WKU Basketball: Hilltoppers Welcome Bulldogs For Midweek Tilt
For the first time since the season's opening game, WKU returns home to take on Alabama A&M.
Following a disappointing showing in the Asheville Championship and a surprisingly strong showing at #11 Memphis, the Hilltoppers return to E.A. Diddle Arena for the first time since the season opener to take on Alabama A&M.
Game Info
Time: 4 p.m. CT
Location: E.A. Diddle Arena | Bowling Green, Ky.
TV: ESPN+
Radio: The Hilltopper IMG Sports Network
The Hilltoppers, seemingly out of nowhere, turned in maybe their most impressive performance of the season to date against the Tigers, led by an 18-point evening from Camron Justice in his breakout game since his return to the Tops’ roster.
WKU also benefited from some poor three-point shooting by the Tigers, who went just 2-16 from the floor beyond the arc. A trend WKU players and fans alike would like to see continue.
The Tops and Bulldogs come in with identical 1-3 records, and neither has had necessarily an easy path.
WKU can claim some poor luck (though those of us who have watched the first four games know they’re playing mostly sub-par basketball) with those loses, Alabama A&M have just simply run into better competition in something of a mid-major murderers row.
Entering Wednesday, AAMU has lost to Jacksonville State (70-47), Cincinnati (89-66) and UAB (86-41).
Two of their starters - Jalen Johnson (16.8) and Garrett Hicks (11.5) - are averaging double figures but there’s not a lot of scoring depth behind them. If the Hilltoppers are to find themselves this portion of the non-conference schedule, tonight is the night to have a blow-out kind of night.
Time for some roster updates: While we are still in Keith Williams eligibility limbo, we have reason to believe Zion Williamson could be available. He posted this cryptic photo to his Instagram profile on Monday.
Sources tell The Towel Rack his playing is solely a Rick Stansbury decision, so we’ll see if he’s available tonight. But, if I were in charge, I’d consider getting him in over the next handful of games: AAMU, UT Martin, Rhodes College and Eastern Kentucky are due next for the Tops before a swing against Buffalo and Ole Miss.
While we’re talking about team management, I’d like to see Stansbury make a switch with the starting lineup and throw Justice into the starting lineup over Butz, who hasn’t looked very promising to start the year (he played less than 11 minutes on Friday at Memphis).
Anyway, tipoff is set for 4 p.m., CT.
Projected Lineups
WKU
Jarius Hamilton
Dayvion McKnight
Josh Anderson
Luke Frampton
Jaylen Butz
Alabama A&M
Jalen Johnson
Cameron Tucker
Garrett Hicks
Eric Lee
EJ Williams