2017–18 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team

The 2017–18 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky University during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Hilltoppers were led by head coach Rick Stansbury in his second season and played their home games at E. A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, Kentucky as fourth-year members of Conference USA.

2017–18 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball
NIT, Semifinals
ConferenceConference USA
2017–18 record27–11 (14–4 C-USA)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Marc Hsu
  • Nikita Johnson
Home arenaE. A. Diddle Arena
2017–18 Conference USA men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
Middle Tennessee162 .889  258  .758
Old Dominion153 .833  257  .781
Western Kentucky144 .778  2711  .711
Marshall126 .667  2511  .694
UTSA117 .611  2015  .571
UAB108 .556  2013  .606
North Texas810 .444  2018  .526
FIU810 .444  1418  .438
Southern Miss711 .389  1618  .471
Louisiana Tech711 .389  1716  .515
Florida Atlantic612 .333  1219  .387
UTEP612 .333  1120  .355
Rice414 .222  724  .226
Charlotte216 .111  623  .207
2018 C-USA Tournament winner

On October 16, 2017, assistant coach Ben Hansbrough resigned from WKU following his DUI arrest two days prior.[1]

They finished the season 27–11, 14–4 in C-USA play to finish in third place. They defeated UAB and Old Dominion to advance to the championship game of the C-USA Tournament where they lost to Marshall.[2] They received an at-large bid to the National Invitation Tournament where they defeated Boston College, USC, and Oklahoma State to advance to the semifinals where they lost to Utah.[3]

Previous season

The Hilltoppers finished the 2016–17 season with 15–17, 9–9 in C-USA play to finish in a tie for seventh place. They lost to UTSA in the first round of the C-USA Tournament.

Offseason

Departures

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Jabari McGhee00F6'7"205RS SophomoreAlbany, GeorgiaLeft for the team due to personal reasons
Tobias Howard1G6'2"182FreshmanLithonia, GATransferred to Chipola College
Damari Parris3G6'0"160SophomoreBowie, MDTransferred to Trinity Valley CC
Junior Lomomba5G6'5"205RS SeniorMontreal, QEGraduated
Cleveland Thomas12G6'4"195RS SeniorBaton Rouge, LAGraduated
Benjamin Lawson14F/C7'1"235SeniorHitchin, EnglandGraduated
Marko Stajkovski21G6'7"195FreshmanNovi Sad, SerbiaTransferred to Mineral Area College
Willie Carmichael24F6'8"210RS SophomoreApopka, FLDismissed from the team
Que Johnson32G6'6"205RS SeniorPontiac, MIGraduated
Anton Waters42F6'7"245SeniorBaltimore, MDGraduated
Marty Leahy43G6'5"210FreshmanBrisbane, AustraliaLeft for the team due to personal reasons

Incoming transfers

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious School
Darius Thompson15G6'4"196Graduate StudentMurfreesboro, TennesseeTransferred from Virginia. Thompson will play in the 2017–18 season.
Dwight Coleby22F6'9"240Graduate StudentNassau, BahamasTransferred from Kansas. Coleby will play in the 2017–18 season.
Jared Savage2G/F6'5"190JuniorBowling Green, KentuckyTransferred from Austin Peay. Will sit out the 2017–18 season due to NCAA transfer rules.

2017 recruiting class

Mitchell Robinson, a McDonald's All-American and a projected first round pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, committed to Western Kentucky a few weeks after the school hired his godfather, Shammond Williams.[4] He signed a National Letter of Intent in November 2016 and enrolled at the school in July 2017.[4] However, later in July, he left the school amid reports that he was unhappy at the school.[5] Head coach Rick Stansbury and the school issued a statement that Robinson was suspended and would not be going on the team's trip to Costa Rica in August.[5] However, asking to be released from his Letter of Intent and being released, he made visits to LSU, Kansas, and New Orleans. At the end of August, he returned to the school and enrolled and stated that he intends to play for Western Kentucky.[6] On September 17, Robinson again left the university announcing he will prepare for the NBA and will not play college basketball.[7][8]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Josh Anderson
F
Baton Rouge, Louisiana Madison Prep Academy 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Sep 20, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 84
Taveion Hollingsworth
G
Lexington, Kentucky Paul Laurence Dunbar HS 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Nov 9, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN: N/A   ESPN grade: NR
Jake Ohmer
G
Covington, Kentucky Scott HS 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 150 lb (68 kg) Mar 20, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:    ESPN: N/A   ESPN grade: NR
Marek Nelson
F
Plano, Texas Sunrise Christian Academy (KS) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 180 lb (82 kg) May 14, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: 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:

  • "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved May 16, 2017.

