2021–22 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball | |
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Conference | Conference USA |
East Division | |
Record | 19–13 (11–7 C-USA) |
Head coach |
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Associate head coach | Phil Cunningham |
Assistant coaches |
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Home arena | E. A. Diddle Arena |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | PCT | W | L | PCT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
East | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Middle Tennessee | 13 | – | 5 | .722 | 26 | – | 11 | .703 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Western Kentucky | 11 | – | 7 | .611 | 19 | – | 13 | .594 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Florida Atlantic | 11 | – | 7 | .611 | 19 | – | 15 | .559 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Charlotte | 10 | – | 8 | .556 | 17 | – | 14 | .548 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Old Dominion | 8 | – | 10 | .444 | 13 | – | 19 | .406 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FIU | 5 | – | 13 | .278 | 15 | – | 17 | .469 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Marshall | 4 | – | 14 | .222 | 12 | – | 21 | .364 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
West | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
North Texas | 16 | – | 2 | .889 | 25 | – | 7 | .781 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UAB † | 14 | – | 4 | .778 | 27 | – | 8 | .771 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Louisiana Tech | 12 | – | 6 | .667 | 24 | – | 10 | .706 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UTEP | 11 | – | 7 | .611 | 20 | – | 14 | .588 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rice | 7 | – | 11 | .389 | 16 | – | 17 | .485 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UTSA | 3 | – | 15 | .167 | 10 | – | 22 | .313 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Southern Miss | 1 | – | 17 | .056 | 7 | – | 26 | .212 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
† 2022 C-USA Tournament winner |
The 2021–22 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky University during the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Hilltoppers were led by head coach Rick Stansbury in his sixth season and played their home games at E. A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, Kentucky as eighth-year members of Conference USA.
Previous season
The Hilltoppers finished the 2021–22 season 21–8, 11–3 in C-USA play to win the West Division. They defeated UTSA, UAB in the quarterfinals and semifinals of the C-USA tournament before losing to North Texas in the championship. They received a bid to the National Invitation Tournament, where they defeated Saint Mary's losing to C-USA member Louisiana Tech in the quarterfinals.
Offseason
Departures
Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Reason for departure |
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Kylen Milton | 1 | G | 6'4" | 190 | Freshman | Monticello, AR | Transferred to Arkansas–Pine Bluff |
Kevin Osawe | 2 | F | 6'6" | 205 | Junior | Toronto, ON | Graduate transferred to Little Rock |
Jordan Rawls | 3 | G | 6'1" | 180 | Sophomore | Chattanooga, TN | Transferred to Georgia State |
Taveion Hollingsworth | 11 | G | 6'2" | 165 | Senior | Lexington, KY | Graduated/went undrafted in 2021 NBA draft |
Jackson Harlan | 12 | G | 6'3" | 190 | Sophomore | Albany, KY | Walk-on; left the team due to personal reasons |
Patrick Murphy | 15 | G | 6'5" | 180 | RS Senior | Franklin, TN | Walk-on; left the team due to personal reasons |
Zion Harmon | 15 | G | 5'11" | 170 | Freshman | Benton, KY | Walk-on; left the team due to personal reasons |
Kenny Cooper | 21 | G | 6'0" | 190 | RS Senior | Nashville, TN | Graduate transferred to Tennessee State |
Carson Williams | 22 | F | 6'5" | 240 | RS Senior | Owenton, KY | Graduated |
