2024–25 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team

2024–25 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball
2024–25 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball
Conference	Conference USA
Record	9–3 (0–0 CUSA)
Head coach	Hank Plona (1st season);
Assistant coaches	Martin Cross; Tim MacAllister; Eric Murphy; Josh Newman; Darryl Jackson;
Home arena	E. A. Diddle Arena
	Seasons ← 2023–24 2025–26 →

2024–25 Conference USA men's basketball standings
v t e	Conf				Overall
Team	W		L	PCT	W		L	PCT
Liberty	0	–	0	–	12	–	1	.923
Louisiana Tech	0	–	0	–	11	–	2	.846
UTEP	0	–	0	–	9	–	3	.750
Western Kentucky	0	–	0	–	9	–	3	.750
Middle Tennessee	0	–	0	–	9	–	4	.692
Jacksonville State	0	–	0	–	7	–	5	.583
Kennesaw State	0	–	0	–	7	–	5	.583
New Mexico State	0	–	0	–	6	–	6	.500
Sam Houston	0	–	0	–	6	–	6	.500
FIU	0	–	0	–	5	–	7	.417

† 2025 CUSA tournament winner As of December 23, 2024

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

Name	Number	Pos.	Height	Weight	Year	Hometown	Previous school
Braxton Bayless	0	G	6' 2"	175	Graduate student	Ankeny, IA	Niagara
Blaise Keita	1	F/C	6' 11"	250	RS Senior	Bamako, Mali	Nebraska^[8]
Cade Stinnett	10	G	6' 3"	198	Junior	Bowling Green, KY	Centre College
Leeroy Odiahi	21	F/C	6' 11"	218	Senior	Tralee, Ireland	Old Dominion

Recruiting classes

2024 recruiting class

College recruiting information
Name	Hometown	High school / college	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
Kade Unseld G/F	Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: N/A ESPN grade: NR
Julius Thedford G	Memphis, TN	Cordova HS	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	Apr 15, 2024
Julius Thedford G	Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: ESPN: N/A ESPN grade: NR
Overall recruiting rankings:
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, 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.com. Retrieved October 25, 2024.

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

Hank Plona (Providence)

Assistant coach(es)

Martin Cross (Western Kentucky)
Tim MacAllister (Murray State)
Eric Murphy (Slippery Rock)
Josh Newman (Arizona State)
Darryl Jackson (Valparaiso)

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
(W) Walk-on

Injured
Current redshirt

Roster
Last update: December 7, 2024

Schedule and results

Date time, TV	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						Crisler Center Ann Arbor, MI
Conference regular season
January 2, 2025 6:00 p.m., CBSSN	at Liberty						Liberty Arena Lynchburg, VA
January 4, 2025 1:00 p.m., ESPN+	at FIU						Ocean Bank Convocation Center Miami, FL
January 9, 2025 7:00 p.m., ESPN+	Jacksonville State						E. A. Diddle Arena Bowling Green, KY
January 11, 2025 2:00 p.m., ESPN+	Kennesaw State						E. A. Diddle Arena Bowling Green, KY
January 18, 2025 6:00 p.m., ESPN+	at Middle Tennessee						Murphy Center Murfreesboro, TN
January 23, 2025 6:00 p.m., CBSSN	at Louisiana Tech						Thomas Assembly Center Ruston, LA
January 25, 2025 2:30 p.m., ESPN+	at Sam Houston						Bernard Johnson Coliseum 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 2024-12-07.
^ "WKU Dominates Middle Tennessee, Clinches CUSA Championship Game Berth". Western Kentucky University Athletics. March 15, 2024. Retrieved 2024-12-07.
^ "Hilltoppers Claim CUSA Championship With 78-71 Win Over UTEP". Western Kentucky University Athletics. March 16, 2024. Retrieved 2024-12-07.
^ "Hilltoppers Fall To Marquette In First Round Of NCAA Tournament". Western Kentucky University Athletics. March 22, 2024. Retrieved 2024-12-07.
^ "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.

[1] "Tops Roll In Quarterfinal Victory". Western Kentucky University Athletics. March 14, 2024. Retrieved 2024-12-07.

[2] "WKU Dominates Middle Tennessee, Clinches CUSA Championship Game Berth". Western Kentucky University Athletics. March 15, 2024. Retrieved 2024-12-07.

[3] "Hilltoppers Claim CUSA Championship With 78-71 Win Over UTEP". Western Kentucky University Athletics. March 16, 2024. Retrieved 2024-12-07.

[4] "Hilltoppers Fall To Marquette In First Round Of NCAA Tournament". Western Kentucky University Athletics. March 22, 2024. Retrieved 2024-12-07.

[5] "2023-24 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Men's Roster and Stats". Sports Reference. Retrieved October 25, 2024.

[6] 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.

[7] McMahon, Jake (April 2, 2024). "WKU mens basketball hires Hank Plona as next head coach". WKU Herald. Retrieved October 25, 2024.

[8] Moore, Wilson (May 21, 2024). "Former Nebraska forward Blaise Keita transfers to Western Kentucky". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved October 29, 2024.

[9] "2024-25 Men's Basketball Schedule". WKU Athletics. Retrieved October 25, 2024.

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v t e Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball
Venues	Red Barn (1920–1931) Health & Physical Education Building (1931–1963) E. A. Diddle Arena (1963–present)
Culture & lore	Big Red
People	Head coaches Statistical leaders
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NCAA Final Four appearance in italics