With rumors abounding about his future as WKU’s head coach, Ken McDonald is keeping his focus on the task at hand.

Next up for him and his 5-10 Toppers is a 7 p.m. battle with Louisiana-Lafayette (7-8, 1-0 Sun Belt Conference) on Thursday, a team that WKU knocked out of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament last season, 81-76.

That came after a three-point loss earlier in the season at Louisiana-Lafayette.

McDonald said he expects the same kind of close game on Thursday.

“They always play us tough,” he said “It’s a good rivalry, ever since I’ve been a part of this program. I think it’s important that our guys understand that it is intense and physical.”

WKU, 1-1 in the Sun Belt, is coming off an 18-point loss at home to Florida International and has now lost four of its last five games.

The only win that came in that stretch was a five-point overtime win at Louisiana-Monroe, a game in which WKU led by as many as 15 in the second half.

Plaguing WKU has been second-half scoring droughts due to not shooting well when the opponent is in a 2-3 zone.

The Toppers went on nearly a seven minute drought against then-No. 4 Louisville to relinquish an eight-point second half lead and eventually fall 70-60. Against ULM, a four-minute scoring drought allowed the Warhawks to climb back in the game and send it to overtime.

McDonald said that’s been a main focal point in practice recently.

“I think it’s a confidence thing, I really do,” he said. “We have good players that are dealing with drought at times. When you miss some shots, human nature is to get down on yourself and we’re just trying to build ourselves up, we really are.

“The only thing that’s gonna cure that is winning and coming together.” 

Senior guard Kahlil McDonald will still be available to help with those offensive efforts, despite suffering a concussion after taking an elbow Saturday against FIU.

He’s been wearing a protective mask since the injury, which he’ll continue to do on Thursday.

On defense, WKU will have to stop an offense that’s averaging 70 points per game — nine more than the Toppers. The Ragin’ Cajuns are also shooting 45 percent from the field as a team, compared to WKU’s 38 percent shooting.

Leading the way for ULL offensively is sophomore guard J.J. Thomas, who’s averaging 10.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.

McDonald is hoping for an all-out defensive effort to stop Thomas and the rest of the Ragin’ Cajuns, who will be look for their first road win of the season.

“They have some new guys, a very athletic front line that are doing some things and scoring for them and rebounding,” McDonald said. “Those are concerns. We’ve got to keep them off the glass. We’ve got to keep them out of the paint. They’ve got good quickness. This will be a great test for our team.”