List of Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball seasons
This is season-by-season results for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team.[1][2][3]
Season-by-season results
Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Coach J.L. Arthur (Independent) (1914–1916) | |||||||||
1914–15 | Western Kentucky State Normal School | 5–1 | |||||||
1915–16 | WKS | 2–1 | |||||||
J.L.Arthur: | 7–2 (.875) | ||||||||
No Team (World War I) (1916–1921) | |||||||||
Coach L.T. Smith (Independent) (1921–1922) | |||||||||
1921–22 | Western Kentucky State Normal School and Teachers College | 3–1 | |||||||
L.T.Smith: | 3–1 (.750) | ||||||||
Coach E. A. Diddle (Independent) (1922–1926) | |||||||||
1922–23 | WKS | 12–2 | |||||||
1923–24 | WKS | 9–9 | |||||||
1924–25 | WKS | 8–6 | |||||||
1925–26 | WKS | 10–4 | |||||||
Coach E. A. Diddle (Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1926–1948) | |||||||||
1926–27 | WKS | 12–7 | |||||||
1927–28 | WKS | 10–7 | |||||||
1928–29 | WKS | 8–10 | |||||||
1929–30 | WKS | 4–12 | |||||||
1930–31 | WKS | 11–3 | |||||||
1931–32 | WKS | 15–8 | 1st KIAC | ||||||
1932–33 | WKS | 16–6 | 1st KIAC | ||||||
1933–34 | WKS | 28–8 | 1st KIAC 1st SIAA | ||||||
1934–35 | WKS | 24–3 | 1st KIAC | ||||||
1935–36 | WKS | 26–4 | 1st KIAC | National Olympic Playoffs | |||||
1936–37 | WKS | 21–2 | 1st KIAC 1st SIAA | ||||||
1937–38 | WKS | 30–3 | 1st KIAC 1st SIAA | NIBT (withdrew/forfeit) | |||||
1938–39 | WKS | 22–3 | 1st KIAC 1st SIAA | ||||||
1939–40 | WKS | 24–6 | 1st KIAC 1st SIAA | NCAA Elite 8 | |||||
1940–41 | WKS | 22–4 | 1st SIAA | ||||||
1941–42 | WKS | 29–5 | 1st KIAC 1st SIAA | NIT Runner Up | |||||
1942–43 | WKS | 24–3 | 1st KIAC | NIT Quarterfinals | |||||
1943–44 | WKS | 13–9 | |||||||
1944–45 | WKS | 17–10 | |||||||
1945–46 | WKS | 15–19 | |||||||
1946–47 | WKS | 25–4 | 1st KIAC 1st SIAA | ||||||
1947–48 | Western Kentucky State College | 28–2 | 1st KIAC NCAA Annual Team Champions[4] | NIT 3rd place | |||||
Coach E. A. Diddle (Ohio Valley Conference) (1948–1964) | |||||||||
1948–49 | WKSC | 25–4 | 8–2 | 1st | NIT Quarterfinals | ||||
1949–50 | WKSC | 25–6 | 8–0 | 1st | NIT Quarterfinals | ||||
1950–51 | WKSC | 19–10 | 4–4 | 4th | NCBT 1st Round | ||||
1951–52 | WKSC | 26–5 | 11–1 | 1st | NIT Quarterfinals | ||||
1952–53 | WKSC | 25–6 | 8–2 | 2nd | NIT Quarterfinals | ||||
1953–54 | WKSC | 29–3 | 9–1 | 1st | NIT 4th Place | ||||
1954–55 | WKSC | 18–10 | 8–2 | 1st | |||||
1955–56 | WKSC | 16–12 | 7–3 | T–1st | |||||
1956–57 | WKSC | 17–9 | 9–1 | T–1st | |||||
1957–58 | WKSC | 14–11 | 5–5 | 3rd | |||||
1958–59 | WKSC | 16–10 | 8–4 | 2nd | |||||
1959–60 | WKSC | 21–7 | 10–2 | 1st | NCAA Sweet Sixteen | ||||
1960–61 | WKSC | 18–8 | 9–3 | T–1st | |||||
1961–62 | WKSC | 17–10 | 11–1 | 1st | NCAA Sweet Sixteen | ||||
1962–63 | WKSC | 5–16 | 3–9 | 7th | |||||
1963–64 | WKSC | 5–16 | 3–11 | 8th | |||||
