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2024–25 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team American college basketball season
The 2024–25 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represents Western Kentucky University during the 2024–25 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team is led by first-year head coach Hank Plona, and play their home games at E. A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, Kentucky as eleventh-year members of Conference USA (C-USA).
Previous season
The Hilltoppers finished the 2023–24 season 22–12, 8–8 in C-USA play, to finish in third place. As the No. 3 seed in the C-USA tournament, they defeated New Mexico State in the quarterfinals,[1] Middle Tennessee in the semifinals,[2] and UTEP in the finals to win the C-USA championship.[3] As an automatic qualifier in the NCAA tournament, they earned the No. 15 seed, where they lost to No. 2 seed Marquette in the first round.[4][5]
On April 1, 2024, Steve Lutz left the program to accept the head coaching job at Oklahoma State.[6]
A day later, on April 2, 2024, the school named Hank Plona as the new head coach to lead the Hilltoppers.[7]
Offseason
Departures
| Name |
Number |
Pos. |
Height |
Weight |
Year |
Hometown |
Reason for departure
|
| Rodney Howard |
0 |
F |
6' 11" |
250 |
5th year |
Ypsilanti, MI |
Graduated
|
| Brandon Newman |
10 |
G |
6' 5" |
195 |
RS Senior |
Valparaiso, IN |
Graduate transferred to Oklahoma State
|
| Dontaie Allen |
11 |
G/F |
6' 6" |
210 |
RS Senior |
Falmouth, KY |
Transferred to Wyoming
|
| BJ Marable |
13 |
F |
6' 9" |
230 |
Senior |
Knoxville, TN |
Entered transfer portal
|
Incoming transfers
Recruiting classes
2024 recruiting class
Roster
| 2024–25 WKU Hilltoppers men's basketball team
|
| Players |
Coaches
|
| Pos. |
# |
Name |
Height |
Weight |
Year |
Previous school |
Hometown
|
| G
|
0
|
Braxton Bayless
|
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
175 lb (79 kg)
|
GS |
Ankeny HS
Niagara
|
Ankeny, IA
|
| F/C
|
1
|
Blaise Keita
|
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
250 lb (113 kg)
|
RS Sr |
Sunrise Christian
Nebraska
|
Bamako, Mali
|
| G
|
2
|
Don McHenry
|
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
168 lb (76 kg)
|
Sr |
Milwaukee Academy of Science
Indian Hills CC
|
Milwaukee, WI
|
| G
|
3
|
Jalen Jackson
|
5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) |
180 lb (82 kg)
|
GS |
Wagner HS
Texas A&M-CC
|
San Antonio, TX
|
| G
|
4
|
Khristian Lander
|
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
190 lb (86 kg)
|
GS |
Reitz HS
Indiana
|
Evansville, IN
|
| F
|
5
|
Babacar Faye
|
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
215 lb (98 kg)
|
Sr |
NBA Academy Africa
|
Saly, Senegal
|
| G
|
6
|
Kade Unseld
|
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
202 lb (92 kg)
|
Fr |
Warren Central HS
|
Bowling Green, KY
|
| F/C
|
7
|
Fallou Diagne
|
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
205 lb (93 kg)
|
RS Sr |
Compass Prep
Northwest Florida State College
|
Dakar, Senegal
|
| G
|
10
|
Cade Stinnett
|
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
198 lb (90 kg)
|
Jr |
Greenwood HS
Centre College
|
Bowling Green, KY
|
| G
|
12
|
Terrion Murdix
|
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
170 lb (77 kg)
|
GS |
Springfield Southeast HS
Texas A&M-CC
|
Springfield, IL
|
| G
|
13
|
Julius Thedford
|
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
190 lb (86 kg)
|
Fr |
Cordova HS (TN)
|
Memphis, TN
|
| G
|
15
|
Jack Edelen
|
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
172 lb (78 kg)
|
So |
Male HS
|
Louisville, KY
|
| F/C
|
21
|
Leeroy Odiahi
|
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
218 lb (99 kg)
|
Sr |
George Harris Prep Academy
|
Tralee, Ireland
|
| G
|
22
|
Jaylen Dorsey
|
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
220 lb (100 kg)
|
Sr |
Berea HS (KY)
|
Berea, KY
|
| G
|
23
|
Enoch Kalambay
|
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
215 lb (98 kg)
|
Sr |
Orangeville Prep
|
Gatineau, QC
|
| F
|
24
|
Tyrone Jr. Marshall
|
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
215 lb (98 kg)
|
GS |
Pearl-Cohn HS
|
Nashville, TN
|
| G
|
30
|
Teagan Moore
|
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
220 lb (100 kg)
|
So |
Owen County HS (KY)
|
Dry Ridge, KY
|
| G
|
31
|
Tyler Olden
|
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
198 lb (90 kg)
|
Sr |
Hillcrest Prep
|
Scottsdale, AZ
|
|
- Head coach
- Assistant coach(es)
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
- (W) Walk-on
Roster
Last update: December 7, 2024
|
Schedule and results
Date
time, TV
|
Rank#
|
Opponent#
|
Result
|
Record
|
High points
|
High rebounds
|
High assists
|
Site (attendance)
city, state
|
| Exhibition
|
October 27, 2024*
2:00 p.m.
