The 2nd and final WKU Football/WKU Basketball double header of the season is now in the books. I was on campus all day long to take in the action.
Football:
Basketball:
Football:
- I predicted before the season began the Tops would finish with a 9-3 regular season record. After dominating North Texas on Saturday afternoon WKU sits at 8-3 heading into their bye week before facing off against a Marshall team that has absolutely face planted this season. Now to be fair I thought WKU would beat Vandy and lose to one of Marshall or MTSU in conference. Hey, nobody is perfect.
- It was the final home game for a multitude of Hilltopper seniors baring a collapse by La Tech against Southern Miss which would allow WKU to host the CUSA Championship game. These seniors have put up some impressive numbers during their time on the Hill. They will surely be missed
- Speaking of, Taywan Taylor and Nicholas Norris are now #1 and #2 respectively on WKU's all time receiving touchdowns list.
- WKU starters have not played more then 3 quarters of football per game in weeks. What that shows is that WKU is coming out strong and putting away teams early. It also allows WKU to build more depth by getting more guys time in real games. This should be a benefit when next year rolls around and a lot of the seniors are long gone.
- The WKU starting defense continues to be impressive. The Tops held North Texas to just 54 yards of total offense in the 1st half on Saturday and 0 in the 1st quarter.
- Mike White seems to have found his groove for sure. The junior QB is now 223-328 passing with 3373 yards to go along with 28 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.
Basketball:
- The absolute best the new look Hilltoppers have looked in their first 3 games. This team showed flashes tonight of what they could be. After struggling in both of the exhibition games. When the bright lights of the regular season began WKU stepped it up. The game was never really in doubt. And despite a final score of 79-66, WKU led by 20+ points most of the 2nd half.
- Pancake Thomas continues to impress me. He is so good at letting the game come to him. He doesn't play outside himself and plays very within the flow. After being held scoreless in the first half. Thomas finished the game with 15 points and 4 assists.
- Que Johnson finally showed flashes of the scorer he can be for WKU. After poor showings in both of the exhibition games. Que took the personal challenge from Stansbury to step it up. He finished the game with 16 points and was a force on the glass hauling in 9 rebounds.
- Sophomore forward Willie Carmichael has been suspended from the team indefinitely for a violation of team rules. No specifics were given out what those violations may have been.
- With Willie Carmichael out Anton Waters stepped his game up. He continues to be a work horse down low. Finishing the game with 8 points and 8 rebounds in 19 minutes of action.
- The WKU bench really stepped up this game as well. Freshman Marty Leahy and TJ Howard both hit 2 deep balls each to finish with 6 points a piece.
- Wednesday night Jacksonville St and former WKU head coach Ray Harper come to town. JSU managed to take out Tulsa on the road 84-73 to start the season. Former WKU head coach Dennis Felton is an assistant coach at Tulsa as well. This game may not be as easy as preseason prognostications would have believed it to be. Jacksonville St was picked to finish last in the OVC.
