"223SeniorSlidell, LAGraduated

Incoming transfers

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious School
Aaron Cosby2G6'3"205RS SeniorLouisville, KYTransferred from Illinois. Cosby will be eligible to play immediately since Cosby graduated from Illinois.
Phabian Glasco13F6'7"225JuniorTulsa, OKJunior college transferred from Connors State College
Willie Carmichael III24F6'8"210SophomoreApopka, FLTransferred from Tennessee. Under NCAA transfer rules, Carmichael III will have to sit out for the 2015–16 season. Will have three years of remaining eligibility.
Frederick Edmond25G6'4"190JuniorLansing, MIJunior college transferred from College of Southern Idaho
Anton Waters42F6'6"205JuniorBaltimore, MDJunior college transferred from Gulf Coast State College

Class of 2015 recruits

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Chris McNeal
PG
Memphis, TN South Side High School 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Jul 7, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Marlon Hunter Jr.
SG
Memphis, TN Houston High School 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Nov 6, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Kristaps Gluditis
PG
Riga, Latvia Get Better Academy 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Apr 28, 2015 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Nathan Smith
C
London, England Get Better Academy 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 220 lb (100 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2015 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved July 30, 2015.

    Roster

    2015–16 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearHometown
    G 1 Chris McNeal 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)195 lb (88 kg) Fr Jackson, Tennessee
    G 2 Aaron Cosby 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)200 lb (91 kg) RS Sr Louisville, Kentucky
    G 3 Marlon Hunter 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)195 lb (88 kg) Fr Memphis, Tennessee
    F 13 Phabian Glasco 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)230 lb (104 kg) Jr Tulsa, Oklahoma
    F 14 Benjamin Lawson 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)230 lb (104 kg) Jr Hitchin, England
    G 15 Dylan Sanford (W) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)180 lb (82 kg) Fr Owensboro, Kentucky
    C 20 Aleksej Rostov 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)240 lb (109 kg) Sr Riga, Latvia
    F 21 Nigel Snipes 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)220 lb (100 kg) RS Sr Marietta, Georgia
    C 22 Nathan Smith 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)240 lb (109 kg) Fr London, England
    F 23 Justin Johnson 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)235 lb (107 kg) So Hazard, Kentucky
    F 24 Willie Carmichael (I)  6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)210 lb (95 kg) So Apopka, Florida
    G 25 Fredrick Edmond 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)205 lb (93 kg) Jr Lansing, Michigan
    G 32 Keifer Dalton (W) 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)165 lb (75 kg) Fr Albany, Kentucky
    F 42 Anton Waters 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)245 lb (111 kg) Jr Baltimore, Maryland
    G 51 Chris Harrison-Docks 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)175 lb (79 kg) RS Jr Okemos, Michigan
    Head coach
    Assistant coach(es)

    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • (W) Walk-on

    Roster

    Schedule

    [6]

