Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball

Infobox CBB Team
name = Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

logo_size = 150px
university = Western Kentucky University
conference = Sun Belt Conference
conference_short = Sun Belt
division =
city = Bowling Green
stateabb = KY
state = Kentucky
coach = Ken McDonald
tenure = 1st
arena = E. A. Diddle Arena
capacity = 7,500
nickname = Hilltoppers
color1 = Red
color2 = White
hex1 = F5002F
hex2 = FFFFFF
NCAAchampion =
NCAAfinalfour = 1971*
NCAAeliteeight = 1940, 1971*
NCAAsweetsixteen = 1960, 1962, 1966, 1971*, 1978, 1993, 2008
NCAAsecondround = 1960, 1962, 1966, 1971*, 1976, 1978, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1995, 2008
NCAAtourneys = 1940, 1960, 1962, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1971*, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2008
*vacated by NCAA
conference_tournament = 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1942, 1943, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1966, 1967, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1993, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2008
conference_season = 1949, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1982 ,1987, 1994, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006
h_pattern_b=
h_body=ffffff
h_shorts=ffffff
h_pattern_s=
a_pattern_b=
a_body=F5002F
a_shorts=F5002F
a_pattern_s=

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Basketball team is the men's basketball team that represents WKU in Bowling Green, Kentucky. (Women's teams at the school are "Lady Toppers".) The Hilltoppers currently compete in the Sun Belt Conference. The team's most recent appearance in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament was in 2008. The Hilltoppers are currently coached by Ken McDonald.

The men's basketball program, led by Former Hilltopper and Texas assistant Ken McDonald, has the 16th most victories in the history of the NCAA. The school has made one appearance in the NCAA Final Four, in 1971. WKU also made three appearances in the NIT Final Four while it was the premier post-season tournament. It is very competitive in the Sun Belt Conference, usually finishing near the top of the conference and regularly competing for the conference championship. In fact in Street & Smith's publications, "100 Greatest Programs", WKU ranked #31.

WKU has had 30 All Americans play for them and has had 56 of their players play professionally.

Western Kentucky men’s basketball record

Milestones

[2007-2008 WKU media guide]

Notable former WKU basketball players and coaches

*Courtney Lee, Current Orlando Magic Shooting Guard
*Coach E. A. Diddle, basketball coach
*Clarence Glover, former National Basketball Association player and current Assistant Principal at Farnsley Middle School in Louisville, KY
*Clem Haskins. former Chicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns and the Washington Bullets National Basketball Association player and former NCAA basketball coach for both WKU and the University of Minnesota
*Jim McDaniels, basketball player who went on to a career in the ABA and NBA
*Forest Able, former American basketball player
*Walker Banks,former American basketball player
*Darel Carrier, former professional basketball player
*Wayne Chapman, former American basketball player
*Tellis Frank, former professional basketball player
*John Givens
*Darrin Horn
*Kannard Johnson
*Bobby Jones
*Kurk Lee
*Tom Marshal
*Darnell Mee
*Nigel Dixon
*Gene Rhodes
* Chris Robinson
* Greg Smith
*Odie Spears
*Carlisle Towery
*Kevin Willard
*Elgrace Wilborn, Former Harlem Globetrotters player and currently plays in the Europe

ee also

*Western Kentucky University

ources

* [http://www.wkusports.com/page.cgi?page=51 2007-08 Western Kentucky Media Guide]

Notes