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READYWESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY IS TO WIN Rick Stansbury looking to lead WKU to victory in first season on the Hill 3 Graduate transfer trio part of Tops’ new backcourt 4 Junior Brown key to Lady Tops’ plans 5 Seniors Noble, Johnson help lead WKU back to top 8 Talented Wildcats have title hopes 9 Cards aim for postseason return BGDAILYNEWS.COM NOVEMBER 11, 2016 Basketball 2 Friday, November 11, 2016 Daily News, Bowling Green, Kentucky WESTERN KENTUCKY MEN’S BASKETBALL 2016-17 Stansbury: ‘I’m too old to rebuild’ By BRAD STEPHENS [email protected] Rick Stansbury has repeated a series of statements ever since tak- ing the Western Kentucky coach- ing job in late March. Stansbury’s preached about how his program will be built around defense and rebounding. He’s talk- ed about how “it’ll take all of us” to get Hilltopper basketball back on the map, and how fans need to get their tickets now, because one day they’ll all be sold out. He’s said he wants to compete against the best of the best, whether that’s in recruiting or scheduling. But Stansbury’s most oft-used mantra may be one he repeated last month during a speech to the Bowling Green Noon Rotary Club. Stansbury told that crowd, as he’s told the media numerous times since taking the job, that he doesn’t want the 2016-17 WKU basketball season considered part of a rebuild. He instead wants to win right out of the gates. “I’m too old to rebuild,” Stansbury said. “I didn’t come here to rebuild. I’m too old for it. My goals are the same every year, and that’s to try to win champion- ships.” Stansbury’s vision for champi- onships in his first year certainly BAC TOTRONG/[email protected] raised eyebrows when he took the WESTERN KENTUCKY men’s basketball coach rick stansbury talks to players saturday during the Hilltoppers’ exhibition win over Kentucky Wesleyan at job after the last two years spent as E.A. Diddle Arena. a Texas A&M assistant. for their senior seasons. led the Hilltoppers in both scoring 25. Other nonconference games of Bearden, a transfer from Buffalo, The Battletown native came “I went from having no guards and rebounding one season ago. note for WKU include Nov. 19 at is also set to take the floor for the to his home state in March and to having probably the most expe- Lawson and Waters were both role Belmont and Dec. 3 at Missouri Toppers next season after sitting inherited a roster that, at the time, rienced backcourt in the country, players in Harper’s final season. and a Nov. 25 matchup with out this one due to NCAA transfer included seven returning scholar- probably, with three fifth-year “Here I am trying to put a Washington at a tournament in Las rules. ship players. guys,” Stansbury said. team together with basically one Vegas. But Stansbury doesn’t want the WKU was supposed to have Stansbury added four fresh- player back and that’s Johnson,” Then it’ll be on to Conference 2016-17 season to be a bridge to three returning guards in Fredrick men – Tobias Howard, Marty Stansbury said. “... Anton and Big USA play for the Tops, who future years. He’s set a goal of win- Edmond, Marlon Hunter and Chris Leahy, Damari Parris and Marko Ben were the only other guys who were picked third in the league’s ning now. McNeal. But all three were sus- Stajkovski – to that backcourt. have played.” preseason poll behind top pick “If anyone had an opportunity pended indefinitely March 17 – the Those seven guards join with a Carmichael and McGhee are UAB and second choice Middle to come in here and say, ‘Hey, it’s same night the school announced frontcourt made up of returning both set to play for the first time Tennessee. going to take us two or three years former coach Ray Harper’s resig- players Willie Carmichael, Justin in WKU uniforms after transfer- A mix-and-match roster of to get this thing back,’ I had that nation – and left the school over Johnson, Ben Lawson, Jabari ring last season from Tennessee. incoming veterans, incoming rook- opportunity to do it,” Stansbury the following weeks. McGhee and Anton Waters. Carmichael is eligible right away, ies, returners with experience and said. “Again, that’s not who I am, Stansbury went about rebuild- The other two scholarship for- while McGhee must wait until after returners with no experience will that’s not what I believe in and ing his backcourt with graduate wards from last season that had eli- the fall semester ends before he take on that slate for WKU. that’s not what you all want to transfers. He recruited Washington