WKU Basketball: Hilltopper Hysteria Preview
As the weather gets (somewhat) colder, that can only mean basketball in E.A. Diddle Arena is just around the corner. The basketball season has slowly crept upon us here on the Hill, along with the anticipation to see first year head coach Rick Stansbury’s team for the first time, in addition to Michelle Clark-Heards reloaded roster.
Stansbury’s team offers a myriad of new faces, while bringing back some of the key pieces from last years team.
Those key returning players include junior Justin Johnson and seniors Ben Lawson and Anton Waters. Of course, we saw Tennessee transfers Willie Carmichael and Jabari McGhee on the bench last season, but this time around, they’re ready to go.
Some of the new faces include grad-transfers Que Johnson from Washington State, Junior Lomomba from Providence, and Pancake Thomas from Hartford, as well as JUCO transfer Tyler Miller.
New freshmen on the block are Tobias Howard, Marty Leahy, Damari Parris and Marko Stajkovski.
Coach Stansbury assembled basically a new roster — aside from those three returning players and last year’s ineligibles — and not too shabby of one at that. This team is poised to have the opportunity to make a run in C-USA and the potential to challenge the top teams in the conference.
As for the women’s side of things, Michelle Clark-Heard leading the Lady Tops through a rebuild year wasn’t unexpected, but what was unexpected was they were still able to post a 27–7 overall record and a 15–3 conference mark. So, what will this year be like?
Probably a lot of fun.
The main pieces back for MCH are none other than redshirt seniors Kendall Noble and Micah Jones.
Other familiar faces are Ima Akan, Sidnee Bopp, Ivy Brown, Tasha Brown, Jaycee Coe (redshirted last year, transfer from Kentucky), Dee Givens, Kyvin Goodin-Rogers (who will become eligible in second half of the season) and Kayla Smith.
New faces are Kentucky prep all-time leader Whitney Creech, Malaka Frank, Naomi Mayes (JUCO transfer) and Sarah Price.
Michelle Clark-Heard’s team is aimed to be at the top of the C-USA for majority of the season after being at the top most of last year.
Both of these teams make their unofficial official start to the Hilltopper basketball season tomorrow evening in E.A. Diddle Arena.
The two teams will compete in their regular inner squad scrimmage while also doing a variety of other events, although a rumor has been going on around campus that this year’s Hysteria won’t have a men’s dunk contest…which was always a good crowd pleaser
Hysteria begins right after the WKU Volleyball game against UAB concludes (which starts at 6 pm).
What will you be looking for from each squad come tomorrow night during the scrimmage? What Topper — Fella or Lady Topper — newcomer are you most looking forward to seeing in action? Let us know in a comment below or on twitter @TheTowelRackWKU.
