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This article is about men's basketball team. For women's basketball team, see Western Kentucky Lady Toppers basketball.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
2024–25 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team
UniversityWestern Kentucky University
Head coachHank Plona (1st season)
ConferenceC-USA
LocationBowling Green, Kentucky
ArenaE. A. Diddle Arena
(capacity: 7,500)
NicknameHilltoppers
ColorsRed and white[1]
   
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Away


NCAA tournament Final Four
1971
NCAA tournament Elite Eight
1940, 1971
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen
1940, 1960, 1962, 1966, 1971, 1978, 1993, 2008
NCAA tournament round of 32
1940, 1960, 1962, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1971, 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, 2024
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, 2024
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,
C-USA East: 2021
* - vacated by NCAA

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 2024. Hank Plona was announced as the team's current head coach on April 2, 2024.[2]

The men's basketball program has the 16th most victories in the history of the NCAA[3] and has attained the eighth best winning percentage in NCAA history.[3] 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.[4]

Conference affiliation history

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Postseason

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WKU has appeared in 41 national postseason tournaments and in five national final fours. 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.[5]

NCAA tournament results

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The Hilltoppers have appeared in the NCAA tournament 24 times. Their combined record is 19–25. 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.[6]

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
2024 No. 15 First Round No. 2 Marquette L 69–87

* Vacated by the NCAA

NCAA Tournament seeding history

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The NCAA began seeding the tournament with the 1979 edition.

Years→ '80 '81 '86 '87 '93 '94 '95 '01 '02 '03 '08 '09 '12 '13 '24
Seeds→ 10 10 8 10 7 11 8 14 9 13 12 12 16 16 15

NIT results

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The Hilltoppers have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) 15 times. When the NIT started, it was considered the premiere national 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.[7] 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 also made the NIT Final Four in 2018.[8] Their combined record is 13–16.

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
2021 First Round
Quarterfinals		 Saint Mary's
Louisiana Tech		 W 69–67
L 65–72

Other tournament results

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In 1936 Western Kentucky was invited to the National Olympic Playoffs representing the South. They played two games against the Southwest representative, Arkansas, in Little Rock, AK, losing both games by scores of 36–43 and 30–38.[9]

The Hilltoppers were scheduled to appear in the 1938 National Intercollegiate Basketball tournament;[10] however, the team was unable to make the trip and withdrew from the tournament.[11] The NAIA lists the game as a forfeit, but Western Kentucky does not recognize the contest as part of their official record.[12]

The Hilltoppers appeared in the 1951 National Campus Basketball Tournament where they were defeated by Bradley 71–75 in the first round.[13]

Milestones

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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

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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

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  • Hank Plona - Head Coach

Former Head Coaches

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All-Americans

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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***, Lindy's Basketball Annual)[14]
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***)
2021 Charles Bassey Center (Associated Press***, Basketball Times*, USBWA**, Lute Olsen)
*Second team – **Third team – ***Honorable mention

[15]

Retired jerseys

[edit]

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.

Fltr: Clem Haskins, Courtney Lee, and Jim McDaniels, whose jerseys were retired by Western Kentucky
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers retired jerseys
No. Player Years Jer. ret. Ref.
22 Clem Haskins 1964–1967 2017 [16]
32 Courtney Lee 2004–2008 2017 [17]
35 Darel Carrier 1961–1964 2014 [18][19]
41 Tom Marshall 1951–1954 [20]
42 John Oldham 1942–1943; 1947–1949 2011 [21]
42 Carlisle Towery 1938–1941 2003 [22]
44 Jim McDaniels 1968–1971 2000 [23]
45 Bobby Rascoe 1959–1962
— E. A. Diddle Coach, 1922–1964 [24]
— Wes Strader Radio voice

Season-by-season results

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Main article: List of Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball seasons

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "WKU Colors". WKU Communication & Branding Manual (PDF). August 21, 2018. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  2. ^ "Hank Plona Named Western Kentucky Head Men's Basketball Coach". Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. April 2, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "NCAA All Time Winningest Teams at ncaa.org" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-08-12.
  4. ^ 100 Greatest College Basketball Programs of All Time. Smith & Street. January 25, 2005.
  5. ^ "HILLTOPPER FOCUS: WKU would not accept bid to CBI, CIT". Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved 2017-08-15.
  6. ^ Pratt, Elliott. "Standing Alone: WKU's 1971 Final Four team remains in a league of its own". College Heights Herald. Retrieved 2017-08-15.
  7. ^ 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."
  8. ^ "Bracket, times, scores for 2018 National Invitation Tournament". NCAA.com. 2018-03-31. Retrieved 2022-05-07.
  9. ^ "2019-20 Hilltopper Basketball Media Guide" (PDF).
  10. ^ NAIA Through the Decades, NAIA.org retrieved May 20, 2020
  11. ^ The Historical NAIA Tournament VSN (admin) Published Wednesday, July 04, 2018, retrieved May 20, 2020
  12. ^ Ruby, Earl (1979). Red Towel Territory : A History of Athletics at Western Kentucky University. American National Bank and Trust Co.
  13. ^ "National Campus Tournament 1951".
  14. ^ Marcus honored by publication, WKU center lands on All-America team, By Justin Willis, Bowling Green Daily News, Aug 3, 2001 retrieved 27 April 2020
  15. ^ 2011–12 WKU media guide
  16. ^ #21 RETIRED UNIFORM
  17. ^ Courtney Lee Jersey Retirement, 8 Jun 2017
  18. ^ Former Hilltopper sharpshooter Carrier to have jersey number retired at halftime, 22 Feb 2014 at bgdailynews.com
  19. ^ Darel Carrier’s No. 35 jersey retired at College Heights Herald by Tyler Lashbrook - February 25, 2014
  20. ^ MJ to honor legendary Tom Marshall, 9 Feb 2011 at Wilson Post
  21. ^ John Oldham, coach of WKU's 1971 Final Four basketball team, dies at age 97 by Jason Frakes at Louisville Courier Journal, 23 Nov 2020
  22. ^ All-American Towery dies at bgdailynews.com, 27 Nov 2012
  23. ^ Jim McDaniels, 69, Dies; Led Western Kentucky to Final Four at The New York Times, 8 Sep 2017
  24. ^ E. A. Diddle coach's jersey retired at bgdailynews.com
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