|
|
UAB
|
L 79–88
|
–
|
20 – Faye |
8 – Faye |
4 –
|
E. A. Diddle Arena (1,724)
Bowling Green, KY
|
| Non-conference regular season
|
November 4, 2024*
7:00 p.m., CBSSN
|
|
Wichita State
|
L 84–91
|
0–1
|
28 – Faye |
8 – Faye |
4 – McHenry
|
E. A. Diddle Arena (4,547)
Bowling Green, KY
|
November 9, 2024*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
|
|
at Grand Canyon
|
L 72–74
|
0–2
|
23 – McHenry |
8 – |
2 –
|
Global Credit Union Arena (7,332)
Phoenix, AZ
|
November 12, 2024*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
|
|
Campbellsville
|
W 104–76
|
1–2
|
23 – Lander |
9 – Faye |
8 – Jackson
|
E. A. Diddle Arena (2,312)
Bowling Green, KY
|
November 17, 2024*
2:00 p.m., ESPN+
|
|
Lipscomb
|
W 66–61
|
2–2
|
21 – McHenry |
10 – Kalambay |
3 – Kalambay
|
E. A. Diddle Arena (2,712)
Bowling Green, KY
|
November 20, 2024*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
|
|
Jackson State
BBN Invitational
|
W 79–62
|
3–2
|
15 – Lander |
10 – Marshall |
5 – Jackson
|
E. A. Diddle Arena (2,347)
Bowling Green, KY
|
November 26, 2024*
5:30 p.m., ESPNU
|
|
at No. 8 Kentucky
BBN Invitational
|
L 68–87
|
3–3
|
18 – Thedford |
8 – |
3 – Lander
|
Rupp Arena (20,049)
Lexington, KY
|
November 30, 2024*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
|
|
Marshall
|
W 90–82
|
4–3
|
19 – Thedford |
6 – Faye |
5 – Jackson
|
E. A. Diddle Arena (3,120)
Bowling Green, KY
|
December 7, 2024*
1:00 p.m., ESPN+
|
|
at Evansville
|
W 79–65
|
5–3
|
19 – Faye |
12 – Faye |
5 – Bayless
|
Ford Center (5,316)
Evansville, IN
|
December 10, 2024*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
|
|
Tennessee State
|
W 84–60
|
6–3
|
19 – Lander |
6 – |
4 – Lander
|
E. A. Diddle Arena (2,312)
Bowling Green, KY
|
December 14, 2024*
1:00 p.m., ESPN+
|
|
Murray State
|
W 81–76 OT
|
7–3
|
29 – McHenry |
11 – Marshall Jr. |
2 – Kalambay
|
E. A. Diddle Arena (3,707)
Bowling Green, KY
|
December 17, 2024*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
|
|
Seattle
|
W 86–73
|
8–3
|
28 – McHenry |
8 – Bayless |
5 – Kalambay
|
E. A. Diddle Arena (2,702)
Bowling Green, KY
|
December 21, 2024*
2:00 p.m., ESPN+
|
|
Kentucky Wesleyan
|
W 91–77
|
9–3
|
29 – McHenry |
7 – Marshall Jr. |
5 – Jackson
|
E. A. Diddle Arena (2,712)
Bowling Green, KY
|
December 29, 2024*
7:00 p.m., BTN
|
|
at Michigan
|
L 64–112
|
9–4
|
18 – McHenry |
5 – |
1 –
|
Crisler Center (12,707)
Ann Arbor, MI
|
| Conference regular season
|
January 2, 2025
6:00 p.m., CBSSN
|
|
at Liberty
|
W 71–70
|
10–4
(1–0)
|
18 – Thedford |
8 – Marshall |
3 –
|
Liberty Arena (3,115)
Lynchburg, VA
|
January 4, 2025
1:00 p.m., ESPN+
|
|
at FIU
|
L 66–85
|
10–5
(1–1)
|
18 – Thedford |
4 – |
4 – Jackson
|
Ocean Bank Convocation Center (580)
Miami, FL
|
January 9, 2025
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
|
|
Jacksonville State
|
L 67–73
|
10–6
(1–2)
|
24 – Kalambay |
8 – Marshall |
3 –
|
E. A. Diddle Arena (2,823)
Bowling Green, KY
|
January 11, 2025
2:00 p.m., ESPN+
|
|
Kennesaw State
|
W 85–69
|
11–6
(2–2)
|
20 – Marshall |
8 – Kalambay |
3 –
|
E. A. Diddle Arena (3047)
Bowling Green, KY
|
January 18, 2025
6:00 p.m., ESPN+
|
|
at Middle Tennessee
|
L 57–71
|
11–7
(2–3)
|
16 – McHenry |
7 – Keita |
3 – Kalambay
|
Murphy Center (6,512)
Murfreesboro, TN
|
January 23, 2025
6:00 p.m., CBSSN
|
|
at Louisiana Tech
|
L 67–77
|
11–8
(2–4)
|
21 – McHenry |
8 – |
4 – McHenry
|
Thomas Assembly Center (1,894)
Ruston, LA
|
January 25, 2025
2:30 p.m., ESPN+
|
|
at Sam Houston
|
W 75–66
|
12–8
(3–4)
|
20 – McHenry |
7 – |
4 – Bayless
|
Bernard Johnson Coliseum (847)
Huntsville, TX
|
