2015–16 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team

2015–16 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball
ConferenceConference USA
Record18–16 (8–10 C-USA)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • David Boyden
  • Shawn Forrest
  • Chris Shumate
Home arenaE. A. Diddle Arena
Seasons
2015–16 Conference USA men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
UAB 16 – 2   .889 26 – 7   .788
Middle Tennessee † 13 – 5   .722 25 – 10   .714
Marshall 12 – 6   .667 17 – 16   .515
Louisiana Tech 12 – 6   .667 23 – 10   .697
Old Dominion 12 – 6   .667 25 – 13   .658
UTEP 10 – 8   .556 19 – 14   .576
Charlotte 9 – 9   .500 14 – 19   .424
Western Kentucky 8 – 10   .444 18 – 16   .529
North Texas 7 – 11   .389 12 – 20   .375
Rice 7 – 11   .389 12 – 20   .375
FIU 7 – 11   .389 13 – 19   .406
Florida Atlantic 5 – 13   .278 8 – 25   .242
Southern Miss* 5 – 13   .278 8 – 21   .276
UTSA 3 – 15   .167 5 – 27   .156
*Ineligible for postseason play due to self-imposed postseason ban.
† 2016 C-USA Tournament winner

The 2015–16 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky University during the 2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Hilltoppers were led by head coach Ray Harper in his fourth season. They played their home games at E. A. Diddle Arena and were second year members of Conference USA. They finished the season 18–16, 8–10 in C-USA play to finish in eighth place. They defeated North Texas and UAB to advance to the semifinals of the C-USA tournament where they lost to Old Dominion. Despite having 18 wins and a better they .500 record, they did not participate in a postseason tournament.[1]

On March 17, 2016, head coach Ray Harper resigned after three players were suspended by a university disciplinary committee.[2][3][4] He finished at WKU with a record of 90–62. On March 28, the school hired Rick Stansbury as head coach.[5]

Previous season

The Hilltoppers finished the season 20–12, 13–5 in C-USA play to finish in a tie for the second place. They advanced to the quarterfinals of the C-USA tournament where they lost to UAB. Despite having 20 wins they didn't play in a postseason tournament.

Departures

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes
Ayinde Sprewell 0 G 6'3" 188 Junior Orlando, FL Graduate transferred to St. Thomas
Kevin Kaspar 1 G 6'0" 173 Senior Istanbul, Turkey Graduated
Derrick Clayton 2 G 6'6" 184 Freshman Castro Valley, CA Transferred to Palm Beach State College
Trency Jackson 3 G 6'2" 188 RS Senior Jackson, MS Graduated
Brandon Price 5 G 5'9" 151 Sophomore Radcliff, KY Transferred to Georgia Southwestern
Jordan Green 10 F 6'7" 193 Freshman Lexington, KY Transferred to Coppin State
Avery Patterson 15 G 6'0" 190 Freshman Decatur, GA Transferred to Columbia State Community College
Rob Marberry 33 F 6'8" 230 Freshman Nashville, TN Walk-on; transferred to Lipscomb
George Fant 44 F 6'6" 250 Senior Bowling Green, KY Graduated
T. J. Price 52 G 6'4" 223 Senior Slidell, LA Graduated

Incoming transfers

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous School
Aaron Cosby 2 G 6'3" 205 RS Senior Louisville, KY Transferred from Illinois. Cosby will be eligible to play immediately since Cosby graduated from Illinois.
Phabian Glasco 13 F 6'7" 225 Junior Tulsa, OK Junior college transferred from Connors State College
Willie Carmichael III 24 F 6'8" 210 Sophomore Apopka, FL Transferred from Tennessee. Under NCAA transfer rules, Carmichael III will have to sit out for the 2015–16 season. Will have three years of remaining eligibility.
Frederick Edmond 25 G 6'4" 190 Junior Lansing, MI Junior college transferred from College of Southern Idaho
Anton Waters 42 F 6'6" 205 Junior Baltimore, MD Junior college transferred from Gulf Coast State College

Class of 2015 recruits

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Chris McNeal
PG 		Memphis, TN South Side High School 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Jul 7, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Marlon Hunter Jr.
SG 		Memphis, TN Houston High School 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Nov 6, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Kristaps Gluditis
PG 		Riga, Latvia Get Better Academy 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Apr 28, 2015 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Nathan Smith
C 		London, England Get Better Academy 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 220 lb (100 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/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:

  • "2015 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved July 30, 2015.

