The 2018–19 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky University during the 2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Hilltoppers, led by third-year head coach Rick Stansbury, played their home games at E. A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, Kentucky as fifth-year members of Conference USA (C-USA). The team finished the season tied for second place in the conference, and were defeated in the championship game of the conference tournament.
Previous season The Hilltoppers finished the 2017–18 season with 27–11, 14–4 in C-USA play, to finish in third place. They defeated UAB and Old Dominion to advance to the championship game of the C-USA tournament, where they lost to Marshall. They received an at-large bid to the National Invitation Tournament, where they defeated Boston College, USC and Oklahoma State to advance to the semifinals where they lost to Utah.
Offseason
Departures Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for departure Tyler Miller 0 G 6' 4" 190 Senior Louisville, KY Graduated Darius Thompson 15 G 6' 4" 190 RS senior Murfreesboro, TN Graduated Dwight Coleby 22 F 6' 9" 245 RS senior Nassau, Bahamas Graduated Justin Johnson 23 F 6' 7" 245 Senior Hazard, KY Graduated
Incoming transfers Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous school Matthew Horton 5 F 6' 11" Junior Tuscaloosa, AL Junior college transferred from Shelton State CC Desean Murray 13 F 6' 3" 225 Graduate student Stanley, NC Transferred from Auburn. Was eligible to play immediately since Murray graduated from Auburn. Patrick Murphy F 6' 6" 170 Junior Franklin, TN Junior college transferred from Martin Methodist College Carson Williams F 6' 5" 230 Junior Owenton, KY Transferred from Northern Kentucky. Under NCAA transfer rules, Williams had to sit out for the 2018–19 season. Had two years of remaining eligibility.
2018 recruiting class
Roster
Schedule and results
!colspan=9 style=| Exhibition
!colspan=9 style=| Non-conference regular season
!colspan=12 style=| Conference USA regular season
!colspan=9 style=| Conference USA tournament
Source:
See also 2018–19 Western Kentucky Lady Toppers basketball team
References