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2024–25 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team

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The 2024–25 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky University during the 2024–25 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team led by first-year head coach Hank Plona, played their home games at E. A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, Kentucky as eleventh-year members of Conference USA (C-USA).

ConferenceConference USA
Record17–15 (8–10 CUSA)
Headcoach
Assistant coaches
  • Martin Cross
  • Tim MacAllister
  • Eric Murphy
  • Josh Newman
  • Darryl Jackson
Quick facts Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball, Conference ...
2024–25 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball
ConferenceConference USA
Record17–15 (8–10 CUSA)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Martin Cross
  • Tim MacAllister
  • Eric Murphy
  • Josh Newman
  • Darryl Jackson
Home arenaE. A. Diddle Arena
Seasons
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More information Conf., Overall ...
2024–25 Conference USA men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Liberty †13–5 .72228–7  .800
Jacksonville State12–6 .66723–13  .639
Middle Tennessee12–6 .66722–12  .647
Kennesaw State10–8 .55619–14  .576
New Mexico State10–8 .55617–15  .531
Louisiana Tech9–9 .50020–12  .625
Western Kentucky8–10 .44417–15  .531
UTEP7–11 .38918–15  .545
Sam Houston6–12 .33313–19  .406
FIU3–15 .16710–23  .303
† 2025 CUSA tournament winner
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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

More information Name, Number ...
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownReason for departure
Rodney Howard0F6' 11"2505th yearYpsilanti, MIGraduated
Brandon Newman10G6' 5"195RS SeniorValparaiso, INGraduate transferred to Oklahoma State
Dontaie Allen11G/F6' 6"210RS SeniorFalmouth, KYTransferred to Wyoming
BJ Marable13F6' 9"230SeniorKnoxville, TNEntered transfer portal
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Incoming transfers

More information Name, Number ...
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious school
Braxton Bayless0G6' 2"175Graduate studentAnkeny, IANiagara
Blaise Keita1F/C6' 11"250RS SeniorBamako, MaliNebraska[8]
Cade Stinnett10G6' 3"198JuniorBowling Green, KYCentre College
Leeroy Odiahi21F/C6' 11"218SeniorTralee, IrelandOld Dominion
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Recruiting classes

2024 recruiting class

More information Name, Hometown ...
College recruiting
Name Hometown School Height Weight Commit date
Kade Unseld
G/F		 Bowling Green, KY Warren Central HS 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 202 lb (92 kg) Oct 23, 2023 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   ESPN:    (NR)
Julius Thedford
G		 Memphis, TN Cordova HS 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Apr 15, 2024 
Recruit ratings: Rivals:    247Sports: 3/5 stars   ESPN:    (NR)
Overall recruit ranking:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2024 Team Ranking". Rivals. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
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Roster

More information Players, Coaches ...
2024–25 WKU Hilltoppers men's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
G 0 Braxton Bayless 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)175 lb (79 kg) GSAnkeny HS
Niagara		 Ankeny, IA
F/C 1 Blaise Keita 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)250 lb (113 kg) RS SrSunrise Christian
Nebraska		 Bamako, Mali
G 2 Don McHenry 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)168 lb (76 kg) SrMilwaukee Academy of Science
Indian Hills CC		 Milwaukee, WI
G 3 Jalen Jackson 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)180 lb (82 kg) GSWagner HS
Texas A&M-CC		 San Antonio, TX
G 4 Khristian Lander 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)190 lb (86 kg) GSReitz HS
Indiana		 Evansville, IN
F 5 Babacar Faye 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)215 lb (98 kg) SrNBA Academy Africa Saly, Senegal
G 6 Kade Unseld 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)202 lb (92 kg) FrWarren Central HS Bowling Green, KY
F/C 7 Fallou Diagne 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)205 lb (93 kg) RS SrCompass Prep
Northwest Florida State College		 Dakar, Senegal
G 10 Cade Stinnett 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)198 lb (90 kg) JrGreenwood HS
Centre College		 Bowling Green, KY
G 12 Terrion Murdix 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)170 lb (77 kg) GSSpringfield Southeast HS
Texas A&M-CC		 Springfield, IL
G 13 Julius Thedford 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)190 lb (86 kg) FrCordova HS (TN) Memphis, TN
G 15 Jack Edelen 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)172 lb (78 kg) SoMale HS Louisville, KY
F/C 21 Leeroy Odiahi 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)218 lb (99 kg) SrGeorge Harris Prep Academy Tralee, Ireland
G 22 Jaylen Dorsey 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)220 lb (100 kg) SrBerea HS (KY) Berea, KY
G 23 Enoch Kalambay 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)215 lb (98 kg) SrOrangeville Prep Gatineau, QC
F 24 Tyrone Marshall Jr. 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)215 lb (98 kg) GSPearl-Cohn HS Nashville, TN
G 30 Teagan Moore 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)220 lb (100 kg) SoOwen County HS (KY) Dry Ridge, KY
G 31 Tyler Olden 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)198 lb (90 kg) SrHillcrest 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