Roster

2015–16 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Hometown
G 1 Chris McNeal 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Fr Jackson, Tennessee
G 2 Aaron Cosby 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) RS Sr Louisville, Kentucky
G 3 Marlon Hunter 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Fr Memphis, Tennessee
F 13 Phabian Glasco 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Jr Tulsa, Oklahoma
F 14 Benjamin Lawson 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Jr Hitchin, England
G 15 Dylan Sanford (W) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Fr Owensboro, Kentucky
C 20 Aleksej Rostov 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Sr Riga, Latvia
F 21 Nigel Snipes 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) RS Sr Marietta, Georgia
C 22 Nathan Smith 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Fr London, England
F 23 Justin Johnson 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 235 lb (107 kg) So Hazard, Kentucky
F 24 Willie Carmichael (I) Current redshirt 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) So Apopka, Florida
G 25 Fredrick Edmond 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Jr Lansing, Michigan
G 32 Keifer Dalton (W) 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Fr Albany, Kentucky
F 42 Anton Waters 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Jr Baltimore, Maryland
G 51 Chris Harrison-Docks 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) RS Jr Okemos, Michigan
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

Schedule

[6]

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
11/02/2015*
7:00 pm 		Lindsey Wilson W 84–71 
E. A. Diddle Arena (2,881)
Bowling Green, KY
11/06/2015*
7:00 pm 		Kentucky Wesleyan W 75–68 
E. A. Diddle Arena (3,207)
Bowling Green, KY
Non-conference regular season
11/14/2015*
7:00 pm 		Campbellsville
Gulf Coast Showcase Opening Round 		W 97–77  1–0
 E. A. Diddle Arena (3,424)
Bowling Green, KY
11/18/2015*
6:00 pm, ASN 		at Belmont L 85–90  1–1
 Curb Event Center (3,253)
Nashville, TN
11/21/2015*
12:00 pm, FCS/WKYU 		Stony Brook W 67–66  2–1
 E. A. Diddle Arena (3,684)
Bowling Green, KY
11/23/2015*
5:00 pm 		vs. Drake
Gulf Coast Showcase quarterfinals 		L 79–81 OT 2–2
 Germain Arena (523)
Estero, FL
11/24/2015*
1:30 pm 		vs. Central Michigan
Gulf Coast Showcase consolation round 		W 88–60  3–2
 Germain Arena (823)
Estero, FL
11/25/2015*
2:30 pm 		vs. Duquesne
Gulf Coast Showcase 5th place game 		L 73–81  3–3
 Germain Arena (1,077)
Estero, FL
12/01/2015*
7:00 pm, FCS/WKYU 		Eastern Kentucky W 86–84  4–3
 E. A. Diddle Arena (4,026)
Bowling Green, KY
12/05/2015*
7:30 pm, FS1 		at No. 12 Xavier L 64–95  4–4
 Cintas Center (10,250)
Cincinnati, OH
12/13/2015*
2:00 pm, ASN 		Indiana State W 75–62  5–4
 E. A. Diddle Arena (2,810)
Bowling Green, KY
12/16/2015*
8:00 pm, FCS/WKYU 		Alabama A&M W 79–70  6–4
 E. A. Diddle Arena (3,109)
Bowling Green, KY
12/19/2015*
11:00 am, ESPNU 		at No. 19 Louisville L 56–78  6–5
 KFC Yum! Center (21,606)
Louisville, KY
12/22/2015*
8:00 pm, ASN 		Detroit W 79–74  7–5
 E. A. Diddle Arena (3,031)
Bowling Green, KY
12/28/2015*
