WKU to open season against Kentucky Wesleyan
Western Kentucky (0-0) is set to open up the 2023-24 season on Monday, Nov. 6 as the Hilltoppers host Kentucky Wesleyan (0-0) at E.A. Diddle Arena.
The opening tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT as the program enters it's 105th season under first-year head coach Steve Lutz.
Lutz is joining Western Kentucky after having led Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to two-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances as well as the Islanders' first-ever NCAA Tournament victory.
Under the leadership of Lutz, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi went on to claim three conference titles, including two tournament championships and one regular season title. Lutz holds a record of 47-23 as a head coach.
The Hilltoppers' coaching staff will also include assistant coaches Tim MacAllister, Robert Guster, Hank Plona and Darryl Jackson. Martin Cross also remains on Western Kentucky's staff and will be entering his ninth season with the program.
Here is a snapshot of some key players to keep an eye on for the Hilltoppers throughout the season.
WKU redshirt senior guard Brandon Newman joins the roster as a transfer from Purdue, contributing to the Boilermakers in three seasons.
Newman played in all 35 games for Purdue during the 2022-23 campaign, making starts in the final six contests of the year.
In addition to sinking 35 three-pointers last season, Newman averaged six points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.
WKU graduate transfer Jalen Jackson joins the Hilltoppers' roster from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, playing under Lutz for the last two seasons.
Last season, Jackson was named the Southland Tournament MVP, averaging 15 points, four rebounds and four assists as he led the Islanders to the SLC Tournament Championship.
The native of San Antonio, TX. recorded a career-high 22 points against Southeast Missouri State in the 2023 NCAA Tournament First Four, leading the program to their first-ever NCAA Tournament victory.
WKU fifth-year power forward Rodney Howard will be joining the Hilltoppers from Georgia Tech where he contributed to the Yellow Jackets for the last three seasons.
Howard started in 41 games and played 17.8 minutes per game in his final two seasons in Atlanta.
The 6-foot-11 power forward from Ypsilanti, MI. recorded 4.5 points as well as 4.3 rebounds per game in the 2022-23 season.
Prior to his career at Georgia Tech, Howard spent his freshman campaign with Georgia, appearing in 24 contests for the Bulldogs.
WKU redshirt senior guard-forward Dontaie Allen is a notable returner to the Hilltoppers' roster for the 2023-24 season.
The former Mr. Kentucky Basketball winner and native of Falmouth, KY. averaged 13.9 points and 4.8 rebounds per game with the Hilltoppers last year. Allen additionally averaged 41.6% shooting from the three-point line.
Allen also recorded double-digit scoring in 11 contests last year, finishing 11th in the league in 3-pointers made per game.
WKU senior point guard Khristian Lander is another notable returner for the Hilltoppers, contributing to the team last season after transferring from Indiana.
Lander appeared in all 33 games with Western Kentucky last season, averaging 11.4 minutes, 3.2 points and 1.2 rebounds per game. Lander also picked up 21 assists on the year while shooting 30.7% from the floor.
WKU power forward Tyrone Marshall Jr. will also be returning to the Hilltoppers for the 2023-24 season after proving himself as a key contributor last season.
The Nashville, TN. native averaged 13.6 minutes, 2.7 boards and three points on the season. In addition to 50% shooting from the floor, Marshall picked up 20 steals and 18 assists.
WKU forward-center Fallou Diagne will also be rejoining the team for the 2023-24 season after making a difference on the court last year.
The native of Dakar, Senegal played in 30 out of 33 contests for Western Kentucky last season.
WKU freshman shooting guard Teagan Moore, an in-state talent from Owen County (Ky.) was a gamechanger during his senior season, averaging 31.7 points per game his senior year. Moore picked up over 3,300 career points as well as 1,100 rebounds.
Moore was the eighth player in Kentucky high school basketball history to have at least 3,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. Moore was also named to the Kentucky All-Star Team as a both a junior and senior.
Western Kentucky and Kentucky Wesleyan will tipoff the 2023-24 campaign on Monday night at E.A. Diddle Arena
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