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The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represents Western Kentucky University (WKU) in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The team currently competes in Conference USA (C-USA) and has had a successful history, with 30 All Americans and 56 players going on to play professionally. WKU has appeared in 41 national postseason tournaments and the Hilltoppers have a strong following, with their games taking place in the 7,326-seat E.A. Diddle Arena, named after the legendary WKU coach and Basketball Hall of Famer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the basketball team | Western Kentucky Hilltoppers |
| University | Western Kentucky University (WKU) |
| Location | Bowling Green, Kentucky |
| Current Conference | Conference USA (C-USA) |
| Previous Conference | Sun Belt Conference |
| Arena | E.A. Diddle Arena |
| Arena Capacity | 7,326 seats |
| Arena Built | 1963 |
| Colours | Red and White |
| Head Coach | Hank Plona |
| Current Ranking | #31 |
| Number of All Americans | 30 |
| Number of Players Who Played Professionally | 56 |
| Number of National Postseason Tournament Appearances | 41 |
| Number of National Final Four Appearances | 5 |
| Number of NCAA Tournament Appearances | 24 |
| Number of NIT Appearances | 15 |
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Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team
The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represents Western Kentucky University (WKU) in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The team currently competes in Conference USA, having joined in 2014 following a conference realignment. The Hilltoppers have a rich history in college basketball and have achieved notable success over the years.
The Hilltoppers have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) 15 times and made it to the NIT Final Four in 2018. They also have a strong record in the NCAA Tournament, with 24 appearances and a combined record of 19-25. The team's most recent appearance in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament was in 2024. The Hilltoppers have also won several Ohio Valley Conference championships and competed for the conference championship in their previous conference, the Sun Belt Conference.
The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball program has produced many notable players who have gone on to have successful professional careers. WKU has had 30 All-Americans and 56 Hilltoppers have played professionally. The team's current head coach is Hank Plona, who was appointed in April 2024.
The E.A. Diddle Arena, a 7,326-seat multi-purpose arena in Bowling Green, Kentucky, is the home of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. The arena is named after legendary WKU men's coach and Basketball Hall of Famer Edgar "E.A." Diddle, who coached the team from 1923 to 1964. The Hilltoppers have a strong following and their games are often well-attended, with fans cheering on their team in their signature red and white colours.
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Conference USA
The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team, representing Western Kentucky University (WKU), currently competes in Conference USA (CUSA). The team joined Conference USA following a conference realignment in 2014. CUSA is a collegiate athletic conference of member institutions in the Southern and Western United States. The conference was founded in 1995 through the merger of the Metro Conference and the Great Midwest Conference, two Division I conferences that did not sponsor football. CUSA's offices are located in Dallas, Texas.
CUSA participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports, with football competing in the top-level Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). The conference has seen several members come and go over the years, with some departing for other conferences such as the Big East, Mountain West, and Sun Belt. To maintain its competitiveness, CUSA has actively lured schools from other conferences, including UCF, Marshall, Rice, SMU, Tulsa, and UTEP.
WKU's basketball team has a rich history, with 30 All-Americans and 56 Hilltoppers going on to play professionally. The team has made 24 appearances in the NCAA tournament, with a combined record of 19-25. They have also appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) 15 times, with a combined record of 13-16. WKU's men's basketball program is historically successful, ranking as the 16th most victorious in the NCAA and achieving the eighth-best winning percentage.
The Hilltoppers play their home games at the E.A. Diddle Arena, a 7,326-seat multi-purpose arena in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The arena is named after legendary WKU men's coach and Basketball Hall of Famer Edgar "E.A." Diddle, who coached the team from 1923 to 1964. WKU's basketball program has a proud tradition, with numerous Ohio Valley Conference championships and a competitive history in the Sun Belt Conference before moving to Conference USA.
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NCAA Division I
The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represents Western Kentucky University (WKU) in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The Hilltoppers compete in NCAA Division I and are members of Conference USA (C-USA). They joined C-USA following a conference realignment in 2014 and have since won 37 championships across ten different sports.
