Show Me My Opponent-Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

Record: 2-2

Conference: Sun Belt
Location: Bowling Green, Kentucky
Enrollment: 19,000+
Stadium: E.A. Diddle Arena (Capacity: 7,500)

Series Record: WKU leads 38-33

Last Meeting: December 4, 2003, U of L 93 WKU 63 in Nashville

Head Coach: Ken McDonald is in his 1st year as a head coach. He was a former assistant at Western under Dennis Felton from 1998-2003. Before returning to Bowling Green to take the head coaching job, he was an assistant at Texas.

Notable Alumni

Kenny Perry '82-Ryder Cup winning golfer; Romeo Crennel '69, '77-head coach of the Browns; Kirker Butler '93-one of the writers of The Family Guy (the 2nd best cartoon ever, after The Simpsons),Joe Bugel '63-Longtime NFL coach, best known for coaching "the Hogs," probably the most famous offensive line in history; John Carpenter '68-Academy-Award winning director of Halloween and Big Trouble in Little China; Clem Haskins '67-head coach of Minnesota Golden Gophers team that went to the Final Four in 1997; Steve Gorman-drummer of the Black Crowes

Cardinal Connection

Peck Hickman '35-Former Cardinals coach credited with laying the foundation and starting to build our basketball program.

In 1952, U of L's first ever appearance in the post-season NIT, WKU knocked out the Cards 62-59 in the 1st round.

WKU features two Louisville kids: Adam Decker (PRP) and Pegues A'Darius (Western). Also, Slaughter is from Shelbyville and Pettigrew from E-town.

WKU Hilltoppers

Projected Starters

F Jeremy Evans 6'9

F Steffphon Pettigrew 6'5

G Orlando Mendez-Valdez 6-1

G Anthony Sally 6'2

G A.J. Slaughter 6'3

Reserves

G/F Sergio Kerusch 6'5

F Uros Komadinic 6'6

F D.J. Magley 6'9

F Matt Maresca 6'8

F Mike Walker 6'7

G Japeth Aguilar 6'9

Outlook

Coming off of another Billy Minardi Classic championship, the Cards are traveling to Nashville to play the Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky on Sunday at 3'o'clock. The 'Toppers are 2-2 and have a coach in his 1st year, but they do have a few bright spots. Steffphon Pettigrew, a sophomore from E-town, is shooting 50% from behind the arc. Junior A.J. Slaughter is averaging 12.5 ppg, 4 boards, 3 assists and 1.5 steals, while sophomore Sergio Kerusch is averaging 12.2 points and 6.8 boards. Slaughter was suspended for the first two games of the year, and the WKU faithful hope that he starts to find the rhythm from last year, when he was the key 6th man on their Sweet Sixteen squad.

Western's two wins came against Campbellsville and Southern Illinois, and their losses were against mighty Houston (3-1) and even tougher...Murray State (2-1). U of L is clearly more talented and better coached. The 'Toppers are small and will most likely play a three guard lineup. This should be no trouble for the super-deep Cards. WKU does have some size on the bench, but once again, Pitino's squad can counter the size too. U of L can go small or go big and not lose a beat. If the Cards keep up the relentless defense they've been playing, and can contain Pettigrew and Slaughter, they should get another 'W.'

Basically, these guys should be pushovers. The "neutral court" at the Sommet Center will probably look more like Freedom Hall because it is two hours away and on a holiday weekend. Louisville fans will come by the boatload to booze it up in the Music City. I'm sure there will be lots of Western fans there too, being that Bowling Green is only about an hour from Nashville.These teams could play this game in Guam and there would still be the same result. Prediction: The Cards break 100 and crush the Hilltoppers 101-68 on the back of Samardo and T-Will.