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Schedule and results

More information Date time, TV, Rank# ...
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 – Tied  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 – Tied  2 – Tied  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 – Tied  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 – Tied  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 – Tied  1 – Tied  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 – Tied  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 – Tied  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 – Tied  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 – Tied  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 – Tied  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 – Tied  4 – Bayless  Bernard Johnson Coliseum (847)
Huntsville, TX
January 30, 2025
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 UTEP W 78–74  13–8
(4–4)		  28 – Lander  8 – Marshall  3 – Tied  E. A. Diddle Arena (2,947)
Bowling Green, KY
February 1, 2025
2:00 p.m., ESPN+		 New Mexico State W 101–69  14–8
(5–4)		  27 – McHenry  7 – Marshall  5 – Lander  E. A. Diddle Arena (3,745)
Bowling Green, KY
February 6, 2025
6:00 p.m., ESPN+		 at Kennesaw State L 69–76  14–9
(5–5)		  30 – McHenry  6 – Tied  1 – Tied  KSU Convocation Center (2,242)
Kennesaw, GA
February 8, 2025
4:00 p.m., ESPN+		 at Jacksonville State L 83–85  14–10
(5–6)		  30 – Lander  7 – Marshall  4 – Bayless  Pete Mathews Coliseum (2,169)
Jacksonville, AL
February 15, 2025
7:00 p.m., CBSSN		 Middle Tennessee L 77–87  14–11
(5–7)		  20 – McHenry  10 – Keita  3 – Tied  E. A. Diddle Arena (4,647)
Bowling Green, KY
February 20, 2025
8:00 p.m., ESPNU		 Sam Houston L 62–78  14–12
(5–8)		  11 – Tied  9 – Keita  5 – Jackson  E. A. Diddle Arena (2,945)
Bowling Green, KY
February 22, 2025
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 Louisiana Tech W 64–63  15–12
(6–8)		  27 – Bayless  6 – Marshall  4 – Tied  E. A. Diddle Arena (4,123)
Bowling Green, KY
February 27, 2025
8:00 p.m., CBSSN		 at UTEP W 80–73  16–12
(7–8)		  16 – Marshall  11 – Lander  3 – Bayless  Don Haskins Center (4,322)
El Paso, TX
March 1, 2025
8:00 p.m., ESPN+		 at New Mexico State L 47–65  16–13
(7–9)		  16 – Marshall  6 – Odiahi  3 – Tied  Pan American Center (4,864)
Las Cruces, NM
March 6, 2025
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 FIU W 76–67  17–13
(8–9)		  20 – McHenry  9 – Marshall  5 – McHenry  E. A. Diddle Arena (3,645)
Bowling Green, KY
March 8, 2025
2:00 p.m., ESPN+		 Liberty L 61–90  17–14
(8–10)		  18 – Lander  9 – Marshall  3 – Lander  E. A. Diddle Arena (4,247)
Bowling Green, KY
Conference USA tournament
March 11, 2025
8:00 p.m., ESPN+		 (7) vs. (10) FIU
First round		 L 61–64  17–15
  12 – Bayless  8 – Marshall Jr.  2 – Bayless  Von Braun Center (1,244)
Huntsville, AL
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central.
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Source:[9]

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