2021–22 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team

The 2021–22 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky University during the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Hilltoppers were led by sixth-year head coach Rick Stansbury and played their home games at E. A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, Kentucky as eighth-year members of Conference USA (C-USA).

2021–22 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball
ConferenceConference USA
DivisionEast Division
Record19–13 (11–7 C-USA)
Head coach
Associate head coachPhil Cunningham
Assistant coaches
  • Hennssy Auriantal
  • Marcus Grant
Home arenaE. A. Diddle Arena
Seasons
2021–22 Conference USA men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
East
Middle Tennessee 13 5   .722 26 11   .703
Western Kentucky 11 7   .611 19 13   .594
Florida Atlantic 11 7   .611 19 15   .559
Charlotte 10 8   .556 17 14   .548
Old Dominion 8 10   .444 13 19   .406
FIU 5 13   .278 15 17   .469
Marshall 4 14   .222 12 21   .364
West
North Texas 16 2   .889 25 7   .781
UAB 14 4   .778 27 8   .771
Louisiana Tech 12 6   .667 24 10   .706
UTEP 11 7   .611 20 14   .588
Rice 7 11   .389 16 17   .485
UTSA 3 15   .167 10 22   .313
Southern Miss 1 17   .056 7 26   .212
2022 C-USA Tournament winner

Previous season

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The Hilltoppers finished the 2021–22 season 21–8, 11–3 in C-USA play, to win the West Division. They defeated UTSA and UAB in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively, in the C-USA tournament before losing to North Texas in the championship. They received a bid to the National Invitation Tournament, where they defeated Saint Mary's losing to C-USA member Louisiana Tech in the quarterfinals.

Offseason

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Departures

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Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for departure
Kylen Milton 1 G 6'4" 190 Freshman Monticello, AR Transferred to Arkansas–Pine Bluff
Kevin Osawe 2 F 6'6" 205 Junior Toronto, ON Graduate transferred to Little Rock
Jordan Rawls 3 G 6'1" 180 Sophomore Chattanooga, TN Transferred to Georgia State
Taveion Hollingsworth 11 G 6'2" 165 Senior Lexington, KY Graduated/went undrafted in 2021 NBA draft
Jackson Harlan 12 G 6'3" 190 Sophomore Albany, KY Walk-on; left the team for personal reasons
Patrick Murphy 15 G 6'5" 180 RS Senior Franklin, TN Walk-on; left the team for personal reasons
Zion Harmon 15 G 5'11" 170 Freshman Benton, KY Walk-on; left the team for personal reasons
Kenny Cooper 21 G 6'0" 190 RS Senior Nashville, TN Graduate transferred to Tennessee State
Carson Williams 22 F 6'5" 240 RS Senior Owenton, KY Graduated
Charles Bassey 23 C 6'11" 235 Junior Lagos, Nigeria Declared for 2021 NBA draft

Incoming transfers

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Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous school
Darrius Miles 0 C 6'10" Sophomore Dallas, TX Odessa College
Jaylen Butz 1 F 6'9" 224 GS Senior Fort Wayne, IN DePaul
Keith Williams 2 G 6'5" 215 GS Senior Brooklyn, New York Cincinnati
Jairus Hamilton 3 F 6'8" 235 Senior Charlotte, NC Maryland
Sherman Brashear 13 G 6'3" Sophomore Dallas, TX Panola College
Jamarion Sharp 33 F/C 7'3" 238 Junior Hopkinsville, KY John A. Logan College

2021 recruiting class

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US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Zion Harmon
#9 PG
Benton, KY Marshall County High School 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Mar 24, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN:    ESPN grade: 85
Elijah Hughey
SG
Lancaster, TX Lancaster High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Sep 28, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   Rivals:    247SportsN/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:

  • "2021 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved November 3, 2021.

