July 30th marks 100 days until the 2018-19 season tipoff for the 100th season of WKU Hilltopper Basketball, and over the next 100 days, WKU Athletics will treat fans to unique moments and interesting history from Hilltopper Basketball, all leading up to the start of the season in November.
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| DAY 70 (August 29) |
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| The 1956-57 Hilltopper squad finished the year as Ohio Valley Conference champions for the fourth consecutive year with a record of 17-9 overall and 9-1 in conference play. WKU was led by Ralph Crosthwaite (No. 99, back row) in scoring with an average of 20.3 points per game. |
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| DAY 69 (August 30) |
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| After a very successful 23-3 season, the 1966-67 Hilltoppers celebrated with an end-of-season banquet in May. WKU won both the Ohio Valley Conference regular season and tournament titles and was ranked as high as third in the Associated Press poll. The team made it to the NCAA Tournament and lost to Dayton in an overtime thriller, 69-67. |
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| DAY 68 (August 31) |
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| The Health and Physical Education Building, now Helm Library, is one of the few places WKU Basketball has called home. This particular game, shot for the WKU Talisman, was from one of the final seasons to be played in the building before the program relocated to E.A. Diddle Arena in 1963. The center-court circle is still in place inside Helm Library today. |
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| DAY 67 (September 1) |
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| Joe Lightfoot and other Hilltoppers fend off UNC-Charlotte players for a rebound under the basket. WKU defeated UNC-Charlotte at home 104-97 on Feb. 9, 1991. |
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| DAY 66 (September 2) |
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| E.A. Diddle was the inspiration for one of WKU's most famous symbols and long-standing traditions: the red towel. Over the years Diddle became famous throughout the nation for his antics with a red towel that was his constant companion on the bench. Never done as a "show", the towel tossing started as a nervous habit and he used it to signal his players. The towel soared to the rafters of many a gymnasium or was beaten heartily on the floor when the Hilltoppers scored a crucial point in the game. It was also known to cover the veteran coach's face when things were not going well. But just as it is seen here, it could often be found waving high above his head when the Hilltoppers turned up victorious. |
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| DAY 65 (September 3) |
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| In 1971, WKU was led to the NCAA Final Four by legendary Hilltopper Jim McDaniels. The Hilltoppers were ranked as high as fifth in The Associated Press poll during the year and after winning the Ohio Valley Conference title, the team went on successful run in the NCAA Tournament. In the first round, WKU defeated No. 9 Jacksonville 74-72 before barreling through No. 8 Kentucky in the second round, winning 107-83. The Hilltoppers defeated No. 10 Ohio State in overtime 81-78 to reach the Final Four. After a heartbreaking double overtime loss to No. 19 Villanova, WKU bounced back to defeat No. 4 Kansas in the third-place game 77-75. The remarkable victory over the Jayhawks and the celebration that followed is captured in the picture above. |
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| DAY 64 (September 4) |
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| In December 1981, the Hilltoppers traveled to Washington, D.C., to play No. 17 Georgetown in Clem Haskins' second year as head coach. While visiting the Capitol, WKU saw the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. |
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| DAY 63 (September 5) |
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| E.A. Diddle and his 1947-48 squad en route to the NIT at Madison Square Garden in New York City. WKU defeated La Salle in the first round of the tournament, winning 68-61. In the next round, the Hilltoppers fell to St. Louis 60-53. In their final game in MSG, WKU edged out DePaul with a final score of 61-59 to finish third in the tournament. |
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| DAY 62 (September 6) |
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| One year ago, on this day, WKU lost one of its greatest Hilltopper Basketball legends, Jim McDaniels. He is one of five Hilltoppers to ever score 1,000 points and notch 1,000 rebounds. He is also tied with Courtney Lee for the all-time leading scorer position in WKU history. |
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| DAY 61 (September 7) |
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| The 1988-89 Hilltopper squad hoists the WKU Invitational trophy after defeating Drexel 105-81 and Murray State 79-75 in December 1988. |
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