January 30, 2025
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
|
|
UTEP
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. A. Diddle Arena
Bowling Green, KY
|
February 1, 2025
2:00 p.m., ESPN+
|
|
New Mexico State
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. A. Diddle Arena
Bowling Green, KY
|
February 6, 2025
6:00 p.m., ESPN+
|
|
at Kennesaw State
|
|
|
|
|
|
KSU Convocation Center
Kennesaw, GA
|
February 8, 2025
4:00 p.m., ESPN+
|
|
at Jacksonville State
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pete Mathews Coliseum
Jacksonville, AL
|
February 15, 2025
7:00 p.m., CBSSN
|
|
Middle Tennessee
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. A. Diddle Arena
Bowling Green, KY
|
February 20, 2025
8:00 p.m., ESPNU
|
|
Sam Houston
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. A. Diddle Arena
Bowling Green, KY
|
February 22, 2025
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
|
|
Louisiana Tech
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. A. Diddle Arena
Bowling Green, KY
|
February 27, 2025
8:00 p.m., CBSSN
|
|
at UTEP
|
|
|
|
|
|
Don Haskins Center
El Paso, TX
|
March 1, 2025
8:00 p.m., ESPN+
|
|
at New Mexico State
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pan American Center
Las Cruces, NM
|
March 6, 2025
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
|
|
FIU
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. A. Diddle Arena
Bowling Green, KY
|
March 8, 2025
2:00 p.m., ESPN+
|
|
Liberty
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. A. Diddle Arena
Bowling Green, KY
|
| Conference USA tournament
|
March 11–15, 2025
TBA
|
|
vs. TBA
|
|
|
|
|
|
Von Braun Center
Huntsville, AL
|
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Central. |
Source:[9]
References
- ^ "Tops Roll In Quarterfinal Victory". Western Kentucky University Athletics. March 14, 2024. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
- ^ "WKU Dominates Middle Tennessee, Clinches CUSA Championship Game Berth". Western Kentucky University Athletics. March 15, 2024. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
- ^ "Hilltoppers Claim CUSA Championship With 78-71 Win Over UTEP". Western Kentucky University Athletics. March 16, 2024. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
- ^ "Hilltoppers Fall To Marquette In First Round Of NCAA Tournament". Western Kentucky University Athletics. March 22, 2024. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
- ^ "2023-24 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Men's Roster and Stats". Sports Reference. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
- ^ Brunt, Cliff (April 2, 2024). "Steve Lutz hired as basketball coach at Oklahoma State after one season at Western Kentucky". AP News. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
- ^ McMahon, Jake (April 2, 2024). "WKU mens basketball hires Hank Plona as next head coach". WKU Herald. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
- ^ Moore, Wilson (May 21, 2024). "Former Nebraska forward Blaise Keita transfers to Western Kentucky". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
- ^ "2024-25 Men's Basketball Schedule". WKU Athletics. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
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| Culture & lore | |
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| People | |
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| Seasons | |
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NCAA Final Four appearance in italics |
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