WKU Basketball: Tops Continue to Impress in Final Exhibition in 109–66 Win
It is difficult to know how good a basketball team is against inferior competition, but WKU basketball continued its remarkable streak of…
It is difficult to know how good a basketball team is against inferior competition, but WKU basketball continued its remarkable streak of impressive offensive performances. Through six exhibition games (three in Costa Rica earlier this summer and three this fall), WKU is yet to score less than 78 points. The Tops have found a way to average 93 in their three official exhibition games, a stark contrast from the 2016–17 version of the Tops, which saw the Hilltoppers only top 80 points on four occasions and 90 only once.
WKU nailed buckets at an otherworldly clip of 69% from the floor and over 50% from three Tuesday night. Like the game against Campbellsville, six of seven players scored in double figures. WKU assisted on 25 of 42 made baskets, and Darius Thompson nearly recorded WKU’s second ever triple-double, scoring 16 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and recording nine assists.
Cumberland put a 66 on the scoreboard, but spread out production over their 14 players that saw action. Only Diondrey Holt, Jr., was able to crest into double figures, scoring 13 points.
Although WKU has clearly been impressive in the early going, head coach Rick Stansbury said the Hilltoppers have plenty of room for improvement. WKU allowed over 40% shooting and made several obvious mistakes on defense. The Topper freshmen showed their lack of experience, accounting for 7 of 13 Hilltopper turnovers and 7 of 11 missed free throws.
WKU will need to improve against stiffer competition, but the Hilltoppers sure look like they are massively improved from last season on both sides of the court.
News and Notes
Coach Stansbury said he “hopes” Lamonte Bearden can play Friday. “He makes us a different team,” he said about him. He also went on to say Bearden adds speed, can pass, and score. Bearden was a four-star recruit coming out of high school and helped the University of Buffalo to two NCAA Tournaments, earning All-MAC and All-Freshman honors in his first two years before transferring to Western Kentucky in 2016.
Stansbury and Hal Schmitt of the Big Red Radio Network both said four star freshman Josh Anderson should “hopefully be cleared to play” soon. The news doesn’t seem as wonderful for Moustapha Diagne. No timetable was given for his potential eligibility, or whether he would ever don the red and white.
WKU takes on Missouri State Friday night at 7 p.m. in Diddle Arena in their first official game of the 2017–18 season. MSU is picked to win the Missouri Valley Conference.
In postgame radio interviews, Stansbury and Jake Ohmer both implored WKU fans to come out Friday night and, “fill this place up.”
Stansbury asked students to come and cheer for his Toppers. Speaking directly to the student body, he said, “We are going to need you guys. You may make the difference in the game. Those of you that came, come back, and bring a friend. We need to find a way to pack this place out Friday night.”
Is WKU a contender or a pretender? We’ll find out Friday night.