gibility remaining, Phabian Glasco can play in a game for the Toppers. The future looks bright for the hear. ... State’s Que Johnson, Providence’s and Nathan Smith, are both “medi- Those Hilltoppers will have a program, with Stansbury and his “Well I’m telling you, we have a Junior Lomomba and Hartford’s cally exempt” from participating road-heavy nonconference sched- staff having secured commitments fighter’s chance now.” Pancake Thomas to join his pro- with the program this year and ule highlighted by a Dec. 14 date from highly touted Class of 2017 — Follow sports reporter Brad gram after they all announced they aren’t on the Hilltopper roster. at Saint Mary’s, which was ranked players. Stephens on Twitter @BradBGDN were leaving their former schools Justin Johnson, now a junior, No. 17 in the preseason AP Top Talented point guard Lamonte or visit bgdailynews.com. Goodood LuL u cckk Good L u ck TTh Thhiisiss SSeSeeaasassonoonn HiHHiillllllttotoopppepppeerrsrss & & LaLL aadyddyy TToToopppepppeerrsrss!! Now th ro ugh Su nday Veteran’s Day Sale Closing ou t on ALL 2016 Models! Now your moto rized Headqu arters! DUNLAP R.V. CENTER 321 Corvette Drive, Bowling Green, KY 42101 270-904-1456 • www.dunlaprvcenter.com Hours: Mon-Sat, 8-5 • Sun, 12-4 D UNLAP , T N R INGGOLD , G A L EBANON , T N K NOXVILLE , T N 423-949-7007 706-965-3311 615-444-6161 865-233-4010 Basketball Daily News, Bowling Green, Kentucky Friday, November 11, 2016 3 WESTERN KENTUCKY MEN’S BASKETBALL 2016-17 Grad transfers join forces in Toppers’ backcourt Johnson, Lomomba, Thomas headline program’s all-new guard rotation By BRAD STEPHENS [email protected] Three Western Kentucky players are in a unique posi- tion this year. In one respect, Que Johnson, Junior Lomomba and Pancake Thomas are the new faces at WKU. They’ve all joined the pro- gram in recent months and have yet to play their first regular-season games for the Hilltoppers. On the other hand, those three guards have been asked to be some of the main leaders for a WKU team that returns only three players who saw game action last year for the Toppers. Johnson, Lomomba and Thomas would each be addi- tional pieces to most teams. But on this one, they’re help- ing form the foundation. “We all sacrificed some- thing by coming here for our fifth year,” Lomomba said. “We came with a common goal of winning. I think that brought us closer and that helps us bond even better.” Johnson, Lomomba and Thomas all transferred to MIRANDA PEDERSON/[email protected] WKU from Washington PANCAKE THOMAS (from left), Junior Lomomba and Que Johnson sit Oct. 25 at E.A. Diddle Arena. Johnson, Lomomba and State, Providence and Thomas all transferred to WKU from Washington State, Providence and Hartford, respectively. As graduate students, the three are Hartford, respectively. As eligible to play right away rather than sitting out the NCAA-mandated season required of regular transfers. graduate students, the three are eligible to play right Johnson was a produc- career spent playing on the pound guard then visited a Thomas made a splash in away rather than sitting out tive player on a Cougars wing, he wanted to switch to handful of other programs the 103-97 victory Saturday the NCAA-mandated season team that stumbled to a 9-22 point guard, and Stansbury before coming back around against KWC, hitting a falla- required of regular transfers. record. He left the Pacific and WKU offered him that and committing to the way, buzzer-beating 3-point- That rule has proved a 12 Conference school in opportunity. Hilltoppers. er to send the game to dou- Having so many new blessing this season for Pullman, Wash., looking for “Obviously, I want to “I was looking for some- ble overtime. players carry so much of the WKU and new coach a “fresh start” in his senior make it to the pros,” the where where I could come He, Johnson and load for their new team is a Rick Stansbury. He inher- season. 6-5, 205-pound Lomomba in and play my game but Lomomba combined to unique situation, but Thomas ited a roster that included Stansbury was a primary said. “For me personally, in also have a shot at making it score 67 points that night, said he and his fellow grad zero scholarship guards reason Johnson chose WKU order to make it to the pros I to the NCAA Tournament,” saving the Tops from an transfers are embracing the who returned from former as his senior-year destina- would have to change some- the Baton Rouge, La., native exhibition defeat against the challenge. coach Ray Harper’s final tion, he said.

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