As the men’s basketball season inches closer to the postseason, WKU sits at 5-4 in Conference USA play.
The narrative of WKU’s season is injury-related, losing players like last year’s CUSA All-Freshman Teagen Moore before the season. Team leaders like Babacar Faye and Julius Thedford suffered injuries during the season.
“We’re in decent shape, we’re moving forward. I think our team is getting better,” Head Coach Hank Plona said. “We’re surviving the ups and downs. The injuries and stuff like that.”
It remains to be seen whether that narrative is one of what could’ve been or of overcoming adversity. Despite early struggles in the conference slate, the Hilltoppers have gotten hot nearing midseason and are currently on a three-game win streak.
Offense: B+.
Since entering conference play, the Hilltoppers are number one in CUSA in points scored. However, they are in the middle of the league in terms of shooting percentage, with 42% from the field and 31% from the three.
The Hilltoppers entered conference play with a Julius Thedford and Don McHenry-fueled comeback versus Liberty. However, WKU lost four of their next five, including a brutal 85-66 beatdown by FIU, in which they shot just 4-22 from 3-point range.
WKU’s current three-game winning streak produced its three best shooting performances from the field and three of its four highest-scoring games. It also produced two of their three best shooting games from beyond the arc, including the New Mexico State game, in which they shot 50% from 3-point range.
Their second-best 3-point shooting performance came in their 85-69 victory over Kennesaw State. Tyrone Marshall Jr. led the way with 20 points, supported by Julius Thedford and Enoch Kalambay, who combined to go 5-7 from deep.
The Kennesaw State game was right before the Thedford injury, showing how the Hilltoppers were getting hot on offense but unexpected injuries led to two of their three lowest-scoring conference games at MTSU and LA Tech.
Plona has seemingly lit this team on fire at just the right time to make a postseason push, but it remains to be seen if the flame is strong enough to keep the team hot as they go on the road.
The efficiency WKU had against New Mexico State, consistently going 50% from behind the arc and 58% from the field, isn’t a realistic expectation. However, it might signal a new-found efficiency on offense for the Hilltoppers.
Offensive MVP: Don McHenry
McHenry has been the most consistent player on a somewhat inconsistent offense, averaging 18 points a game. Scoring 27 and going 7-9 from 3-point land against New Mexico State certainly helps his case.
For the second time this season McHenry was awarded Conference USA Player of the Week thanks to his incredible play in the Hilltoppers’ most recent two-game homestand.
McHenry has emerged as the most consistent double-digit scorer with only one game below double-digits through conference play. He has scored over 20 in his last four games.
It would be hard to give this title to anyone but McHenry as he has a six-point advantage in average points per game over the next healthy leading scorer, Khristian Lander.
Defense: C-
Through nine games, the Hilltoppers have allowed an average of 72.7 points in conference play. They have a -1.7 rebound margin, which is eighth in the conference and allow the fourth-highest field goal percentage and 3-point field goal percentage.
The stats, however, don’t tell the full story. Most of WKU’s defensive success comes from hustle. Through their three-game winning streak, WKU has outrebounded opponents on the defensive end and shut down opponents shooting from beyond the arc. The Hilltoppers have overcome early struggles, currently leading the conference in defensive rebounds per game with 29.
Defensive MVP: Tyrone Marshall Jr.
Replacing Babacar Faye, the Hilltoppers’ leading rebounder and second-leading scorer, is no easy task. Especially when he’s a 6-foot-8 forward that can also shoot threes, and averages a steal and a near block per game.
Losing him halted the team’s momentum, and it showed as they were outrebounded in most games afterward. In recent games, however, the Hilltoppers have turned it around as they now lead the conference in defensive rebounds.
Much of that success can be attributed to Marshall, who is averaging six rebounds a game as well as a block and a steal per game.
This may be a Defensive MVP title, but it is hard to ignore what Marshall does with the ball after rebounding and forcing turnovers. Against New Mexico State he had 24 points, shooting 10-14 from the field.
Overall: C+
It’s hard to stay consistent as a team when you lose two key pieces. Faye along with McHenry, were steering the Hilltoppers in the right direction. The Hilltoppers were 9-4 before the start of conference play due to rapid offense and cohesive team play.
WKU has struggled on the road. They lost their road opener to Grand Canyon on Nov. 9. Since that loss, they knocked off Evansville, making that their only road win outside conference play. Within conference play, the Hilltoppers are 2-5 on the road, with wins over Liberty and Sam Houston.
Through their three-game win streak, WKU averages 84.6 points per game and has allowed 69.6 points per game. After a rough start, they are getting hot at the right time. A combination of high pace, high volume offense, and stout defense has been the difference for the Hilltoppers rolling into February
The weakness of this team seemed to be a lack of depth. With no Thedford or Faye and with off-nights from McHenry, who was going to step up and produce?
The answers were Kalambay, Marshall Jr. and Lander. Those three guys have propelled the team forward with the losses to injury, and have been the difference in the WKU’s three-game winning streak.
Last season WKU lost four straight before winning the Conference USA Tournament. Anything can happen, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see this three-game streak turn into something promising heading into March.