    Costa Rica trip

    The Hilltoppers announced that they would be participating in a seven-day, three-game foreign tour to Costa Rica in August.[9]

    Roster

    2017–18 WKU Hilltoppers men's basketball team
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
    G 0 Tyler Miller 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)190 lb (86 kg) Sr22ft Academy Louisville, Kentucky
    G 1 Lamonte Bearden 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)170 lb (77 kg) RS JrBuffalo Milwaukee, Wisconsin
    G/F 2 Jared Savage  6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)195 lb (88 kg) JrAustin Peay Bowling Green, Kentucky
    F 4 Josh Anderson 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)180 lb (82 kg) FrMadison Prep Academy Baton Rouge, Louisiana
    F 12 Moustapha Diagne 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)230 lb (104 kg) RS SoNorthwest Florida State College Rufisque, Senegal
    G 13 Taveion Hollingsworth 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)165 lb (75 kg) FrPaul Laurence Dunbar HS Lexington, Kentucky
    F 14 Marek Nelson 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)185 lb (84 kg) FrSunrise Christian Academy (KS) Plano, Texas
    G 15 Darius Thompson 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)190 lb (86 kg) RS SrVirginia Murfreesboro, Tennessee
    G 21 Jake Ohmer 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)170 lb (77 kg) FrScott HS Covington, Kentucky
    F 22 Dwight Coleby 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)245 lb (111 kg) RS SrKansas Nassau, Bahamas
    F 23 Justin Johnson 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)245 lb (111 kg) SrPerry County Central High School Hazard, Kentucky
    Head coach
    Assistant coach(es)

