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10-31-2013

UA12/2/1 Basketball Section

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C O D L L L A EG R E HE HEIGHTS October 31, 2013 WKUHerald.com

Alexis Govan: WKU looks to Sun Belt Player replace Jamal of the Year Crook Page 6 Page 9 PAGE 2 OCTOBER 31, 2013 • BASKETBALL SECTION • WKUHERALD.COM

ALL S TB EC COLUMN E T K I S O A N B

C O D L L LE A G ER Expect big things from E H HEIGHTS Key Returners Page 3 both WKU teams this year Ben Lawson: a unique forward Page 4 BY LUCAS AULBACH MVPs, are juniors now and should be set Toppers want third SBC title Page 5 [email protected] to lead a team that lost just one major contributor, Jamal Crook, from a season Alexis Govan: Player of the Year The expectations surrounding the ago. Page 6 men’s and women’s basketball teams this The Sun Belt will be no cakewalk this season could hardly be further from what season, though. Georgia State is laden Lady Toppers have high expectations Page 8 they were a year ago. with impressive transfers, including for- At this point in 2012, the WKU men’s mer University of Kentucky point guard Replacing Jamal Crook Page 9 team was predicted to be the No. 4 team Ryan Harrow. Louisiana-Lafayette has two in the Sun Belt Conference and was with- All-Sun Belt candidates in point guard Elf- Fant and Price anchor Topper lineup out a preseason All-Sun Belt member. The rid Payton and forward Shawn Long, and Page 10 Lady Toppers, meanwhile, were prepar- Harper said Arkansas State and South Ala- ing to follow up a 9-21 season and bama will be a challenge as well. Ruta Savickaite a new post force Page 11 weren’t expected to get out of the Still, last season the Toppers Sun Belt basement. were able to sneak up on teams in One year can make a heck of a the tournament due to a lackluster difference — it’s a known fact that regular season — with WKU win- both teams have the ability to win ning the last two Sun Belt tourna- the Sun Belt Conference in WKU’s ments, the Toppers won’t be sneak- fi nal season in the league. ing up on anyone this year. The men’s team looked like a The Lady Toppers, meanwhile, surprise winner at last year’s Sun Aulbach will have to follow up on a year Belt Conference Tournament, but Sports editor where they snuck up on everyone. anyone following the team could Last year’s success has raised ex- see the Toppers were better than their reg- pectations around the team — WKU was ular season record, which was tainted by a picked to fi nish No. 2 in the Sun Belt this slew of injuries. year and received four of 10 possible fi rst Coach Ray Harper said if his guys stay place votes. healthy this year, this team could be even Coach Michelle Clark-Heard, in her better. second season with the program, said her “We got a glimpse of that a couple team, anchored by two All-American can- weeks ago,” Harper said. “(Junior forward) didates in junior guard Alexis Govan and George Fant missed four days of practice, junior forward Chastity Gooch, is more and we didn’t miss a beat. We were able to focused on improving than winning the move some people around. I don’t know if Sun Belt. that was the case in the last couple of sea- “We are just trying to get better each sons.” and every day,” she said. “We’re excited The Sun Belt might be missing a few fa- about the momentum headed into the miliar faces — I can’t be the only one dis- season and happy with the opportunity to appointed we won’t see a WKU vs. Middle do some great things.” Tennessee game this year — but the Top- Win, lose or draw, the two teams pers have the talent to play with anyone in should provide good competition and the conference. good entertainment for the entire 2013-14 Guard T.J. Price and forward George season. That’s a much better outlook than Fant, the last two Sun Belt tournament the teams had a year ago. OCTOBER 31, 2013 • BASKETBALL SECTION • WKUHERALD.COM PAGE 3 PLAYERS TO WATCH Lady Toppers Toppers Chastity Gooch T.J. Price Junior forward Junior guard

• Ranked No. 3 among NCAA • Led WKU in points-per-game sophomores last season with (15.2), minutes per game (33) 350 rebounds in 31 games. and three-point percentage • Averaged a double-double last (35.8) last season as a sopho- season at 15.7 points and 11.3 more. rebounds per game and record- • Was named the Most Out- ed 26 total double-doubles, a standing Player at the Sun Belt school record and second-most Conference Tournament after in the NCAA. averaging 18 points per game • Named the 2013 Sun Belt Con- while shooting 43.9 percent. ference Defensive Player of the • A preseason All-Sun Belt Year and a member of the pre- Conference fi rst team selec- season Sun Belt Conference fi rst tion. team. PHOTO BY MIKE CLARK/HERALD PHOTO BY IAN MAULE/HERALD

Chaney Means Bianca McGee Alexis Govan George Fant Brandon Harris Aleksej Rostov Senior guard Senior guard Junior guard Junior forward Senior guard Sophomore center

