Western Kentucky Basketball: Pressure on Hilltoppers for 2020-21 season

With a key piece fully healthy, Western Kentucky should be considered the favorite to not only win Conference USA next season but also make the 2021 NCAA Tournament.

All things considered, the regular season went well for Western Kentucky Basketball last season. The Hilltoppers finished 20-10 overall, and going 13-5 in conference play, good for second behind North Texas (14-4). Those two teams split their regular-season matchups and could’ve easily met for a third time in the Conference USA Tournament finals before the season was abruptly canceled.

It was impressive what the team was able to, after losing star big man Charles Bassey. The former five-star recruit and Defensive Player of the Year in Conference USA averaged 15.3 ppg and 9.2 rpg in 10 games played before suffering a season-ending leg injury. But thanks to the stellar play of leading scorer and passer Taveion Hollingsworth, as well as four other double-digit contributors, the Hilltoppers still managed to finish high in the standings.

Still, the ceiling for Western Kentucky was automatically lowered once Bassey departed. He’s the best overall player in the conference and could start for 99% of teams in Division 1 Basketball. As we see all the time today, many players opt to leave early for the NBA Draft. However, the team received great news early this offseason with the big man electing to come back for his junior campaign.

Making things even better, Bassey has fully recovered from his injury, ready to go for the 2020-21 season. A potential 20 ppg and 10 rpg national star, Western Kentucky has to take advantage of this in order to get back into the NCAA Tournament, a feat they haven’t accomplished since 2013 when they were members of the Sun Belt.

Besides the junior Bassey, the Hilltoppers other four starters are very likely to be seniors. That includes Hollingsworth, forward Carson Willams, wing Josh Anderson, and Lipscomb transfer Kenny Cooper, who would slide into the point guard position. With Jordan Rawls, Isaiah Cozart, and Davidson transfer Luke Frampton rounding out the projected rotation, Western Kentucky should be the clear-cut favorites to win the league, even though both North Texas and Louisiana Tech each return key pieces from their respected teams.

The commitment of four-star point guard Zion Harmon and a good history of transfers shows that head coach Rick Stansbury will keep Western Kentucky Basketball as one of the top mid-major programs. But there’s a difference between having a solid mid-major team and one with the capability of not only making the Big Dance but also possibly making a run.

With Bassey around for one more year, the Hilltoppers must take advantage and have the best campaign possible, or risk having a five-star talent join the program… with nothing to show for it.