Roster

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2021–22 WKU Hilltoppers men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
C 0 Darrius Miles 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 295 lb (134 kg) So Faith Family Academy
Odessa College
Oak Cliff, TX
F 1 Jaylen Butz 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) RS Sr North Side HS
DePaul
Fort Wayne, IN
F 3 Jairus Hamilton 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Sr Cannon School
Maryland
Charlotte, NC
G 4 Josh Anderson 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) GS Madison Preparatory Academy Baton Rouge, LA
G 5 Noah Stansbury (W) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) RS Fr Greenwood HS Bowling Green, KY
G 10 Elijah Hughey 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Fr Lancaster HS Dallas, TX
G 12 Tyler Olden (W) 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Fr Hillcrest Prep Scottsdale, AZ
G 13 Sherman Brashear 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 180 lb (82 kg) So Rockwall HS
Panola College
Dallas, TX
G 14 Luke Frampton 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) RS Sr Poca HS
Davidson
Poca, WV
G 20 Dayvion McKnight 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 195 lb (88 kg) So Collins HS Shelbyville, KY
F 32 Bailey Conrad 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) So Christian Academy of Indiana Corydon, IN
C 33 Jamarion Sharp 7 ft 5 in (2.26 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Jr Hopkinsville HS
John A. Logan College
Hopkinsville, KY
F 50 Isaiah Cozart 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Jr Madison Central HS Richmond, KY
G 55 Camron Justice 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) GS Knott County Central HS
IUPUI
Hindman, KY
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