• A full-time starter in • Averaged 12.5 points • No. 3 scoring sopho- • Led WKU in rebounds • One of two players to • Improved from a raw the 2012-13 season for in 24 games for WKU more in the NCAA last per game with a 6.6 av- appear in all 36 games freshman to WKU’s start- the Lady Toppers, av- last season after joining season, averaging 20.3 erage and fi nished sec- for WKU last year, aver- ing center by the end of eraging 4.2 points and the team in December points per game while ond with 12.8 points aging 29.6 minutes per the year last year. 3.3 rebounds per game. as a transfer. posting an additional per game last season. game. • Started in 17 games last • The only senior on the • Led WKU with 32 5.9 rebounds per game. • Averaged 13 points • Averaged 8.2 points, season, averaging 4.9 Lady Topper roster that three-point shots in • Only player to start in and 7.5 rebounds per 5.6 rebounds and 1.9 points and 2.7 rebounds has been at WKU for all 2012 and shot .409 all 31 of WKU’s games game in the Sun Belt assists per game last per game. four years. from the fi eld. last season. Conference Tourna- season. • Harper called Rostov • Voted as a 2013-14 • Voted to the pre- • Voted preseason Sun ment last year. • Harper said he expects the most improved play- Lady Topper captain. season Sun Belt Con- Belt Conference Player • A preseason Sun Belt Harris to be WKU’s er on the WKU roster at ference third team by of the Year by Sun Belt Conference second starting point guard at Media Day. conference coaches. coaches and a member team selection and Most the season-opener on of the preseason Sun Outstanding Player of Nov. 9. Belt Conference fi rst the 2011 Sun Belt Con- team. ference Tournament. PAGE 4 OCTOBER 31, 2013 • BASKETBALL SECTION • WKUHERALD.COM English forward Lawson brings unique skill set to WKU

BY TYLER LASHBROOK [email protected]

Coach Ray Harper was asked at Media Day which newcomer to the basketball team could have the biggest impact right away. “The biggest surprise has been Ben Lawson,” Harper said as he cracked a slight smile. “Bright, bright future.” Lawson, the Toppers’ freshman for- ward from London, England, is a uniquely versatile player that Harper said can be “special.” The 7-foot Englishman would be de- scribed on paper as a “big man,” but his skill set is that of a wing. “I’m not big enough to be a post-up guy at the moment,” said Lawson, who’s generously listed at 210 pounds. “I’ve been working at it. I’ve put on almost 20 pounds since I’ve been here.” Lawson said that junior forward George Fant helped smooth the transition from London to Bowling Green by show- ing him all of the fast food restaurants around town. Those restaurants provide Lawson a place to eat, and in turn gain weight, something that Harper wants to see his freshman forward do. But his thin frame hasn’t held back the deadliest part of his offensive repertoire — his jump shot. That jump shot, combined with his size and his ability to run the fl oor is what Harper thinks can make him “special.” “I’m just excited he’s in a WKU uniform because there’s going to come a day where people are going to look back when he ar- rived and not realize he’s the same play- er,” Harper said. “If he can make the same strides that (sophomore center) Aleksej Rostov made in a year, he’ll be special real soon.” Forward Ben Lawson (14) and center Daouda Soumaoro (33) go after a rebound during the WKU men's basketball team practice on Rostov, a Riga, Latvian native, was stuck Tuesday at Diddle Arena in Bowling Green. MIKE CLARK/HERALD on WKU’s bench until the middle of last year. It took Rostov until Jan. 5 to record ing No. 1 seed Kansas with 11 points in the things from him.” Green since summer. He said the transi- his fi rst 20-plus minute game in a Topper fi rst round of the NCAA Tournament. Lawson averaged 15 points, 11 rebounds tion to the United States was diffi cult at uniform last season. Rostov, a foreigner to America himself, and 4.7 blocks per game on 40-percent fi rst but that everyone on the team has When Rostov got his opportunity to called Lawson a “great kid.” shooting from three-point range in his se- been supportive of him. play, he made the most of it. He went on “He picks up everything extremely nior season at Oaklands College in Hitchin, “These guys have been brilliant, and to start the fi nal nine games of the season, fast. He has a great basketball IQ. He still England. He’s currently a member of the they’ve been another family to me, and playing a major role in WKU’s Sun Belt lacks power, strength in the post, but it’s England 18U National Team. we’ve really come together,” Lawson said. Conference Tournament run and surpris- fi xable,” Rostov said. “So I expect a lot of He has been with the team in Bowling “I feel at home now.” OCTOBER 31, 2013 • BASKETBALL SECTION • WKUHERALD.COM PAGE 5 Toppers beginning quest for third straight Sun Belt title

BY LUCAS AULBACH [email protected]