E. A. Diddle: | 759–302 (.715) | 121–51 | |||||||
Coach John Oldham (Ohio Valley Conference) (1964–1971) | |||||||||
1964–65 | WKSC | 18–9 | 10–4 | 2nd | NIT Quarterfinals | ||||
1965–66 | Western Kentucky University | 25–3 | 14–0 | 1st | NCAA Sweet Sixteen | ||||
1966–67 | WKU | 23–3 | 13–1 | 1st | NCAA round of 23 | ||||
1967–68 | WKU | 18–7 | 9–5 | 3rd | |||||
1968–69 | WKU | 16–10 | 9–5 | 3rd | |||||
1969–70 | WKU | 22–3 | 14–0 | 1st | NCAA round of 25 | ||||
1970–71 | WKU | 24–6 | 12–2 | 1st | NCAA Final Four * | ||||
John Oldham: | 142–40 (.780) | 81–17 | |||||||
Coach Jim Richards (Ohio Valley Conference) (1971–1978) | |||||||||
1971–72 | WKU | 15–11 | 9–5 | T–1st | |||||
1972–73 | WKU | 10–16 | 6–8 | 6th | (NCAA Probation) | ||||
1973–74 | WKU | 15–10 | 8–6 | 4th | (NCAA Probation) | ||||
1974–75 | WKU | 16–8 | 11–3 | 2nd | (NCAA Probation) | ||||
1975–76 | WKU | 20–9 | 11–3 | 1st | NCAA round of 32 | ||||
1976–77 | WKU | 10–16 | 6–8 | T–5th | |||||
1977–78 | WKU | 16–14 | 9–5 | T–3rd | NCAA Sweet Sixteen | ||||
Jim Richards: | 102–84 (.548) | 60–38 | |||||||
Coach Gene Keady (Ohio Valley Conference) (1978–1980) | |||||||||
1978–79 | WKU | 17–11 | 7–5 | T–2nd | |||||
1979–80 | WKU | 21–8 | 10–2 | T–1st | NCAA round of 48 | ||||
Gene Keady: | 38–19 (.667) | 17–7 | |||||||
Coach Clem Haskins (Ohio Valley Conference) (1980–1982) | |||||||||
1980–81 | WKU | 21–8 | 12–2 | 1st | NCAA round of 48 | ||||
1981–82 | WKU | 19–10 | 13–3 | T–1st | NIT 1st Round | ||||
Coach Clem Haskins (Sun Belt Conference) (1982–1986) | |||||||||
1982–83 | WKU | 12–16 | 4–10 | 7th | |||||
1983–84 | WKU | 12–17 | 5–9 | 6th | |||||
1984–85 | WKU | 14–14 | 5–9 | 7th | |||||
1985–86 | WKU | 23–8 | 10–4 | 2nd | NCAA round of 32 | ||||
Clem Haskins: | 101–73 (.580) | 49–37 | |||||||
Coach Murray Arnold (Sun Belt Conference) (1986–1990) | |||||||||
1986–87 | WKU | 29–9 | 12–2 | 1st | NCAA round of 32 | ||||
1987–88 | WKU | 15–13 | 6–8 | 6th | |||||
1988–89 | WKU | 14–15 | 4–10 | 7th | |||||
1989–90 | WKU | 13–17 | 7–7 | T–3rd | |||||
Murray Arnold: | 71–54 (.568) | 29–27 | |||||||
Coach Ralph Willard (Sun Belt Conference) (1990–1994) | |||||||||
1990–91 | WKU | 14–14 | 8–6 | T–3rd | |||||
1991–92 | WKU | 21–11 | 10–6 | 4th | NIT 1st Round | ||||
1992–93 | WKU | 26–6 | 14–4 | 2nd | NCAA Sweet Sixteen | ||||
1993–94 | WKU | 20–11 | 14–4 | 1st | NCAA round of 64 | ||||
Ralph Willard: | 81–42 (.667) | 46–20 | |||||||
Coach Matt Kilcullen (Sun Belt Conference) (1994–1998) | |||||||||
1994–95 | WKU | 27–4 | 17–1 | 1st | NCAA round of 32 | ||||
1995–96 | WKU | 13–14 | 10–8 | T–3rd | |||||
1996–97 | WKU | 12–15 | 9–9 | T–6th | |||||
1997–98 | WKU | 7–16 | 4–10 | – | – | ||||
Matt Kilcullen: | 59–49 (.546) | 42–30 | |||||||
Ron Brown and Al Seibert (named co-Head Coaches for last 6 games) (Sun Belt Conference) (1998–1998) | |||||||||
1997–98 | WKU | 3–3 | 2–2 | T–8th | |||||