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

Roster
Last update: 2024-05-08

Schedule

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Date
time, TV
Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
November 1, 2021*
7:00 p.m.
Campbellsville W 82–61 
 19  Hamilton   14  Hamilton   4  tied  E. A. Diddle Arena (3,222)
Bowling Green, KY
November 5, 2021*
7:00 p.m.
Cumberlands W 88–59 
 22  Hamilton   11  Hamilton   11  McKnight  E. A. Diddle Arena (3,425)
Bowling Green, KY
Non-conference Regular season
November 9, 2021*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+/WKU PBS
Alabama State W 79–74  1–0
 21  Hamilton   8  Sharp   6  McKnight  E. A. Diddle Arena (4,023)
Bowling Green, KY
November 12, 2021*
5:30 p.m., ESPNU
vs. Minnesota
Asheville Championship semifinals
L 69–73  1–1
 34  McKnight   9  McKnight   4  McKnight  Harrah's Cherokee Center 
Asheville, NC
November 14, 2021*
4:00 p.m., ESPNU
vs. South Carolina
Asheville Championship consolation
L 64–75  1–2
 16  Anderson   6  tied   5  McKnight  Harrah's Cherokee Center 
Asheville, NC
November 19, 2021*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
at No. 11 Memphis L 62–74  1–3
 18  Justice   8  McKnight   4  McKnight  FedExForum (13,375)
Memphis, TN
November 24, 2021*
4:00 p.m., ESPN+
Alabama A&M W 88-62  2–3
 18  Brashear   12  Sharp   9  Anderson  E. A. Diddle Arena (3,152)
Bowling Green, KY
November 27, 2021*
12:00 p.m., ESPN+/WKU PBS
UT Martin W 81-66  3–3
 24  Hamilton   11  Hamilton   6  McKnight  E. A. Diddle Arena (2,927)
Bowling Green, KY
November 30, 2021*
7:00 p.m., ESPN3/WKU PBS
Rhodes College W 105–35  4–3
 24  Hamilton   8  McKnight   10  McKnight  E. A. Diddle Arena (2,737)
Bowling Green, KY
December 4, 2021*
6:00 p.m., ESPN+/WKU PBS
Eastern Kentucky W 85–80  5–3
 22  McKnight   14  Sharp   6  Justice  E. A. Diddle Arena (4,249)
Bowling Green, KY
December 8, 2021*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
Buffalo L 67–77  5–4
 18  McKnight   8  Sharp   4  McKnight  E. A. Diddle Arena (3,689)
Bowling Green, KY
December 11, 2021*
7:30 p.m., ESPN+
vs. Ole Miss
Holiday Hoopsgiving
W 71–48  6–4
 16  Sharp   12  Hamilton   11  McKnight  State Farm Arena (6,157)
Atlanta, GA
December 14, 2021*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+/WKU PBS
Centre College W 90–52  7–4
 18  Anderson   11  Hamilton   10  McKnight  E. A. Diddle Arena (3,240)
Bowling Green, KY
December 18, 2021*
2:00 p.m., CBS
Louisville W 82–72  8–4
 25  Justice   10  Anderson   9  McKnight  E. A. Diddle Arena (7,053)
Bowling Green, KY
December 22, 2021*
5:00 p.m., ESPN
at No. 20 Kentucky L 60–95  8–5
 18  Anderson   8  McKnight   4  McKnight  Rupp Arena (20,221)
Lexington, KY
Conference USA regular season
January 1, 2022
1:00 p.m., CBSSN
at Louisiana Tech L 73–74  8–6
(0–1)
 22  Justice   7  tied   4  McKnight  Thomas Assembly Center (2,348)
Ruston, LA
January 8, 2022
2:00 p.m., ESPN+
FIU W 84–71  9–6
(1–1)
 16  Anderson   8  Sharp   8  McKnight  E. A. Diddle Arena (4,411)
Bowling Green, KY
January 13, 2022
8:00 p.m., CBSSN
Rice W 80–66  10–6
(2–1)
 22  Hamilton   10  Hamilton   12  McKnight  E. A. Diddle Arena (2,933)
Bowling Green, KY
January 15, 2022
3:00 p.m., Stadium/WKU PBS
North Texas L 60–65  10–7
(2–2)
 23  McKnight   7  tied   5  McKnight  E. A. Diddle Arena (4,012)
Bowling Green, KY
January 20, 2022
6:00 p.m., CBSSN
at Florida Atlantic L 69–78  10–8
(2–3)
 22  McKnight   9  McKnight   4  McKnight  FAU Arena (1,305)
Boca Raton, FL
January 22, 2022
6:00 p.m., ESPN+
at FIU L 83–86  10–9
(2–4)
 23  Anderson   6  Sharp   6  McKnight  Ocean Bank Convocation Center (2,712)
Miami, FL
January 27, 2022
8:00 p.m., CBSSN
UAB L 65–68  10–10
(2–5)
 16  Anderson   6  Anderson   5  Justice  E. A. Diddle Arena (4,136)
Bowling Green, KY
January 29, 2022
2:00 p.m., ESPN+/WKU PBS
Middle Tennessee L 85–93  10–11
(2–6)
 24  McKnight   7  Hamilton   10  McKnight  E. A. Diddle Arena (4,435)
Bowling Green, KY
February 3, 2022
6:00 p.m., ESPN+
at Charlotte W 78–59  11–11
(3–6)
 22  Justice   8  Anderson   5  McKnight  Dale F. Halton Arena (3,024)
Charlotte, NC
February 5, 2022
6:00 p.m., ESPN+
at Old Dominion W 77–60  12–11
(4–6)
 18  Justice   8  Anderson   6  McKnight  Chartway Arena (5,914)
Norfolk, VA
February 10, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
Florida Atlantic W 76–69  13–11
(5–6)
 19  Justice   9  tied   4  tied  E. A. Diddle Arena (3,547)
Bowling Green, KY
February 12, 2022
3:00 p.m., CUSA.tv
at UTSA W 71-65  14–11
(6–6)
 18  tied   12  Sharp   6  McKnight  Convocation Center (1,123)
San Antonio, TX
February 14, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
at Southern Miss
Rescheduled from December 30
W 87–77  15–11
(7–6)
 26  McKnight   9  Sharp   5  McKnight  Reed Green Coliseum (2,726)
Hattiesburg, MS
February 17, 2022
7:00 p.m., CBSSN
Charlotte W 77–67  16–11
(8–6)
 22  McKnight   7  Hamilton   7  Justice  E. A. Diddle Arena (3,421)
Bowling Green, KY
February 19, 2022
6:00 p.m., ESPN+
Old Dominion W 73–64  17–11
(9–6)
 23  McKnight   10  Sharp   3  Justice  E. A. Diddle Arena (5,015)
Bowling Green, KY
February 26, 2022
6:00 p.m., ESPN+
at Middle Tennessee L 52–69  17–12
(9–7)
 13  McKnight   11  Sharp   5  Justice  Murphy Center (6,192)
Murfreesboro, TN
March 2, 2022
6:00 p.m., ESPNU
at Marshall W 86–72  18–12
(10–7)
 27  Justice   11  Sharp   4  Justice  Cam Henderson Center (4,963)
Huntington, WV
March 5, 2022
2:00 p.m., ESPN+
Marshall W 78–69  19–12
(11–7)
 16  tied   12  Sharp   4  tied  E. A. Diddle Arena (6,098)
Bowling Green, KY
Conference USA tournament
March 10, 2022
8:00 p.m., Stadium
(E2) vs. (W3) Louisiana Tech
Quarterfinals
L 57–59  19–13
 20  McKnight   10  Sharp   1  tied  Ford Center at The Star 
Frisco, TX
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central.

Source:[1]

References

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  1. ^ "2021-22 Men's Basketball Schedule". wkusports.com. Retrieved May 8, 2024.