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

    Roster

    Schedule and results

    Date
    time, TV
    Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (attendance)
    city, state
    Costa Rica trip
    Aug 8, 2017*
    Laurentian University W 104–98 
    BN Arena 
    San Jose, Costa Rica
    Aug 9, 2017*
    9:00 pm
    Costa Rica National Team W 99–69 
    BN Arena 
    San Jose, Costa Rica
    Aug 10, 2017*
    5:00 pm
    Laurentian University W 118–63 
    BN Arena 
    San Jose, Costa Rica
    Exhibition
    Oct 29, 2017*
    1:00 pm
    at Samford
    Pack The Pete For Hurricane Relief
    W 78–64 
    Pete Hanna Center (608)
    Homewood, AL
    Nov 1, 2017*
    7:00 pm
    Campbellsville W 92–51 
    E.A. Diddle Arena (2,789)
    Bowling Green, KY
    Nov 7, 2017*
    7:00 pm, WKYU
    Cumberland W 109–66 
    E.A. Diddle Arena (3,081)
    Bowling Green, KY
    Non-conference regular season
    Nov 10, 2017*
    7:00 pm, WKYU
    Missouri State L 80–85  0–1
    E.A. Diddle Arena (5,241)
    Bowling Green, KY
    Nov 15, 2017*
    7:00 pm, FCS/WKYU
    Kentucky Wesleyan W 83–53  1–1
    E.A. Diddle Arena (3,844)
    Bowling Green, KY
    Nov 19, 2017*
    5:00 pm, FCS/WKYU
    Nicholls State
    Battle 4 Atlantis On Campus Site
    W 100–86  2–1
    E.A. Diddle Arena (3,378)
    Bowling Green, KY
    Nov 22, 2017*
    1:30 pm, ESPN2
    vs. No. 5 Villanova
    Battle 4 Atlantis Quarterfinals
    L 58–66  2–2
    Imperial Arena (3,378)
    Nassau, Bahamas
    Nov 23, 2017*
    6:00 pm, ESPN3
    vs. No. 18 Purdue
    Battle 4 Atlantis
    W 77–73  3–2
    Imperial Arena (2,102)
    Nassau, Bahamas
    Nov 24, 2017*
    6:00 pm, ESPN3
    vs. SMU
    Battle 4 Atlantis 5th place game
    W 63–61  4–2
    Imperial Arena (1,252)
    Nassau, Bahamas
    Nov 29, 2017*
    7:00 pm, Stadium
    Eastern Kentucky W 83–51  5–2
    E.A. Diddle Arena (5,532)
    Bowling Green, KY
    Dec 2, 2017*
    4:00 pm, FCS/WKYU
    Wright State W 78–60  6–2
    E.A. Diddle Arena (4,165)
    Bowling Green, KY
    Dec 10, 2017*
    1:00 pm, ESPN3
    at Ohio L 84–89  6–3
    Convocation Center (4,501)
    Athens, OH
    Dec 13, 2017*
    7:00 pm, FS1
    at Wisconsin L 80–81  6–4
    Kohl Center (17,287)
    Madison, WI
    Dec 16, 2017*
    2:00 pm, FCS/WKYU
    Indiana State W 81–65  7–4
    E.A. Diddle Arena (4,412)
    Bowling Green, KY
    Dec 19, 2017*
    7:00 pm, FCS/WKYU
    Belmont L 72–75  7–5
    E.A. Diddle Arena (5,156)
    Bowling Green, KY
    Dec 22, 2017*
    7:00 pm
    at Austin Peay W 72–55  8–5
    Dunn Center (2,023)
    Clarksville, TN
    Conference USA regular season
    Dec 28, 2017
    7:00 pm, beIN Sports
    Louisiana Tech W 69–68  9–5
    (1–0)
    E.A. Diddle Arena (4,897)
    Bowling Green, KY
    Dec 30, 2017
    2:00 pm, FCS/WKYU
    Southern Miss W 82–66  10–5
    (2–0)
    E.A. Diddle Arena (4,654)
    Bowling Green, KY
    Jan 6, 2018
    6:00 pm, Stadium
    at Marshall W 112–87  11–5
    (3–0)
    Cam Henderson Center (6,826)
    Huntington, WV
    Jan 11, 2018
    7:00 pm, beIN Sports
    at Old Dominion W 75–68  12–5
    (4–0)
    Ted Constant Convocation Center (6,895)
    Norfolk, VA
    Jan 13, 2018
    6:00 pm, FCS/WKYU
    at Charlotte W 73–63  13–5
    (5–0)
    Dale F. Halton Arena (3,845)
    Charlotte, NC
    Jan 18, 2018
    8:00 pm, CBSSN
    UAB W 77–69  14–5
    (6–0)
    E.A. Diddle Arena (5,643)
    Bowling Green, KY
    Jan 20, 2018
    6:00 pm, Stadium
    Middle Tennessee L 62–66  14–6
    (6–1)
    E.A. Diddle Arena (7,759)
    Bowling Green, KY
    Jan 27, 2018
    6:00 pm, Stadium
    Marshall W 85–74  15–6
    (7–1)
    E.A. Diddle Arena (7,362)
    Bowling Green, KY
    Feb 1, 2018
    9:00 pm, CBSSN
    at UTEP W 72–60  16–6
    (8–1)
    Don Haskins Center (6,116)
    El Paso, TX
    Feb 3, 2018
    3:00 pm, FCS/WKYU
    at UTSA L 63–74  16–7
    (8–2)
    Convocation Center (1,305)
    San Antonio, TX
    Feb 8, 2018
    7:30 pm, FCS/WKYU
    Florida Atlantic W 75–63  17–7
    (9–2)
    E.A. Diddle Arena (5,617)
    Bowling Green, KY
    Feb 10, 2018
    6:00 pm, FCS/WKYU
    FIU W 83–76  18–7
    (10–2)
    E.A. Diddle Arena (6,429)
    Bowling Green, KY
    Feb 15, 2018
    8:00 pm, beIN Sports
    at North Texas W 102–94 OT 19–7
    (11–2)
    The Super Pit (2,306)
    Denton, TX
    Feb 17, 2018
    7:00 pm, ESPN3
    at Rice W 85–66  20–7
    (12–2)
    Tudor Fieldhouse (4,246)
    Houston, TX
    Feb 22, 2018
    7:00 pm, beIN Sports
    Charlotte W 93–55  21–7
    (13–2)
    E.A. Diddle Arena (5,634)
    Bowling Green, KY
    Feb 24, 2018
    6:00 pm, Stadium
    Old Dominion W 88–66  22–7
    (14–2)
    E.A. Diddle Arena (7,387)
    Bowling Green, KY
    Mar 1, 2018
    7:00 pm, CBSSN
    at Middle Tennessee L 64–82  22–8
    (14–3)
    Murphy Center (11,307)
    Murfreesboro, TN
    Mar 3, 2018
    7:00 pm, FCS/WKYU
    at UAB L 73–101  22–9
    (14–4)
    Bartow Arena (4,363)
    Birmingham, AL
    Conference USA Tournament
    Mar 8, 2018
    9:00 pm, Stadium
    (3) vs. (6) UAB
    Quarterfinals
    W 98–70  23–9
    The Ford Center at The Star 
    Frisco, TX
    Mar 9, 2018
    3:00 pm, CBSSN
    (3) vs. (2) Old Dominion
    Semifinals
    W 57–49  24–9
    The Ford Center at The Star 
    Frisco, TX
    Mar 10, 2018
    7:30 pm, CBSSN
    (3) vs. (4) Marshall
    Championship
    L 66–67  24–10
    The Ford Center at The Star 
    Frisco, TX
    NIT
    Mar 13, 2018*
    7:00 pm, ESPN3
    (4) (5) Boston College
    First Round – USC Bracket
    W 79–62  25–10
    E.A. Diddle Arena (6,176)
    Bowling Green, KY
    Mar 19, 2018*
    10:30 pm, ESPN2
    (4) at (1) USC
    Second Round – USC Bracket
    W 79–75  26–10
    Galen Center (2,130)
    Los Angeles, CA
    Mar 21, 2018*
    7:00 pm, ESPN
    (4) at (2) Oklahoma State
    Quarterfinals – USC Bracket
    W 92–84  27–10
    Gallagher-Iba Arena (11,308)
    Stillwater, OK
    Mar 27, 2018*
    6:00 pm, ESPN
    (4) vs. (2) Utah
    Semifinals
    L 64–69  27–11
    Madison Square Garden (7,865)
    New York City, NY

    *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
    All times are in Central Time

    Source[10][11].

    See also

    2017–18 WKU Lady Toppers basketball team

    References

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