7:00 pm 		Brescia W 93–66  8–5
 E. A. Diddle Arena (3,388)
Bowling Green, KY
Conference USA regular season
01/03/2016
12:00 pm, ASN 		at Marshall L 76–94  8–6
(0–1) 		Cam Henderson Center (4,623)
Huntington, WV
01/07/2016
7:00 pm, FCS/WKYU 		FIU L 72–75  8–7
(0–2) 		E. A. Diddle Arena (3,394)
Bowling Green, KY
01/09/2016
2:00 pm, FCS/WKYU 		Florida Atlantic W 86–82 OT 9–7
(1–2) 		E. A. Diddle Arena (3,607)
Bowling Green, KY
01/14/2016
7:00 pm, ASN 		at Rice L 73–83  9–8
(1–3) 		Tudor Fieldhouse (1,664)
Houston, TX
01/16/2016
7:00 pm 		at North Texas W 81–76  10–8
(2–3) 		The Super Pit (1,903)
Denton, TX
01/21/2016
6:00 pm, ASN 		at Old Dominion L 62–68  10–9
(2–4) 		Ted Constant Convocation Center (6,535)
Norfolk, VA
01/23/2016
6:00 pm, FCS/WKYU 		at Charlotte L 71–88  10–10
(2–5) 		Dale F. Halton Arena (4,197)
Charlotte, NC
01/28/2016
6:30 pm, FS1 		UAB W 69–62  11–10
(3–5) 		E. A. Diddle Arena (3,892)
Bowling Green, KY
01/30/2016
7:00 pm, FCS/WKYU 		Middle Tennessee L 64–66  11–11
(3–6) 		E. A. Diddle Arena (5,259)
Bowling Green, KY
02/04/2016
7:00 pm 		at UTSA W 83–71  12–11
(4–6) 		Convocation Center (1,003)
San Antonio, TX
02/06/2016
4:00 pm, FS1 		at UTEP L 89–93 OT 12–12
(4–7) 		Don Haskins Center (12,000)
El Paso, TX
02/13/2016
7:00 pm, FCS/WKYU 		Marshall L 93–96 OT 12–13
(4–8) 		E. A. Diddle Arena (4,373)
Bowling Green, KY
02/18/2016
7:00 pm, FCS/WKYU 		Old Dominion L 56–59  12–14
(4–9) 		E. A. Diddle Arena (3,182)
Bowling Green, KY
02/20/2016
2:00 pm, FCS/WKYU 		Charlotte W 59–54  13–14
(5–9) 		E. A. Diddle Arena (3,570)
Bowling Green, KY
02/25/2016
6:00 pm, ASN 		at Middle Tennessee W 78–72  14–14
(6–9) 		Murphy Center (4,333)
Murfreesboro, TN
02/27/2016
11:00 am, FSN 		at UAB L 67–71  14–15
(6–10) 		Bartow Arena (7,510)
Birmingham, AL
03/03/2016
8:00 pm, ASN 		Southern Miss W 75–60  15–15
(7–10) 		E. A. Diddle Arena (3,405)
Bowling Green, KY
03/05/2016
7:00 pm, FCS/WKYU 		Louisiana Tech W 96–90 OT 16–15
(8–10) 		E. A. Diddle Arena (4,591)
Bowling Green, KY
Conference USA Tournament
03/09/2016
12:00 pm, ASN 		(8) vs. (9) North Texas
Second round 		W 84–76  17–15
 Legacy Arena (3,888)
Birmingham, AL
03/10/2016
12:00 pm, ASN 		(8) vs. (1) UAB
Quarterfinals 		W 88–77  18–15
 Legacy Arena (9,797)
Birmingham, AL
03/11/2016
3:00 pm, CBSSN 		(8) vs. (5) Old Dominion
Semifinals 		L 77–89  18–16
 Legacy Arena (6,176)
Birmingham, AL
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central Time.

See also

References

  1. ^ C-USA 2019-20 MEN'S BASKETBALL STATS, retrieved 29 April 2020
  2. ^ "Ray Harper has resigned as WKU basketball coach".
  3. ^ "WKU's Harper resigns as three players suspended". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  4. ^ GREENWELL, ZACH. "Ransdell: Outcome of WKU players' hearing was 'primary reason' for Harper's resignation". Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  5. ^ "It's official: WKU hires Stansbury as coach". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  6. ^ "Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers Official Athletic Site - Men's Basketball". wkusports.com. Archived from the original on June 18, 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2015.