WKU men's basketball dropped two conference games over the weekend after facing Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State on the road. Head coach Hank Plona and his team are looking to rebound from the losses, as the Tops prepare to host Middle Tennessee this Saturday, Feb. 15 in Diddle Arena.
In the team's weekly press conference, Plona emphasized the importance of the role his bigs will play at the rim against the Blue Raiders.
"We need Blaise and Leeroy to continue to be the defensive, physical presence that they've been," Plona said. "They did a great job at neutralizing Nicholson on Jacksonville State on Saturday. I certainly think on the defensive end that Leeroy and Blaise have improved and allowed us to pressure out more on the guards… We need to keep [Middle Tennessee's] guards in check."
After dropping their first meeting with Middle Tennessee, 71-57, earlier this season, the Hilltoppers have a better scout on the Blue Raiders, and a better understanding of what they need to do to win. Plona understands what this rivalry means to his guys and the Hilltopper community, and emphasizes his excitement to play in front of Diddle Arena after a weekend on the road.
"I know it's a great rivalry, and I know everybody at both universities has a special interest in the game, and that's awesome," Plona said. "To me, it will be awesome if we have a great crowd in Diddle and we'll play the best that we can… I think if we can hold [Middle Tennessee] to 32 points or so in both halves, we'll have a good chance to win. Our defense has to maintain through the ups and downs of the game."
The matchup is set for Saturday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. CT in Diddle Arena. The game will be nationally televised live on CBS Sports Network.
Follow the team on social media (@wkubasketball) and visit wkusports.com for the latest news and updates on all things Hilltopper Basketball as the team continues its 2024-25 campaign.
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