WKU mens basketball is looking to build off its huge Wednesday night win against Louisiana Tech on Saturday, as they travel to take on the Jacksonville State Gamecocks.
WKU is coming off arguably its biggest win of the year against the top of the conference Bulldogs. For the Hilltoppers, however, the main concern is to stay focused on the Saturday afternoon contest with the Gamecocks.
“The biggest thing is, you win a good road game, you beat the first place team in the league. Now you’ve gotta make sure you don’t have the human nature effect kick in and have a letdown at Jacksonville State.” Head coach Steve Lutz said.
Saturday’s matchup will be the second time the Hilltoppers and Gamecocks face-off this season. WKU picked up an 11 point home win against the Gamecocks on Jan 13.
“They gave us a run for our money at our place.” Lutz said. “We were down eight, first half, and had to play extremely well in the second half to beat them.”
Graduate student Kyky Tandy has been the man to watch for the Gamecocks. Tandy, a native of Hopkinsville, Ky, is averaging 18.6 points per game, which leads Conference-USA, while shooting 44% from the field and 39% from three. Tandy’s 39% from behind the arc ranks 43rd in all of Division I Basketball.
Defense has been the strength of the Gamecocks so far this season. JSU is allowing 64.8 points per game which ranks third in C-USA.
Offensively, the Gamecocks have not been as strong. JSU is averaging 70.9 points per game which falls at seventh in C-USA. Their assist/turnover ratio of 0.83 sits second to last in the conference, just ahead of Middle Tennessee State.
Junior guard Don Mchenry has been excellent for the Hilltoppers this season. Mchenry is averaging 15.6 points per game which is third in all of C-USA. The guard is coming off a solid 20 point, six rebound outing at Louisiana Tech.
As a team, WKU has been the best scoring offense in C-USA this season, averaging 80.7 points a game. Defensively, WKU has been poor, allowing 74.9 points a game which is second most in C-USA.
Tip for the Hilltoppers and Gamecocks is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT. and can be watched on ESPN+.
