GAMEDAY: Tops vs. Dogs

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Just like we talked about earlier today with the football team, the WKU basketball squad returns to action tonight, and while the wait wasn’t nearly as long as the football one was, the performance the Tops are coming off of is just as good, if not better.

If you missed it, WKU beat UNC-Wilmington 73-58 on Thursday night, in what was the best team effort I can remember.  Three Hilltoppers reached double-digits in the score column; T.J. Price for the 3rd time in 3 games this season (and 14 in the last 15 games), George Fant surpassed the 800 point mark, and Caden Dickerson scored 10+ for the first time since 2011. Also worth noting, Rostov and Hulsey each added 9 points, meaning WKU was thisclose to having all starting 5 put up double digits.

A good win, yes, but now, it’s time to look forward, for in a couple of hours, the Tops will close out their 3 game home stand, and will then endure a stretch where 5 of the next 6 games will be on the road. Tonight, the Samford Bulldogs (1-4, 0-0 Southern Conference) come to the Mighty E.A. Diddle, and the Tops couldn’t have asked for a better time to have a struggling team. Samford, losers of 4 straight (and have lost to ULM and UT-Arlington, both Sun Belt schools, as well as coming off of a loss to ETSU, who the Tops beat by 7 to open the home stand), have two players who average in double figures through the first 5 games, Tim Williams (14.6) and Raijon Kelly (13.6). The Bulldogs, as a team, only average 68 points per game, which is great for this stingy WKU defense, which has held their opponents under 70 points for 7 straight games.

Taking a look at NCAA statistic rankings, it isn’t pretty. For either team. But, one thing that is good for WKU  is that they are top 70 in the country in rebounds, averaging over 40 per game. The Tops were strong on the defensive side of the glass Thursday night, but they have to get better grabbing their own shots, and putting them back up for points.

Bottom line tonight: if WKU continues their momentum from Thursday, it’s going to be a fun night for fans on the Hill. Samford isn’t very good, and WKU gets better and better with each game.

As much as I’d like to see Brandon Price get another shot at starting in the 1 spot, the offense has clicked with Hulsey, and if I were going to put together a line-up, I wouldn’t change a thing with Thursday’s: George, T.J., Hulsey, Rostov and Caden.

If all goes as it should, the Tops will be 3-1 heading into their second road game of the year when they visit Marshall next week. But, business is business, and the Dogs are on everyone’s mind.

The game won’t be on ESPN 3, but I’m hoping it’ll be on WKYU in Bowling Green, because personal obligations will keep me out of Diddle. If the game is televised in BG, look for something different tonight as apart of our coverage. And I’m pretty sure you’ll like it.

Stand up and cheers.