Lady Topper Hoops: After Losing Four Straight, Lady Tops Now Desperate Heading to Marshall
Western Kentucky women’s basketball coach Greg Collins seemed to have turned a corner with his squad a few weeks ago, but now reality has…
Western Kentucky women’s basketball coach Greg Collins seemed to have turned a corner with his squad a few weeks ago, but now reality has hit the Lady Tops.
WKU (14–13, 8–5 C-USA) is now in the meat of its conference schedule, unfortunately for them slapped all in a row mostly on the road right before conference tournament. Prior the past four games, WKU had not played Rice, MTSU, North Texas, or UAB, all of which were picked to finish in the top half of C-USA and all of which pose legitimate threats to WKU’s lack of dominant size and defense. After going winless during the past two weeks, the Tops are now on the outside looking in, barely holding onto a guarantee of a bye (if they win their final three games).
After dropping this past week’s contests on the road at MTSU and UAB, WKU now sits outside of the top four seeds, which means if conference tournament play started today, I would be in Frisco desperately praying the ladies don’t lose the earliest in the conference tournament since 2008–09.
Western currently stands tied for fifth, but a win against Marshall Saturday would put the Tops back in a tie for at least fourth. WKU would have the upper hand on both Marshall and Old Dominion with two games to play. A loss would mathematically eliminate the Toppers from a top-four seed, however.
WKU’s loss to Middle Tennessee on Valentine’s Day was a real heart breaker. WKU went from solidifying themselves to desperation quickly. This is not a misprint: MTSU shot 84.2% from the field in the second half, grabbing the lead from WKU shortly after halftime and pulling away from the Tops to cruise to a 12 point victory.
Once again, WKU’s defense was completely inexcusable, and 84% from the field during any stretch of significant time is utterly unheard of. Western played well enough offensively to win the game, but the other end of the court was the dagger of death.
Saturday, the Lady Toppers traveled to Birmingham to take on the UAB Blazers. In another barftastic performance, UAB was allowed to outrebound and outshoot the Tops. All told, the Blazers snagged ten more rebounds and shot over 50 percent from the floor.
The Bottom Line
Western has really picked the wrong time of the year and schedule to revert to old early season habits. WKU is strikingly lackadaisical, allowing tons of easy baskets and not protecting the free throw line.
WKU has allowed 72.9 points per game this season, after not allowing 70 ppg since 2001–02, when the Lady Tops allowed 72.6 each contest. WKU stands to record its worst team defense since 1981–82, the year before the legendary Paul Sanderford took over a floundering Lady Topper program.
This team is above average offensively, but WKU is historically awful defensively, and getting outworked by significant margins on the defensive glass is a huge explanation, as well as the much maligned three point percentage defense (37.7%).
If Lady Topper fans are asking what can be done to fix the issues in preparation for the Conference USA Tournament, how about effort? Toughness? Leadership?
Regardless, WKU has to muster at least two wins (including at Marshall Saturday) to have a chance at a top four seed in the Conference USA Tournament. Winning three would guarantee it. To get the all-important bye in the tournament, WKU must beat Marshall (who just beat MTSU on the road) and take at least one of two from two teams (North Texas and MTSU) WKU already lost to by at least nine points. Two of these three games are on the road.
It’s time to get serious, Lady Tops.
