WKU Basketball: Toppers Open Home Conference Slate Against FIU
For the first time since knocking off Wisconsin back on December 29, the Hilltoppers are set to take the home hardwood as they continue…
For the first time since knocking off Wisconsin back on December 29, the Hilltoppers are set to take the home hardwood as they continue Conference USA play against FIU and look to even out their C-USA record.
Game Info
Time: 7:00 p.m. CT
Location: E.A. Diddle Arena | Bowling Green, Kentucky
TV: beIN Sports
Radio: The Hilltopper IMG Sports Network
The Tops have played just five home contests in their first 16 games, going 4–1 in true-home games, with the lone loss coming to Troy back in the middle of December.
And, while the recent home history has been kind to the Tops, recent history in general has not been. Their last two games have seen WKU take big leads that they were unable to hold and, ultimately, fell to ODU and Marshall in two big road tests.
Neither loss, in a vacuum, is awful or un-comebackable from (is that a word? It’s a word.) but it’s the circumstances surrounding them that sting.
For Tops fans looking for some good news, the last time WKU lost two straight games (Dec. 16 &19 vs. Troy and at Belmont), the Tops went on to rattle off three straight wins. If that trend continued over the next three games, that’d see wins over FIU, the darkhorse FAU Owls and a revenge win over Marshall.
Lets talk about those Panthers.
FIU enters Diddle averaging 88.5 points per game and is logging 36.6 boards a night but are allowing a ton of points as well, averaging 80.5 points per.
The Panthers are 2–2 in their conference schedule, alternating wins and loss against MTSU, UAB, Charlotte and, most recently, a 75–74 loss against ODU at home.
Brian Beard paces the Panthers in both points per game (19.6) and assists per game (6.5) while big man (6'7", 250) Osasumwen Osaghae leads the team in rebounds (7.8 per game) and field goal percentage.
Beard is also the cog in which the Panthers’ offense runs, leading the team with 357 points produced. Forward Devon Andrews (205) and guard Trejon Jacob (173) are the #2 and #3, respectively, most productive players offensively for the Panthers.
In terms of PProd, the Panthers run deeper than the Hilltoppers do — seven FIU players have logged at least 100 points produced while just four Hilltoppers can say the same (though, if Dalano Banton had started another game or two, he might be in the conversation, entering tonight with 92)
In road games this year, the Panthers are on the opposite end of an 85–77 scoring average and are shooting just 40.4% from the floor, while the opposition is netting shots at a 50% clip.
In their last five games, FIU is shooting even worse — 39.6% from the floor and just 29.7% from deep but have been playing teams closely, allowing 74 points per game and scoring 71.
I don’t want to make any bold statements about what WKU needs to do, but this is a game that will really, really leave a bad taste in many people’s mouths if it ends in a loss. A full 40 minutes is what I’m looking for from the Red Towels and some positive momentum as WKU heads into their weekend game against FAU before the revenge game against Marshall.