Charles Bassey | 23 | C | 6'11" | 235 | Junior | Lagos, Nigeria | Declare for 2021 NBA draft |
Incoming transfers
Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Previous School |
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Darrius Miles | 0 | C | 6'10" | Sophomore | Dallas, TX | Odessa College | |
Jaylen Butz | 1 | F | 6'9" | 224 | GS Senior | Fort Wayne, IN | DePaul |
Keith Williams | 2 | G | 6'5" | 215 | GS Senior | Brooklyn, New York | Cincinnati |
Jairus Hamilton | 3 | F | 6'8" | 235 | Senior | Charlotte, NC | Maryland |
Sherman Brashear | 13 | G | 6'3" | Sophomore | Dallas, TX | Panola College | |
Jamarion Sharp | 33 | F/C | 7'3" | 238 | Junior | Hopkinsville, KY | John A. Logan College |
2021 recruiting class
Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
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Zion Harmon #9 PG |
Benton, KY | Marshall County High School | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | Mar 24, 2020 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 85 | ||||||
Elijah Hughey SG |
Lancaster, TX | Lancaster High School | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | Sep 28, 2020 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: NR | ||||||
Overall recruiting rankings: | ||||||
Sources:
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Roster
2021–22 WKU Hilltoppers men's basketball team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Schedule
Date time, TV |
Rank# | Opponent# | Result | Record | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Site (attendance) city, state | |||
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Exhibition | |||||||||||
November 1, 2021* 7:00 p.m. |
Campbellsville | W 82–61 | 19 – Hamilton | 14 – Hamilton | 4 – Tied | E. A. Diddle Arena (3,222) Bowling Green, KY | |||||
November 5, 2021* 7:00 p.m. |
Cumberlands | W 88–59 | 22 – Hamilton | 11 – Hamilton | 11 – McKnight | E. A. Diddle Arena (3,425) Bowling Green, KY | |||||
Non-conference Regular season | |||||||||||
November 9, 2021* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+/WKU PBS |
Alabama State | W 79–74 | 1–0 |
21 – Hamilton | 8 – Sharp | 6 – McKnight | E. A. Diddle Arena (4,023) Bowling Green, KY | ||||
November 12, 2021* 5:30 p.m., ESPNU |
vs. Minnesota Asheville Championship semifinals |
L 69–73 | 1–1 |
34 – McKnight | 9 – McKnight | 4 – McKnight | Harrah's Cherokee Center Asheville, NC | ||||
November 14, 2021* 4:00 p.m., ESPNU |
vs. South Carolina Asheville Championship Consolation |
L 64–75 | 1–2 |
16 – Anderson | 6 – Tied | 5 – McKnight | Harrah's Cherokee Center Asheville, NC | ||||
November 19, 2021* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ |
at No. 11 Memphis | L 62–74 | 1–3 |
18 – Justice | 8 – McKnight | 4 – McKnight | FedExForum (13,375) Memphis, TN | ||||
November 24, 2021* 4:00 p.m., ESPN+ |
Alabama A&M | W 88-62 | 2–3 |
18 – Brashear | 12 – Sharp | 9 – Anderson | E. A. Diddle Arena (3,152) Bowling Green, KY | ||||
November 27, 2021* 12:00 p.m., ESPN+/WKU PBS |
UT Martin | W 81-66 | 3–3 |
24 – Hamilton | 11 – Hamilton | 6 – McKnight | E. A. Diddle Arena (2,927) Bowling Green, KY | ||||
November 30, 2021* 7:00 p.m., ESPN3/WKU PBS |
Rhodes College | W 105–35 | 4–3 |
24 – Hamilton | 8 – McKnight | 10 – McKnight | E. A. Diddle Arena (2,737) Bowling Green, KY | ||||
December 4, 2021* 6:00 p.m., ESPN+/WKU PBS |
Eastern Kentucky | W 85–80 | 5–3 |
22 – McKnight | 14 – Sharp | 6 – Justice | E. A. Diddle Arena (4,249) Bowling Green, KY | ||||
December 8, 2021* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ |
Buffalo | L 67–77 | 5–4 |
18 – McKnight | 8 – Sharp | 4 – McKnight | E. A. Diddle Arena (3,689) Bowling Green, KY | ||||
December 11, 2021* 7:30 p.m., ESPN+ |
vs. Ole Miss Holiday Hoopsgiving |
W 71–48 | 6–4 |
16 – Sharp | 12 – Hamilton | 11 – McKnight | State Farm Arena (6,157) Atlanta, GA | ||||
December 14, 2021* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+/WKU PBS |
