Get Caught Up On Kentucky's New Opponent: WKU
Tonight, the Hilltoppers will make their way to Lexington to take on the Wildcats in the Mecca of college basketball. Two storied programs, coming together, for one night. An overly-requested game for way too long now has been granted for the fans of WKU.
Western Kentucky has been wanting a chance to prove their worth to Kentucky for quite sometime now, and honestly, if this hadn't have happened on such short notice, under the circumstances it came together for, it wouldn't have happened. At least, under John Calipari's throne. Why you might ask? Well, for reasons like the last time that WKU came to town... they won.
A whole lot to gain for WKU, and all to lose for Kentucky, as one head coach might tell you.
A look at WKU
On a three game winning streak
Rick Stansbury is 4-13 in his career vs. Kentucky
2-4 against Kentucky all-time
1-1 in Lexington
Has won 111 games in 6 seasons under Rick Stansbury
WKU has beat an SEC team in each season over the last four years
WKU is 11-8 against Power Five opponents in the last five seasons, with double-digit wins over two Power Fives (Ole Miss, Louisville) this season
Jamarion Sharpe, the center for WKU, is the nations tallest player at 7'5, and leads the country in block percentage (19.7%), total blocks (58), and blocks per game (4.8)
5 players on roster from the state of Kentucky
A little WKU history
Before entering the 2021-22 season, WKU ranked third in NCAA history in regular season conference titles (43), seventh in 20-win seasons (47), eighth in all-time winning percentage (.660), and fifteenth in all-time victories (1,836 wins).
Western Kentucky only trails Kentucky, North Carolina, Duke, UCLA, Kansas and Louisville for most 20-win seasons in NCAA history:
In the last five seasons, the Hilltoppers have found eleven wins against Power Five opponents, that go by the name of Purdue, Boston College, USC, Oklahoma State, West Virginia, Arkansas (twice), Wisconsin, Alabama, Ole Miss and Louisville.
Since the start of the 2017-18 season, WKU has won 3 of their ten games against ranked opponents: #18 Purdue (2017), #13 West Virginia (2018) and #15 Wisconsin (2018).
It is no doubt that this WKU squad can come in and win this ball game if the cards are falling their way, and also why John Calipari wouldn't want to give them the opportunity to do so year in and year out, because they could. Shouldn't, but could.
WKU is currently sitting 8-4 on the season, looking to fight the good fight against John Calipari and his McDonald's All-Americans and top-tier transfers from the offseason. Tip-off is slated for 6 pm ET/5 pm CT.