WKU has a rich basketball history, with the men's basketball program ranked as the 16th most victorious in NCAA history and the eighth-best winning percentage. The Hilltoppers have appeared in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament 24 times, including a Final Four appearance in 1971, although this was later vacated by the NCAA due to a player signing a professional contract. WKU has also made four NIT Final Four appearances and won numerous Ohio Valley Conference championships.
The Hilltoppers have a long tradition of producing talented players, with 30 All-Americans and 56 players going on to play professionally. Their home arena, the E.A. Diddle Arena, is named after legendary WKU coach and Basketball Hall of Famer Edgar "E.A." Diddle, who coached the team from 1922 to 1964. The arena was built in 1963 and has a capacity of 7,326 seats.
WKU's athletic teams, including the Hilltoppers basketball team, compete in 16 varsity sports in total. These include football, baseball, cross country, golf, track and field, soccer, softball, and volleyball, in addition to basketball. The Hilltoppers have a long-standing rivalry with the North Alabama Lions in football, and the Lady Toppers represent WKU in women's basketball and volleyball.
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Previous conference: Sun Belt Conference
The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represents Western Kentucky University (WKU) in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The team currently competes in Conference USA (C-USA), having joined in 2014 following a conference realignment.
Prior to joining Conference USA, WKU was a member of the Sun Belt Conference. While in the Sun Belt Conference, the Hilltoppers were very competitive, regularly finishing near the top of the conference and vying for the conference championship.
The Sun Belt Conference is a collegiate athletic conference that operates in the South-Central and Southeastern United States. It was established in 1976 and currently sponsors 18 sports, including basketball. The conference has experienced several realignments since its inception, with members joining and leaving over the years.
WKU's men's basketball team has a rich history and has achieved notable success over the years. The program has the 16th most victories in the history of the NCAA and boasts the eighth-best winning percentage. They have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) 15 times and made the NIT Final Four on multiple occasions. Additionally, they have had a presence in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, with their most recent appearance being in 2024.
The Hilltoppers have produced numerous notable players, including 30 All-Americans, and 56 athletes who have gone on to play professionally. The team's success can also be attributed to its legendary coach, Edgar "E.A." Diddle, a Basketball Hall of Famer who served as the men's coach from 1922 to 1964.
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WKU's E.A. Diddle Arena
The Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers men's basketball team, also known as WKU Basketball, currently competes in Conference USA. The team is based at the E.A. Diddle Arena, a 7,326-seat multi-purpose arena in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The arena was built in 1963 and is named after legendary WKU men's coach and Basketball Hall of Famer Edgar "E.A." Diddle.
The E.A. Diddle Arena has been the site of many notable events throughout its history. It has hosted NCAA Regional Tournaments in both men's and women's basketball, the Kentucky High School Athletic Association's Girls Sweet 16 Basketball Tournament, and an NBA exhibition game. The arena has also staged numerous concerts and hosted WKU's annual spring and winter commencements. In 1988, it even welcomed the President of the United States, Ronald Reagan.
The arena is the consistent home to the KHSAA 4th Region Boys and Girls Basketball Tournaments every March. In addition, it serves as the home for Hilltopper Basketball, Lady Topper Basketball, and Hilltopper Volleyball. The facility features Taraflex flooring, similar to that used by a majority of Power Five programs and the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Final Four. WKU is one of the few programs outside of the Power Five to utilise this flooring system.
The E.A. Diddle Arena has undergone renovations to enhance its functionality and experience. In 2002, a $32 million renovation reduced seating capacity to 7,381 while adding amenities such as luxury suites, new seating, video boards, improved concession and restroom areas, and more. These renovations have contributed to the arena's versatility, making it a prominent venue for various events and a key facility for WKU athletics.
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Frequently asked questions
WKU basketball is in Conference USA (C-USA).
The Hilltoppers joined Conference USA in 2014 following a conference realignment.
WKU basketball is in the NCAA Division I.
Before joining Conference USA, WKU basketball was in the Sun Belt Conference and the Ohio Valley Conference.
