Conference Conference USA Assistant coach Chris Cheeks Assistant coach Quannas White | 2016–17 record 13–15 (7–8 C-USA) Assistant coach Shammond Williams | |
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Head coach Rick Stansbury (1st year) | ||
The 2016–17 WKU basketball team represents Western Kentucky University during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Hilltoppers are led by head coach Rick Stansbury in his first season. They play their home games at E. A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, Kentucky and are third-year members of Conference USA.
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Previous season
The Hilltoppers finished the 2015–16 season 18–16, 8–10 in C-USA play to finish in eighth place. They defeated North Texas and UAB to advance to the semifinals of the C-USA Tournament where they lost to Old Dominion. Despite having 18 wins and a better they .500 record, they did not participate in a postseason tournament.
On March 17, 2016, head coach Ray Harper resigned after three players were suspended by a university disciplinary committee. He finished at WKU with a record of 90–62. On March 28, the school hired Rick Stansbury as head coach.
Preseason
The Hilltoppers were picked to finish in third place in the preseason Conference USA poll. Justin Johnson was selected to the preseason All-Conference USA team.