Ron Brown and Al Seibert: | 3–3 (.500) | 2–2 | |||||||
Coach Dennis Felton (Sun Belt Conference) (1998–2003) | |||||||||
1998–99 | WKU | 13–16 | 7–7 | T–3rd | |||||
1999–00 | WKU | 11–18 | 8–8 | 5th | |||||
2000–01 | WKU | 24–7 | 14–2 | 1st (East) | NCAA round of 64 | ||||
2001–02 | WKU | 28–4 | 13–1 | 1st (East) | NCAA round of 64 | ||||
2002–03 | WKU | 24–9 | 12–2 | 1st (East) | NCAA round of 64 | ||||
Dennis Felton: | 100–54 (.649) | 54–20 (.730) | |||||||
Coach Darrin Horn (Sun Belt Conference) (2003–2008) | |||||||||
2003–04 | WKU | 15–13 | 8–6 | 5th | |||||
2004–05 | WKU | 22–9 | 9–5 | 2nd (East) | NIT 2nd Round | ||||
2005–06 | WKU | 23–8 | 12–2 | 1st (East) | NIT 1st Round | ||||
2006–07 | WKU | 22–11 | 12–6 | 2nd (East) | |||||
2007–08 | WKU | 29–7 | 16–2 | T–1st (East) | NCAA Sweet Sixteen | ||||
Darrin Horn: | 111–48 (.698) | 57–21 (.731) | |||||||
Coach Ken McDonald (Sun Belt Conference) (2008–2012) | |||||||||
2008–09 | WKU | 25–8 | 15–3 | 1st (East) | NCAA round of 32 | ||||
2009–10 | WKU | 21–13 | 12–6 | 3rd (East) | |||||
2010–11 | WKU | 16–16 | 8–8 | 3rd (East) | |||||
2011–12 | WKU | 5–11 | 1–2 | – | – | ||||
Ken McDonald: | 67–48 (.583) | 36–19 (.655) | |||||||
Ray Harper (named interim Head Coach after 16 games) (Sun Belt Conference) (2012–2014) | |||||||||
2011–12 | WKU | 11–8 | 10–7 | T–3rd (East) | NCAA round of 64 | ||||
2012–13 | WKU | 20–16 | 10–10 | 4th (East) | NCAA round of 64 | ||||
2013–14 | WKU | 21–11 | 12–6 | 2nd | |||||
Coach Ray Harper (Conference USA) (2014–2016) | |||||||||
2014–15 | WKU | 20–12 | 12–6 | 4th | |||||
2015–16 | WKU | 18–16 | 8–10 | 8th | |||||
Ray Harper: | 90–63 (.588) | 42–34 (.553) | |||||||
Coach Rick Stansbury (Conference USA) (2016–2023) | |||||||||
2016–17 | WKU | 15–17 | 9–9 | 8th | |||||
2017–18 | WKU | 27–11 | 14–4 | 3rd | NIT Final Four | ||||
2018–19 | WKU | 20–14 | 11–7 | 2nd | |||||
2019–20 | WKU | 20–10 | 13–5 | 2nd | (Tournaments cancelled) | ||||
2020–21 | WKU | 21–8 | 11-3 | 1st (East) | NIT Quarterfinals | ||||
2021–22 | WKU | 19–13 | 11-7 | 2nd (East) | |||||
2022–23 | WKU | 17–16 | 8-12 | 6th | Stansbury missed 9 games with health issues. Phil Cunningham coached the team during those games winning 3 and losing 6.[5] | ||||
Rick Stansbury: | 136–83 (.621) | 74–41 (.643) | |||||||
Coach Steve Lutz (Conference USA) (2023–2024) | |||||||||
2023–24 | WKU | 22–12 | 8–8 | 3rd | NCAA round of 64 | ||||
Steve Lutz: | 22–12 (.647) | 8–8 (.500) | |||||||
Coach Hank Plona (Conference USA) (2024–present) | |||||||||
2024–25 | WKU | 0–0 | 0–0 | ||||||
Hank Plona: | 0–0 (–) | 0–0 (–) | |||||||
Total: | 1895–982 (.659) | ||||||||
National champion Postseason invitational champion |
[6][7] [8] BOLD indicates lead the NCAA in victories.[9]
NCAA – National Collegiate Athletic Association
NIT – National Invitation Tournament
NCBT – National Campus Basketball Tournament[10]
NIBT – National Intercollegiate Basketball tournament[11]
