GAMEDAY: Tops vs. Birds

Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
It’s weird to think that WKU has to travel TO Bowling Green to play an away game, and it not be in Diddle.
Of course, I’m talking about the MAC’s Bowling Green Falcons, who the Hilltoppers will square off against tonight in just under an hour or so.
The Tops (4-2) look to continue their early season winning ways as they take on a 2-4 Falcons squad who’s wins include a 102-49 thrashing of Earlham (who?) and a 67-45 W against Presbyterian. The Falcons are lead by Spencer Parker, who averages 13.5 points per game in just over 33 minutes on the floor. Their assists come from Jehvon Clarke, who averages 4.5 a game, and are lead on the boards by Cameron Black, who is averaging 8.2 rebounds per contest.
The Tops are coming off a 68-53 win over Eastern Illinois, and once again showed why you play 40 minutes of basketball. The game saw Ben Lawson get his first collegiate start (as a forward…), George Fant lead the team in points as he finished with 20 and Brandon Harris of all people lead the way in rebounds with 8. Don’t worry, WKU did indeed win.
Looking forward to tonight, not a whole lot of things stick out that are positive in terms of team statistics. However, one stat of note is that the Tops have allowed the 21st fewest points per game in the nation at 60.8, which is also good enough to lead the SBC. T.J. Price continues to tear it up, as he has hit 10+ in 17 of 18 contests, and has a 20-game 3-point streak cooking. (Move over, Kyle Korver!)
Not that it matters quite yet, but our first look at the standings in the SBC (now a one-division conference) show the Tops in 3rd, tied in overall record with Arkansas St. and behind ULL by one win (the Cajuns are 5-2). Is there a surprise in the standings? Why, it’s funny you should ask, because the popularly favored Georgia State Panthers sit at 2-5, and while they do have a loss against Alabama and Vandy, they also have dropped contests vs. Canisius of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (again, who?), Elon, and lost a 1-point game to last year’s SBC runners-up FIU. But again, it’s still early.
WKU also leads the conference in rebound margin (+4.4 per game) and defensive rebound percentage (72%), but other than that, the Tops are middle of the pack or dead last. Not good. But still plenty of time to make those stats up.
A quick first glance shows that the Tops should win this game, and the only real threat WKU has is Cameron Black on the boards. The Tops are a solid rebounding team in all, but most of them come from the defensive side of the glass. Rebounds will be of the utmost importance right now.
I think Harris is still too fragile to start, but can be a sparkplug if needed. My predicted lineup: George, T.J., B-Price, Rostov and Snipes, just for fun. And Caden looks to be out for a few games following his injury Saturday.
One more stat of note, the Tops have yet to win a road game this year, as the games in Wichita and Marshall have ended in Hilltopper defeat. Let’s hope that ends tonight.
Stand up and cheers.