Bowling Green Getting Semi-Pro Basketball Team, May Play in Diddle Arena

The city of Bowling Green, Kentucky is gearing up to play host to a third minor league team, as a group of local investors have brought the Bowling Green Bandits to the semi-pro American Basketball Association. The Bandits are the 100th team in the ABA, which is the largest league in the nation, and will begin their first season this November.

The Bandits will be South-central Kentucky’s third basketball team since 2008, as there is already the Central Basketball Association’s Bowling Green Hornets (who actually play their home games in Russellville, about 30 minutes from the WKU campus), and there was an attempted ABA team to BG in ’08, the Kentucky Mavericks, but they eventually moved to Owensboro (again, about 30-40 minutes from the Hill) and played under the Kentucky Bisons moniker. Bowling Green, of course, also has the single-A Bowling Green Hot Rods of the Midwest League, and are affiliated with the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Bandits coming to the city may have a direct impact on WKU, as ownership is looking into playing their home games at Diddle arena, but the school is awaiting confirmation of the 2014/15 schedule for both the men’s and women’s teams.

Why, “Bandits,” you might be asking? Co-owner Matt Morris gave an explination in the official announcement released by the league:

"It’s because of the local attraction in Bowling Green, Lost River Cave, a cave where the famous and infamous Jesse James gang hid out while on a crime spree in the area including robbing the old Russellville Bank that still stands today. Our mascot is Jesse the Bandit."

Ahhhh, that makes a whole lot of sense. Wave The Red Towel will continue to bring Bandits news to you, and will hopefully be able to see the guys play in our house as well!