WKU Basketball: Preview for Western Kentucky vs UTEP 2
The Tops couldn't get it done out West in January, but can they keep their three game winning streak going in February? Here's everything you need to know for WKU vs UTEP.
Overview
On Thursday, February 15, The University of Texas El Paso head East to face off against the Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky University. UTEP (13-11, 4-5 CUSA) is coming off of a big win of 74-49 over their rivals, New Mexico State, in El Paso, to move the Miners to sixth in the conference. WKU (17-7, 6-4 CUSA) is coming off of a huge road trip and is currently on a three game winning streak and has won five of six, most recently beating Jacksonville State in Jacksonville, 70-59. An impressive week of work, the Tops move up to third in the conference and a half game out of first place. As of publication, ESPN’s BPI likes WKU with a 78.2% chance of winning.
Notable Statistics
WKU Stat Leaders
PPG: Don McHenry- 16 points per game
RPG: Brandon Newman- 6 rebounds per game
APG: Don McHenry- 2.6 assists per game
UTEP Stat Leaders
PPG: Tae Hardy- 15.3 points per game
RPG: Kevin Kalu- 5 rebounds per game
APG: Zid Powell: 3 assists per game
WKU Team Stats
80.3 PPG
46.6% FG
34% 3PT
40.1 RPG
13.5 APG
7.4 SPG
14 TO
UTEP Team Stats
73.5 PPG
44.8% FG
31.2% 3PT
33.5 RPG
13 APG
11.8 SPG
15 TO
Keys to Victory
WKU
Western is really going to have to shut Tae Hardy down. Hardy is a 6’3” guard for the Miners who can light it up from three just as well as he can take it to the hole. In the first meeting between these two teams, he went 9-of-18 from the field and 4-of-7 from distance, scoring a game high 27 points. Khristian Lander is still questionable for Thursday’s game so someone may have to step up once again for the Hilltoppers to take on the task of guarding Hardy. In the Hilltoppers last game against Jacksonville State, Brandon Newman and Teagan Moore both did a terrific job against Conference USA’s leading scorer, Kyky Tandy, holding Tandy to only 13 points, more than 5 points below his season average. He really was below his normal in just about every category Saturday. Newman and Moore may have to step up and do it again to keep Hardy under control against the Miners.
WKU is really going to have to keep the Miners off of the free throw line. UTEP went 82% (24-29) from the free throw line in the last meeting between these teams. It’s really hard to win in college basketball when you let your opponent get to the line 29 times, especially when they are a good free throw shooting team. Although UTEP only shoots 69% from the free throw line, handing the opponent over 20 points for free is excessive. 24 points from free throws is usually not going to cut it. Western is going to have to make sure that they are not fouling while still playing aggressive. Don’t move away from your play style, but just be smart.
Finally, Western is going to need to take care of the ball. WKU has been really good recently at not turning the ball over. They had one messy half against Jacksonville State, turning it over 12 times, but cleaned it up in the second half, only turning it over one time. Fun fact: The lone turnover was when WKU dribbled the ball out to run down the clock at the end of the game. When these two teams played in El Paso, WKU turned the ball over 19 times, which in Division I men’s basketball is not going to win you many games. UTEP currently leads the country in steals at 11.8 per game. With this kind of defense on the other end of the floor, Western will need to come prepared and make sure they are making smart passes to keep that number of turnovers as low as possible. From watching the previous game, UTEP understands passing lanes and anticipates where WKU may possibly throw the ball under pressure. Western has to be really thoughtful to not make a hero play and just play within reason and get the ball to the open man efficiently.
Editor bonus key: Experience over Youthful Enthusiasm
WKU is the much more experienced team with several Power Five transfers with NCAA Tournament experience, upperclassmen from the JUCO ranks, and really doesn’t play underclassmen with the exception of Teagan Moore and Jack Edelen. UTEP does play some younger players, and those younger players have had big moments this season. David Terrell, Jr., Elijah Jones, and Trey Horton III are freshmen that exclusively come off of the bench. However, the three combined have nine Freshman of the Week Honors, sweeping the last six weeks. Western needs to overcome that fresh, budding talent, and they need to find a way to find copper (El Paso’s #1 mining product) against the Miners.
