It’s a new era in college basketball, and generally speaking, it’s a time when older, stronger, more experienced teams have more long-term success.
John Calipari learned this the hard way in March, when his Kentucky Wildcats were stunned by Oakland in the first round of the NCAA tournament — a result that helped trigger Cal’s departure from Big Blue Nation to, of all places, Fayetteville, Arkansas.
No such issues should arise for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in 2024-25 as former WKU assistant Hank Plona takes over the reins from Steve Lutz, who accepted the head job at Oklahoma State after leading the Toppers to their first championship of the CUSA Tournament and to his first NCAA tournament appearance since 2013.
While the personnel situation is fluid at Western — as it is across the country in these times of the changing NIL and NCAA transfer portal — according to The Towel Rack’s latest online Hilltopper Roster Tracker, the roster for next season it should be filled with experienced players who know how to win, and that will be an honor for Plona as WKU looks to build on last season’s success.
Among the most anticipated returnees is 6-foot-2 senior guard Khristian Lander. The left-handed shooter, who originally signed with Indiana, averaged 9.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2 assists per game last season, shooting 41% from the floor, 35% from distance and 75% from the foul line.
Also expected to return is dynamic 6-7 senior forward Tyrone Marshall, who was the Hilltoppers’ top performer in a first-round NCAA Tournament loss to Marquette, scoring 21 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. bow. For the season, Marshall averaged 8.8 points and 2.2 assists, while leading the team in blocks (36) and steals (50).
Another potential returnee is 6-2 senior point guard Don McHenry, who led the team in scoring (15.1 ppg) while shooting 46% from the floor, including 36% from 3-point range. Meanwhile, McHenry was strong from free throw range, shooting a team-best 86%.
A significant contributor in the frontcourt is expected to be 6-8 senior forward Babacar Faye, who had a strong finish last season. Faye averaged 7.5 points per game, shot 61% of the team from the field and shot 69% from the foul line.
Enoch Kalambay, a 6-6 senior guard, is coming off an up-and-down season but could be a solid contributor in his final collegiate season after scoring an average of 6.2 points and shooting 50% from the field. field in 2023-24.
Among the big surprises last season was the performance of 6-5 point guard Teagan Moore, who, as a true freshman, came on like a gangbuster down the stretch. For the season, he averaged 6.2 points per game, shot 48% from the field, made 80% of his foul shots and provided a toughness that became infectious.
Other potential returnees include redshirt junior Fallou Diagne, 6-11, who played in just five games due to injury; senior guard Terrion Murdix, who was redshirted in 2023-24 due to injury; and 5-11 senior guard Jalen Jackson, who is asking the NCAA for an extra year of eligibility after suffering a season-ending injury in December 2023.
Another pleasant surprise last season was 5-10 point guard Jack Edelen, who as a freshman provided a high degree of backcourt stability on both ends of the floor. Other returning walk-ons include senior forward Jaylen Dorsey and senior guard Tyler Olden.
Lost to graduation was reliable 6-11 center Rodney Howard (9.9 ppg). Entering the transfer portal were swingman Dontaie Allen (8.2 ppg), the team’s best 3-point shooter (40%), little-used forward BJ Marable and guard Brandon Newman (10.1 ppg), who followed Lutz to Oklahoma State.
Western will feature five signees, including 6-11 senior center Leeroy Odiahi, an Old Dominion backup (1.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg); 6-11 junior forward Blaise Keita, late at Nebraska; three-star 6-5 freshman Kade Unseld from hometown Warren Central High School; three-star freshman point guard Julius Thedford from Whitehaven High School in Memphis, Tennessee; along with 6-2 combo guard Braxton Bayless, who averaged 11.5 points, 2.5 assists and 2.1 rebounds last season in Niagara.
If everyone sticks around (and that is, of course, a big if in today’s culture), it says here that Plona will be able to formulate a unit capable of challenging for the CUSA regular season championship and repeating last season’s success. in the conference tournament. This is a talented group that certainly must be old enough, strong enough and experienced enough to succeed at a high level.
It will be truly intriguing to watch the development of Plona’s first WKU team.
