It was a full day of WKU sports. Volleyball continued their winning streak, football dismantled FIU, and basketball managed to earn a victory in double OT over KWC to close out the exhibition games.
Football:
Basketball:
My oh my where to begin.
Football:
- Starters came out in the 3rd quarter after building a 49-7 lead. WKU did what they were supposed to do.
- Running QB's still give WKU defense fits. FIU's Alexander gashed the WKU defense for 50+ yards in the 1st half. However WKU held FIU to just 101 total yards on the ground.
- Fumblitis continues for freshman RB Quiton Baker. He coughed up two balls during the game. Although 1 came on a bad toss sweep exchange between himself and reserve QB Drew Eckels.
- WKU defense held FIU to just 311 yards of total offense. A lot of which came in the 4th quarter against the defensive reserves for the Hilltoppers.
- Ace Wales averaged over 9 yards per carry en route to a 4 touchdown game on the ground to go along with his 111 yards.
- WKU recorded their 1st pick 6 of the season on defense and it was a beauty. Leverick Johnson tipped the ball up and brought it in. He then rumbled 61 yards to the house while making multiple would be tacklers miss.
- Taylor became the all time leading college receiver in KY high school football history. No other KY high school player has gained more receiving yards at the collegiate level than Taywan.
- Not a lot else to observe. WKU starters took care of business and got to rest early in this one.
Basketball:
My oh my where to begin.
- Defense has got to improve. KWC seemed to drive at will and were able to get up their fair share of deep balls. Poor weak side rotations and help defense from the bigs on drives to the basket. Also poor job from the bigs on hedging out on screens to defend the ball handlers in the pick and roll.
- Really no excuse for a player from KWC to go for 40+ against WKU.
- Sloppy play continues to be an issue after 2 exhibition games. A lot of that can just be contributing to team chemistry. That will improve with time.
- Pancake Thomas continues to impress me. He is about as clutch as it gets. When WKU needs a bucket he always seems to deliver. Including the offensive rebound and turnaround 3 pointer at the buzzer to send the game to a 2nd overtime vs KY Wesleyan.
- Offense seems to become stagnant at times with too much 1 vs 1 play. Again a lot of that will improve as team chemistry builds and players get more familiar with one another.
- We have learned WKU can win close games early on though. Which will serve the team well as the year progresses.
- To be fair on the poor defense WKU has displayed the 1st two games. It seems Stansbury is getting the guys to play strictly man to man at the moment. Had either of these 2 games not been exhibitions I believe Stansbury would have switched things up with some zone defense and maybe even some full court pressure.
- WKU may not be ready to show their full hands yet and have played more vanilla games against their exhibition opponents.