UTEP
First things first, UTEP needs to slow down Don McHenry. Don is a 6’2” guard for the Hilltoppers and has been on an absolute tear recently, averaging 21.8 points over his last four games. He had 18 points against the Miners when Western played in El Paso. I’m not sure who, but someone on this UTEP team will need to step it up and try to shut McHenry down or it could be a long night for the Miners. And watch out for McHenry in either or both halves. Sometimes he just flat goes heartless and drains whatever shot he feels like in the face of his defender. UTEP must not let him go for 15 points in a row. McHenry is picking up chatter as a real contender for Conference USA Player of the Year.
UTEP is also going to need to protect the paint. When these two teams played in El Paso, WKU scored 60 points in the paint. Western is a drive first type of team and they are going to be attacking the paint all game. The Hilltoppers are more than capable of lighting it up from distance, but the main goal for their offense is to take it to the hole. The UTEP bigs are going to need to come to the game prepared to protect the rim, because Western will be taking it at them all game. Western has to overcome UTEP’s ability to create chaos, and one great way to do it is to get the Miners worried about the rim and not the ball.
Lastly, UTEP will need to play at their own pace. WKU is currently leading the country in adjusted tempo, which basically means they operate at warp speed. The Tops will be pushing the ball down the court every chance that they get, looking for fast break points and easy baskets before the defense can set up. UTEP is going to have to make sure that they are controlling the pace of this game by taking care of the ball on offense and getting back on defense to prevent WKU from scoring in transition. If you aren’t prepared, Western will tire you out, finding yourself down double digits without realizing what’s happening. UTEP will need to try to slow down the pace offensively and just play how they want to play.
Editor Bonus Key: UTEP Cannot Afford to be Terrible from Deep
Western Kentucky got its swag back against Jacksonville State, holding the Gamecocks to 1-of-14 from behind the arc Saturday. Western has been top 50 defending the three all year. UTEP is also shooting barely above 31% from three on the year. This seems to be an area WKU might be able to gain an advantage, so UTEP needs to make good decisions and take open three point shots. If they get panicked and/or can’t get open from deep, it would be difficult to keep up with a Topper team that is highly likely to score 80. Last game, UTEP shot above their average at 35%, giving them just enough offense to beat a WKU team that (other than turnovers) played well offensively that game (UTEP 93, WKU 87).
Richards’ Expectations and Predictions
Both of these coaches are defensive-minded coaches and hate it more than anything to give up easy baskets. Because of this, you can expect a lot of hustle on the defensive end from both teams. UTEP leads the country in steals per game and WKU leads the country in adjusted tempo so this game could be very chaotic with a lot of running up and down the court. It was a very high scoring game when these two teams played in El Paso and it could go that way again, but I think that both coaches will want to buckle down and try their best to put on the clamps this game.
I am going to predict that WKU wins by a score of 76-62. UTEP is honestly a good team and has a lot of potential to make some noise in the conference tournament, but Western is just on a roll right now and I can’t see UTEP coming to Diddle Arena to upset the Tops, especially considering WKU is 10-1 at home and UTEP is 0-7 on the road. The altitude/travel issue works both ways: UTEP and NMSU flourish at home at several thousand feet above sea level against teams that have been in planes all week, but when they hit the road, they’re a completely different team.
Conclusion
This should be a good one. Both coaches are hungry for victory and I know for a fact that coach Golding isn’t going to go down without a fight. He knows what he’s doing, and his style of intense halfcourt pressure creates matchup problems for WKU with its top two points guards most likely out this game. Both teams have had an up and down conference season, but WKU seems to have figured something out lately. There’s no question they will have revenge on their mind, but equally dangerous, UTEP is barely in it but not out in the CUSA race for decent seeding. UTEP has struggled on the road this season, but have a chance to turn things around this Thursday.
For anyone who is not able to make it to Diddle, the game will be on CBS Sports Network at 6:00 pm CT. You can also tune into @thetowelrackwku on Twitter/X for build-up, live tweets, and reactions. While you’re at it, go ahead and check out the RedOut Podcast on Twitter/X and on YouTube. As always, we are your #1 source for unfiltered and honest WKU content!