Centre College | W 90–52 | 7–4 |
18 – Anderson | 11 – Hamilton | 10 – McKnight | E. A. Diddle Arena (3,240) Bowling Green, KY | ||||
December 18, 2021* 2:00 p.m., CBS |
Louisville | W 82–72 | 8–4 |
25 – Justice | 10 – Anderson | 9 – McKnight | E. A. Diddle Arena (7,053) Bowling Green, KY | ||||
December 22, 2021* 5:00 p.m., ESPN |
at No. 20 Kentucky | L 60–95 | 8–5 |
18 – Anderson | 8 – McKnight | 4 – McKnight | Rupp Arena (20,221) Lexington, KY | ||||
Conference USA regular season | |||||||||||
January 1, 2022 1:00 p.m., CBSSN |
at Louisiana Tech | L 73–74 | 8–6 (0–1) |
22 – Justice | 7 – Tied | 4 – McKnight | Thomas Assembly Center (2,348) Ruston, LA | ||||
January 8, 2022 2:00 p.m., ESPN+ |
FIU | W 84–71 | 9–6 (1–1) |
16 – Anderson | 8 – Sharp | 8 – McKnight | E. A. Diddle Arena (4,411) Bowling Green, KY | ||||
January 13, 2022 8:00 p.m., CBSSN |
Rice | W 80–66 | 10–6 (2–1) |
22 – Hamilton | 10 – Hamilton | 12 – McKnight | E. A. Diddle Arena (2,933) Bowling Green, KY | ||||
January 15, 2022 3:00 p.m., Stadium/WKU PBS |
North Texas | L 60–65 | 10–7 (2–2) |
23 – McKnight | 7 – Tied | 5 – McKnight | E. A. Diddle Arena (4,012) Bowling Green, KY | ||||
January 20, 2022 6:00 p.m., CBSSN |
at Florida Atlantic | L 69–78 | 10–8 (2–3) |
22 – McKnight | 9 – McKnight | 4 – McKnight | FAU Arena (1,305) Boca Raton, FL | ||||
January 22, 2022 6:00 p.m., ESPN+ |
at FIU | L 83–86 | 10–9 (2–4) |
23 – Anderson | 6 – Sharp | 6 – McKnight | Ocean Bank Convocation Center (2,712) Miami, FL | ||||
January 27, 2022 8:00 p.m., CBSSN |
UAB | L 65–68 | 10–10 (2–5) |
16 – Anderson | 6 – Anderson | 5 – Justice | E. A. Diddle Arena (4,136) Bowling Green, KY | ||||
January 29, 2022 2:00 p.m., ESPN+/WKU PBS |
Middle Tennessee | L 85–93 | 10–11 (2–6) |
24 – McKnight | 7 – Hamilton | 10 – McKnight | E. A. Diddle Arena (4,435) Bowling Green, KY | ||||
February 3, 2022 6:00 p.m., ESPN+ |
at Charlotte | W 78–59 | 11–11 (3–6) |
22 – Justice | 8 – Anderson | 5 – McKnight | Dale F. Halton Arena (3,024) Charlotte, NC | ||||
February 5, 2022 6:00 p.m., ESPN+ |
at Old Dominion | W 77–60 | 12–11 (4–6) |
18 – Justice | 8 – Anderson | 6 – McKnight | Chartway Arena (5,914) Norfolk, VA | ||||
February 10, 2022 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ |
Florida Atlantic | W 76–69 | 13–11 (5–6) |
19 – Justice | 9 – Tied | 4 – Tied | E. A. Diddle Arena (3,547) Bowling Green, KY | ||||
February 12, 2022 3:00 p.m., CUSA.tv |
at UTSA | W 71-65 | 14–11 (6–6) |
18 – Tied | 12 – Sharp | 6 – McKnight | Convocation Center (1,123) San Antonio, TX | ||||
February 14, 2022 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ |
at Southern Miss Rescheduled from December 30 |
W 87–77 | 15–11 (7–6) |
26 – McKnight | 9 – Sharp | 5 – McKnight | Reed Green Coliseum (2,726) Hattiesburg, MS | ||||
February 17, 2022 7:00 p.m., CBSSN |
Charlotte | W 77–67 | 16–11 (8–6) |
22 – McKnight | 7 – Hamilton | 7 – Justice | E. A. Diddle Arena (3,421) Bowling Green, KY | ||||
February 19, 2022 6:00 p.m., ESPN+ |
Old Dominion | W 73–64 | 17–11 (9–6) |
23 – McKnight | 10 – Sharp | 3 – Justice | E. A. Diddle Arena (5,015) Bowling Green, KY | ||||
February 26, 2022 6:00 p.m., ESPN+ |
at Middle Tennessee | L 52–69 | 17–12 (9–7) |
13 – McKnight | 11 – Sharp | 5 – Justice | Murphy Center (6,192) Murfreesboro, TN | ||||
March 2, 2022 6:00 p.m., ESPNU |
at Marshall | W 86–72 | 18–12 (10–7) |
27 – Justice | 11 – Sharp | 4 – Justice | Cam Henderson Center (4,963) Huntington, WV | ||||
March 5, 2022 2:00 p.m., ESPN+ |
Marshall | W 78–69 | 19–12 (11–7) |
16 – Tied | 12 – Sharp | 4 – Tied | E. A. Diddle Arena (6,098) Bowling Green, KY | ||||
Conference USA Tournament | |||||||||||
March 10, 2022 8:00 p.m., Stadium |
(E2) | vs. (W3) Louisiana Tech Quarterfinals |
L 57–59 | 19–13 |
20 – McKnight | 10 – Sharp | 1 – Tied | Ford Center at The Star Frisco, TX | |||
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Central Time. |
Source[1]