The 2024–25 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky University during the 2024–25 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team led by first-year head coach Hank Plona, played their home games at E. A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, Kentucky as eleventh-year members of Conference USA (C-USA).
Previous season The Hilltoppers finished the 2023–24 season 22–12, 8–8 in C-USA play, to finish in third place. As the No. 3 seed in the C-USA tournament, they defeated New Mexico State in the quarterfinals, Middle Tennessee in the semifinals, and UTEP in the finals to win the C-USA championship. As an automatic qualifier in the NCAA tournament, they earned the No. 15 seed, where they lost to No. 2 seed Marquette in the first round.
On April 1, 2024, Steve Lutz left the program to accept the head coaching job at Oklahoma State.
A day later, on April 2, 2024, the school named Hank Plona as the new head coach to lead the Hilltoppers.
Offseason
Departures Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for departure Rodney Howard 0 F 6' 11" 250 5th year Ypsilanti, MI Graduated Brandon Newman 10 G 6' 5" 195 RS Senior Valparaiso, IN Graduate transferred to Oklahoma State Dontaie Allen 11 G/F 6' 6" 210 RS Senior Falmouth, KY Transferred to Wyoming BJ Marable 13 F 6' 9" 230 Senior Knoxville, TN Entered transfer portal
Incoming transfers Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous school Braxton Bayless 0 G 6' 2" 175 Graduate student Ankeny, IA Niagara Blaise Keita 1 F/C 6' 11" 250 RS Senior Bamako, Mali Nebraska Cade Stinnett 10 G 6' 3" 198 Junior Bowling Green, KY Centre College Leeroy Odiahi 21 F/C 6' 11" 218 Senior Tralee, Ireland Old Dominion
Recruiting classes 2024 recruiting class
Roster
Schedule and results
!colspan=12 style=""|Exhibition
!colspan=12 style=""|Non-conference regular season
!colspan=12 style=""|Conference regular season
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Source:
References