WKU Basketball: What Would It Mean for Western Kentucky to Win the Myrtle Beach Invitational?
Western Kentucky men’s basketball is on the cusp of more history. WKU is set to face Central Florida on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. CT on ESPN2 in…
Western Kentucky men’s basketball is on the cusp of more history. WKU is set to face Central Florida on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. CT on ESPN2 in the Myrtle Beach Invitational Championship Game.
WKU (3–1) has its work cut out for itself. UCF (3–1) was the preseason pick to win the American Conference. The Knights feature a 7'6" center, Tacko Fall, who dunks flat-footed and swats balls three times a game. UCF also features All-American level guards. UCF is yet to get rolling in 2018–19, but in the meantime, they’ve has positioned itself to win a preseason tournament.
The table is set.
What would it mean for WKU to win an early preseason tournament?
In its 100th season of basketball, Western has perhaps its greatest combination of talent and size in its history. How does WKU parlay that into something special in 2018–19?
Winning a preseason tournament would be monumental for a variety of reasons. First, the cliche is perfect here: This would be a huge confidence booster for the Tops. WKU would know it could compete with anyone in the country. More tangibly, winning a preseason tournament against a quality field is a huge resume booster. Western was arguably within two or three wins of earning an at-large bid to the 2018 NCAA Tournament.
WKU has out of conference opportunities on its schedule in Washington, West Virginia, Central Florida, Arkansas, Belmont, Saint Mary’s and Wisconsin. WKU is 1–1 in those opportunities so far and they needs a winning record against those schools to really sniff an at-large bid.
Beating UCF and West Virginia (and winning the MBI in the process) would certainly garner national attention and announce WKU as a potential Top 25 team moving forward. Would WKU vault straight into the Top 25? Most likely not, but the Toppers have certainly caught the attention of many around the country in its first four games. Even in its lone loss, WKU was impressive in the first half, leading Washington in Seattle by nine points. WKU will have been on national TV for four of its five games after they face UCF. Winning three of those four won’t hurt the possibilities.
On a grander scale, history has been made in the past two years. WKU had not been to the Final Four of the NIT since the 1950s. When Justin Johnson and the depleted Hilltoppers made it to Madison Square Garden, they set the program up for a step up in talent and expectation.
Heading into 2018–19, WKU basketball tickets are nearly sold out. With an almost guaranteed collection of votes for winning the tournament, Hilltopper fans could be as excited as they’ve been since actually being in the NCAA Tournament in 2013. In terms of overall belief, WKU Basketball may be at its highest since 2008 or 1993, both of which resulted in Sweet 16 runs.
Winning this preseason tournament would be the first since 2001, when WKU won the NABC Classic title in Lexington, beating UK and George Washington on consecutive days.
In WKU’s storied history, the Toppers have never won a three game preseason tournament. The Toppers are one game away.
Let’s not lose sight of reality. Winning a preseason tournament means virtually nothing, except that your team is talented. However, Johnny Hilltopper will be losing his mind if Dear Old Western finds a way to win Sunday night.
Diddle will ramp up in intensity.
Expectations will rise.
Predictions will get bolder.
Polls will be checked.
Topper fans will begin to dream.
If there is one thing beating UCF will announce to not only avid Hilltopper fans, but the entire college basketball world, it’s this:
Western Kentucky is back.