Western Kentucky Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Hilltoppers

By Brian Rauf | Oct 4, 2018

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 27: Head coach Rick Stansbury of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers has a conversation with Lamonte Bearden #1 of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in the second quarter during their 2018 National Invitation Tournament Championship semifinals game at Madison Square Garden on March 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 27: Taveion Hollingsworth #13 of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers celebrates in the first quarter against the Utah Utes during their 2018 National Invitation Tournament Championship semifinals game at Madison Square Garden on March 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

Season outlook

There are so many reasons to be optimistic about this Hilltoppers team. They return a number of major contributors. They’re adding quality grad transfers who played big roles for their previous schools. They have the stud one-and-done freshman. They have great guards. They have size.

On paper, there isn’t a whole lot that this team lacks. The biggest questions they face will be about chemistry (How quickly does this team come together? Does everyone accept their new roles?) and how they play in Bearden’s absence.

Stansbury has demonstrated the ability to assemble talented rosters, like this, in the past. However, he has had problems parlaying that on-paper talent into on-court success. Last years 27 wins matched a single-season career-high for Stansbury and he has never made it to the Sweet 16.

Next. Predicting conference champs for 2018-19. dark

This could be the team that changes all that – that’s how good they are. I expect the Hilltoppers to win Conference USA and have a strong enough resume to earn an at-large bid should they be upset (again) in the conference tournament. And I expect them to make some noise once they get there. A Sweet 16 run is very much a real possibility.