* 1971 NCAA appearance, including 4 tournament wins, vacated by the NCAA
Rankings
The Associated Press (AP) began publishing a national college basketball poll during the 1948–49 season. The Coaches Poll began during the 1950–51 season. The highest that Western Kentucky has been ranked in the AP poll is number 3 (1949, 1954, and 1967); the highest they have been ranked in the Coaches poll is 4th in 1954. The AP poll was a top 20 poll from 1949 to 1960; a top 10 poll from 1961 to 1968; a top 20 from 1969 to 1989; and a top 25 poll since 1990. The Coaches poll started as a top 20 poll in 1950 and remained such until 1991 when it became a top 25 poll. Below is the team's highest ranking and final season ranking for each poll (it does not include times when Western Kentucky was listed as “receiving votes”).
Season | AP High | AP Final | Coach High | Coach Final |
---|---|---|---|---|
1948-49 | 3 | 5 | N/A | N/A |
1949-50 | 7 | 8 | N/A | N/A |
1950-51 | 13 | |||
1951-52 | 11 | 16 | 16 | |
1952-53 | 8 | 17 | 11 | 11 |
1953-54 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 6 |
1954-55 | 20 | |||
1956-57 | 12 | 10 | ||
1957-58 | 16 | |||
1959-60 | 18 | |||
1960-61 | 19 | |||
1965-66 | 10 | 10 | 14 | |
1966-67 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 7 |
1967-68 | 16 | |||
1968-69 | 15 | 14 | ||
1969-70 | 12 | 18 | 15 | 17 |
1970-71 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 7 |
1985-86 | 19 | |||
1986-87 | 8 | 10 | ||
1992-93 | 20 | 20 | 16 | 16 |
1993-94 | 25 | |||
1994-95 | 21 | 21 | ||
2001-02 | 17 | 19 | 18 | |
2002-03 | 19 | 23 | ||
2007-08 | 22 | 22 |
References
- ^ "WKU Hilltopper Basketball Media Guides". Western Kentucky University Athletic Department. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
- ^ Ruby, Earl (1979). Red Towel Territory : A History of Athletics at Western Kentucky University. American National Bank and Trust Co.
- ^ Lowell H. Harrison (1987). Western Kentucky University. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 978-0813116204.
- ^ 2011 NCAA Division I Basketball Records, retrieved 30 April 2020
- ^ Tops go cold in season-ending loss to FAU at bgdailynews.com
- ^ http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_RB/2012/DI.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ "College Basketball - Standings - Rivals.com". Rivals.yahoo.com. April 20, 2011. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
- ^ https://admin.xosn.com/fls/5400//Misc%20Files/Copy%20of%202011-12%20WKU%20Men%27s%20Basketball%20Media%20Information%20Guide.pdf?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID= 5400
- ^ E. A. Diddle CBB Records, Sports Reference, retrieved October 6, 2018
- ^ National Campus Basketball Tournament, retrieved May 20, 2020
- ^ NAIA Through the Decades, NAIA.org retrieved May 20, 2020
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