USM returns just four players from a team that went 25-9 and went to the NCAA Tournament. Two of them, junior point guard Neil Watson (thigh bruise) and junior guard Cedric Jenkins (arthroscopic knee surgery), are expected to be sidelined.
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Tops ready to test themselves
What better way to see what your team has got right out of the gate?
?I think the ideal situation sometimes is a couple of easier games at home. But why not get tested?? Western Kentucky coach Ray Harper said. ?These guys, I think they?re resilient. I think they?re tough, so let?s get on the road and go play.?
The Hilltoppers begin the 2012-13 season at 7:30 p.m. today in Hattiesburg, Miss., in Reed Green Coliseum on the campus of Southern Mississippi.
The Golden Eagles finished 25-9 and made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament last year, and will be waiting with first-year coach Donnie Tyndall.
?We should have a great crowd,? the former Morehead State coach said. ?We?re expecting 7-8,000 and should be the largest home opener in the history of the program, at least from all indication.?
Harper and his players said they?re well-prepared for the full-court press they expect from USM and 40 minutes of pressure.
?They?re going to press up on the ball, a lot of zone,? Harper said. ?Donnie (Tyndall) does a great job. His guys play extremely hard and they?ve got some guys returning off a basketball team that won 25 games.
?It will be a real test for us. We?ve got to make sure we?re ready to play.?
Western Kentucky is trying to build off an NCAA tournament berth of its own, which it secured after running roughshod through the Sun Belt Conference tournament in March.
Three players have departed from that team. The Tops are still youthful, but have more experience than many.
?I?m looking forward to it,? senior point guard Jamal Crook said. ?As a senior, I can?t wait, especially for our young guys. They get to come back out and just enjoy playing basketball.?
Two exhibition games ? both wins by WKU ? allowed Harper to take notes on his team as he enters his first full year at the helm.
He?s been pleased with the play of what promises to be a deep bench, but concerned over rebounding on both ends of the floor.
Depth could be an issue tonight, said Tyndall, as he complimented that facet of WKU?s game as well.
?First and foremost, they?re going to be well-coached and tough,? he said. ?I know that team will be gritty and physical. They?re so balanced. They got guys coming off the bench that their team doesn?t lose a whole bunch when they go deep in their rotation.
?Balance, depth and can beat you in a lot of different ways ? that?s scary.?
The Hilltoppers are 3-0 all-time against USM, having last played in 2002.
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Tops ready to test themselves
What better way to see what your team has got right out of the gate?
?I think the ideal situation sometimes is a couple of easier games at home. But why not get tested?? Western Kentucky coach Ray Harper said. ?These guys, I think they?re resilient. I think they?re tough, so let?s get on the road and go play.?
The Hilltoppers begin the 2012-13 season at 7:30 p.m. today in Hattiesburg, Miss., in Reed Green Coliseum on the campus of Southern Mississippi.
The Golden Eagles finished 25-9 and made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament last year, and will be waiting with first-year coach Donnie Tyndall.
?We should have a great crowd,? the former Morehead State coach said. ?We?re expecting 7-8,000 and should be the largest home opener in the history of the program, at least from all indication.?
Harper and his players said they?re well-prepared for the full-court press they expect from USM and 40 minutes of pressure.
?They?re going to press up on the ball, a lot of zone,? Harper said. ?Donnie (Tyndall) does a great job. His guys play extremely hard and they?ve got some guys returning off a basketball team that won 25 games.
?It will be a real test for us. We?ve got to make sure we?re ready to play.?
Western Kentucky is trying to build off an NCAA tournament berth of its own, which it secured after running roughshod through the Sun Belt Conference tournament in March.
Three players have departed from that team. The Tops are still youthful, but have more experience than many.
?I?m looking forward to it,? senior point guard Jamal Crook said. ?As a senior, I can?t wait, especially for our young guys. They get to come back out and just enjoy playing basketball.?
Two exhibition games ? both wins by WKU ? allowed Harper to take notes on his team as he enters his first full year at the helm.
He?s been pleased with the play of what promises to be a deep bench, but concerned over rebounding on both ends of the floor.
Depth could be an issue tonight, said Tyndall, as he complimented that facet of WKU?s game as well.
?First and foremost, they?re going to be well-coached and tough,? he said. ?I know that team will be gritty and physical. They?re so balanced. They got guys coming off the bench that their team doesn?t lose a whole bunch when they go deep in their rotation.
?Balance, depth and can beat you in a lot of different ways ? that?s scary.?
The Hilltoppers are 3-0 all-time against USM, having last played in 2002.
