WKU Football: What I Think I Think Ahead of the Hilltoppers' Matchup at Hawaii
The Hilltoppers are 1-0 after outlasting Austin Peay. Here's what I think I think after 60 minutes of football in 2022.
The first game, and win, of the Hilltoppers’ season in the books.
It’s always (well, most always) tough to get a true feel for what the season has in store after just one game - especially against an FCS team - but it’s so far so good for the Chrome Domes.
With the Governors having been called to step down, our attention turns to the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors who were thoroughly throttled in the Sicko’s Game of the Week by Vanderbilt, 63-10, late Saturday night.
Before we turn our thinking caps to 11 for the rest of the week, here are some initial thoughts of the matchup. Welcome to week two of things I think I think.
I think…
I think if WKU wants to find their running game, this will be the week to do it. I haven’t dug through the tape, nor do I know that much about Vanderbilt’s offense, but the Commodores were able to rush for 404 yards, led by a 163-yard day from Mike Wright (13 carries). Whether that is more on Vandy’s strength as opposed to Hawaii’s weaknesses, I don’t know. Tyson Helton really tried to #EstablishIt on Saturday, to varying degrees of success on individual efforts but it was still a struggle on the whole (to the tune of 108 total yards on 32 carries).
I think it’s still too early to panic about the running game, and finding the top back will take some time. Davion Ervin-Poindexter was impressive as the second backfield option, ending the game with the most carries (15) and yards (49). Maybe my blinders are on too tight but I think Kye Robichaux (there’s still room on the bandwagon) looked the best of the three main backs despite having the worst statistical day. Four quarters in and we have no more RB answers than before kickoff.
I think WKU’s defense is for real. I know, it’s early to make that declaration, but if they’re able to match Vandy’s effort (especially on the scoreboard - the ‘Dores didn’t allow a point for the final 36ish minutes of the game) I think it’ll be warranted, even against a Hawaii team that’ll struggle to win multiple games.
I think Austin Reed performed as well as the play calling allowed him to. Once Helton opened up the playbook in the second half, he was lights out: After throwing for 102 yards on 9-16 passing in the first half, Reed threw for 174 yards on 10-17 passing in the second half. Some of that could also have been him getting the feel in his first game with a new team, but you could definitely feel the confidence in the back 30 on Saturday.
I think Daewood Davis being Reed’s security blanket is not surprising, though Malachi Corley being the endzone magnet is. I’m really curious to see if that trend continues, if it corrects itself or if Corley over time becomes Reed’s top target. Either way, WKU fans need not fret, as it looks like the tag-team effort to replace Jerreth Sterns is going well so far.
I think WKU being just a 73.5% favorite on ESPN’s matchup predictor is very low. I would have guessed 80% at the very lowest. Maybe they’re taking into account the travel and playing a game at what would normally be midnight for the Tops? I don’t know. Along those same lines, I think WKU entering the week as a consensus 16-point favorite seems a bit low, too.