    Date
    time, TV
    Opponent Result Record Site (attendance)
    city, state
    Exhibition
    11/02/2015*
    7:00 pm
    Lindsey Wilson W 84–71 
    E. A. Diddle Arena (2,881)
    Bowling Green, KY
    11/06/2015*
    7:00 pm
    Kentucky Wesleyan W 75–68 
    E. A. Diddle Arena (3,207)
    Bowling Green, KY
    Non-conference regular season
    11/14/2015*
    7:00 pm
    Campbellsville
    Gulf Coast Showcase Opening Round
    W 97–77  1–0
    E. A. Diddle Arena (3,424)
    Bowling Green, KY
    11/18/2015*
    6:00 pm, ASN
    at Belmont L 85–90  1–1
    Curb Event Center (3,253)
    Nashville, TN
    11/21/2015*
    12:00 pm, FCS/WKYU
    Stony Brook W 67–66  2–1
    E. A. Diddle Arena (3,684)
    Bowling Green, KY
    11/23/2015*
    5:00 pm
    vs. Drake
    Gulf Coast Showcase quarterfinals
    L 79–81 OT 2–2
    Germain Arena (523)
    Estero, FL
    11/24/2015*
    1:30 pm
    vs. Central Michigan
    Gulf Coast Showcase consolation round
    W 88–60  3–2
    Germain Arena (823)
    Estero, FL
    11/25/2015*
    2:30 pm
    vs. Duquesne
    Gulf Coast Showcase 5th place game
    L 73–81  3–3
    Germain Arena (1,077)
    Estero, FL
    12/01/2015*
    7:00 pm, FCS/WKYU
    Eastern Kentucky W 86–84  4–3
    E. A. Diddle Arena (4,026)
    Bowling Green, KY
    12/05/2015*
    7:30 pm, FS1
    at No. 12 Xavier L 64–95  4–4
    Cintas Center (10,250)
    Cincinnati, OH
    12/13/2015*
    2:00 pm, ASN
    Indiana State W 75–62  5–4
    E. A. Diddle Arena (2,810)
    Bowling Green, KY
    12/16/2015*
    8:00 pm, FCS/WKYU
    Alabama A&M W 79–70  6–4
    E. A. Diddle Arena (3,109)
    Bowling Green, KY
    12/19/2015*
    11:00 am, ESPNU
    at No. 19 Louisville L 56–78  6–5
    KFC Yum! Center (21,606)
    Louisville, KY
    12/22/2015*
    8:00 pm, ASN
    Detroit W 79–74  7–5
    E. A. Diddle Arena (3,031)
    Bowling Green, KY
    12/28/2015*
    7:00 pm
    Brescia W 93–66  8–5
    E. A. Diddle Arena (3,388)
    Bowling Green, KY
    Conference USA regular season
    01/03/2016
    12:00 pm, ASN
    at Marshall L 76–94  8–6
    (0–1)
    Cam Henderson Center (4,623)
    Huntington, WV
    01/07/2016
    7:00 pm, FCS/WKYU
    FIU L 72–75  8–7
    (0–2)
    E. A. Diddle Arena (3,394)
    Bowling Green, KY
    01/09/2016
    2:00 pm, FCS/WKYU
    Florida Atlantic W 86–82 OT 9–7
    (1–2)
    E. A. Diddle Arena (3,607)
    Bowling Green, KY
    01/14/2016
    7:00 pm, ASN
    at Rice L 73–83  9–8
    (1–3)
    Tudor Fieldhouse (1,664)
    Houston, TX
    01/16/2016
    7:00 pm
    at North Texas W 81–76  10–8
    (2–3)
    The Super Pit (1,903)
    Denton, TX
    01/21/2016
    6:00 pm, ASN
    at Old Dominion L 62–68  10–9
    (2–4)
    Ted Constant Convocation Center (6,535)
    Norfolk, VA
    01/23/2016
    6:00 pm, FCS/WKYU
    at Charlotte L 71–88  10–10
    (2–5)
    Dale F. Halton Arena (4,197)
    Charlotte, NC
    01/28/2016
    6:30 pm, FS1
    UAB W 69–62  11–10
    (3–5)
    E. A. Diddle Arena (3,892)
    Bowling Green, KY
    01/30/2016
    7:00 pm, FCS/WKYU
    Middle Tennessee L 64–66  11–11
    (3–6)
    E. A. Diddle Arena (5,259)
    Bowling Green, KY
    02/04/2016
    7:00 pm
    at UTSA W 83–71  12–11
    (4–6)
    Convocation Center (1,003)
    San Antonio, TX
    02/06/2016
    4:00 pm, FS1
    at UTEP L 89–93 OT 12–12
    (4–7)
    Don Haskins Center (12,000)
    El Paso, TX
    02/13/2016
    7:00 pm, FCS/WKYU
    Marshall L 93–96 OT 12–13
    (4–8)
    E. A. Diddle Arena (4,373)
    Bowling Green, KY
    02/18/2016
    7:00 pm, FCS/WKYU
    Old Dominion L 56–59  12–14
    (4–9)
    E. A. Diddle Arena (3,182)
    Bowling Green, KY
    02/20/2016
    2:00 pm, FCS/WKYU
    Charlotte W 59–54  13–14
    (5–9)
    E. A. Diddle Arena (3,570)
    Bowling Green, KY
    02/25/2016
    6:00 pm, ASN
    at Middle Tennessee W 78–72  14–14
    (6–9)
    Murphy Center (4,333)
    Murfreesboro, TN
    02/27/2016
    11:00 am, FSN
    at UAB L 67–71  14–15
    (6–10)
    Bartow Arena (7,510)
    Birmingham, AL
    03/03/2016
    8:00 pm, ASN
    Southern Miss W 75–60  15–15
    (7–10)
    E. A. Diddle Arena (3,405)
    Bowling Green, KY
    03/05/2016
    7:00 pm, FCS/WKYU
    Louisiana Tech W 96–90 OT 16–15
    (8–10)
    E. A. Diddle Arena (4,591)
    Bowling Green, KY
    Conference USA Tournament
    03/09/2016
    12:00 pm, ASN
    vs. North Texas
    Second round
    W 84–76  17–15
    Legacy Arena (3,888)
    Birmingham, AL
    03/10/2016
    12:00 pm, ASN
    vs. UAB
    Quarterfinals
    W 88–77  18–15
    Legacy Arena (9,797)
    Birmingham, AL
    03/11/2016
    3:00 pm, CBSSN
    vs. Old Dominion
    Semifinals
    L 77–89  18–16
    Legacy Arena (6,176)
    Birmingham, AL
    *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
    All times are in Central Time.

    See also

    2015–16 WKU Lady Toppers basketball team

    References

    This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.