WKU Basketball: Tops to Take on First-Place Roadrunners
The Hilltoppers were unable to win a fourth-straight game for the first time this season last weekend against Louisiana Tech but have a…
The Hilltoppers were unable to win a fourth-straight game for the first time this season last weekend against Louisiana Tech but have a chance to send a message to the top team in the league as they host *squints* UTSA?
*squints harder* Okay, UTSA!
Game Info
Time: 7:00 p.m. CT
Location: E.A. Diddle Arena | Bowling Green, Kentucky
TV: Stadium on Facebook
Radio: The Hilltopper IMG Sports Network
If you’re still having a hard time believing UTSA is at the top of the league, I don’t blame you. The Roadrunners lost their first five games of the season (including to St. Edwards[???] and UC Irvine, a baseball school), but caught fire around the turn of the schedule into conference play.
UTSA opened the conference schedule with back-to-back wins over UTEP (as in, they played UTEP twice in a row), Rice and North Texas before falling to MTSU and UAB (both on the road). Most recently, the ‘Runners are riding a two-game winning streak against Charlotte and ODU.
The Roadrunners create a lot of chances for themselves. A lot of chances. I mean a lot of chances. They’ve attempted the 12th most field goals in the country (1,378) and have made the 58th most shots (however, they’re 276th in field goal percentage. Math, amirite?).
Since C-USA play tipped off, the ‘Runners are still leading the pack in field goal attempts (as well as in field goals made, which equates to the sixth-best FG%. Again, math) but aren’t as lockdown as their season numbers would indicate: All year, they’re 274th in attempts, but in conference play, they’ve allowed the second-most.
Having said all of that, the Roadrunners boast the conference’s most high-powered offense, scoring 79.3 points per conference game game, thanks in large part to the duo of Jhivvan Jackson (21.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists per game) and Keaton Wallace (19.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists).
This is honestly the first game this year I’ve gone into it thinking the Hilltoppers may be overpowered; I’m not sure I trust the WKU defense to stop Jackson or Wallace and I’m not sure I can trust WKU down low all game to out duel UTSA on the glass.
Also, to throw a wrench in everything else, tonight marks the first game of the conference season that will see Lamonte Bearden as starting point guard, replacing Dalano Banton as the starting one.
With the Tops, on paper, most likely outdone by the ‘Runners, that probably means WKU will win as the Tops’ streaky season continues.
Who knows, really?