Two years ago, WKU made a midsea- son coaching change before catching fi re in March and winning the Sun Belt Con- ference Tournament. Last season, the in- jury-plagued Toppers got healthy late and surprised teams en route to their second straight conference title. It won’t matter what happens in the regular season this year — other Sun Belt teams are going to know what the Toppers are capable of in the conference tourna- ment in March. Coach Ray Harper isn’t worried about other teams putting a target on WKU’s back, though. He said he’s seen polls that project the team to fi nish as low as fourth or fi fth. “I don’t think we have a target on our back, I think the people who have a target are usually picked to win the league,” he said. “We’re going to go about our busi- ness on a daily basis to try to get better each day, whether we’re picked fi rst or eighth, and that’s just how we conduct business. I think these guys have been re- ally good about being consistent each day with their work ethic and understanding that we’ve got a long way to go and our goal is to get better every day.” Harper made those comments on Oct. 19, but on Wednesday, the Sun Belt coach- es showed how they felt about the Top- pers by selecting them as the preseason conference favorite. Junior guard T.J. Price Coach Ray Harper keeps an eye on the WKU men's basketball team practice on Tuesday at Diddle Arena. MIKE CLARK/HERALD was voted to the Sun Belt fi rst team, while junior forward George Fant earned a spot on the second team. more forward Nigel Snipes, who redshirt- he responds.” Rostov took over as WKU’s starting cen- Harper may have said he doesn’t think ed last season after injuring his knee in the Snipes said even if he only plays for fi ve ter at the end of the year last season and WKU is the best team in the league, but he offseason, get back on the court with his minutes a game he is ready to help the helped lead the Toppers through the Sun admitted this year’s team has some pieces teammates. team again. Belt Conference Tournament. the Toppers desperately lacked last year. “He gives us that athletic wing that we “Last year I could only contribute with He said he’s not thinking about other The coach said this is one of the most desperately missed last season,” Harper my voice — it hurt, you know?” he said at teams in the league coming for revenge athletic teams he’s coached, with high-fl y- said. “We need for Nigel to be aggressive Media Day. “I mean, I’m just happy with this year. ing junior guard Trency Jackson, a transfer on both ends of the fl oor … He’s a kid whatever I can get.” “I’m not worried about other teams from Texas Tech eligible to join the team who did not play a lot as a freshman, and Harper also said he was pleased with think about us,” Rostov said. “We just have in December, giving WKU new ability on missed all of last season so he doesn’t have the effort of sophomore center Aleksej to focus on what we have to — our goals. the press and on defense. a lot of game experience, but he’ll fi nd Rostov over the summer, calling him the We won a title last year and the year be- He said he is also ready to see sopho- himself on the fl oor early and hopefully most improved player on the roster. fore, so that’s the goal.” PAGE 6 OCTOBER 31, 2013 • BASKETBALL SECTION • WKUHERALD.COM Govan or go home Lady Topper basketball star is motivated by high expectations

BY KYLE WILLIAMS start to lose that smile — it’s get- [email protected] ting real.” Govan grew up a part of a mili- There’s never a dull moment in tary family where everyone shared the life of junior Lady Topper bas- one common discipline — the ketball star Alexis Govan, mainly game of basketball. Both her par- because she doesn’t allow there to ents work in the Air Force, and she be. She’s always smiling. even draws comparisons to her The jovial 5-foot-10-inch guard mother, Stella, who played at the and All-American candidate may college level. fool you with her happy-go-lucky “Everybody in my family played off the court mentality, but her basketball,” Govan said. “My mom demeanor when she steps on the played collegiately for a while. hardwood is all but nice. My dad played, my brother, and The San Antonio native aver- they’ve always pushed me to be aged 20.3 points and 5.9 rebounds better than them…they compare per game last year while shoot- me to my mom a lot. She was big ing 46 percent from the fi eld in time when she played.” her second season in the red and Former John Paul Stevens High white. Govan was the third-highest School girl’s basketball coach scoring sophomore in the NCAA Chris Koford, who coached Govan and was named a member of the for three years, said her basketball 2013 Sun Belt All-Conference First knowledge stems from her family’s Team. She also became the fourth sound understanding of the game. player in WKU history to record a “It comes from her family back- minimum of 40 points in a single ground,” Koford said. “She has a game in an 82-80 victory for the great big brother that was really Lady Toppers on Dec. 29, 2012 the same way, just tenacious after against North Texas. the sport. Her parents are strong Compiling a resume like that in people that supported her 100 just her sophomore season is un- percent but didn’t let her get away usual. with anything.” The 20-year-old guard said she Govan was forced to use that was always taught to keep a smile basketball knowledge at an early on her face, but when the grin dis- stage in her high school basketball appeared, she meant business. career. According to Koford, Gov- “One thing my parents always an’s fi rst varsity run came as a fi rst- taught me was to always smile year player in a high-stakes playoff when I play,” Govan said. “Like, I game after the rotation players got know how everybody always talks into early foul trouble. Junior guard Alexis Govan drives to the basket during Tuesday night's exhibition game against Kentucky about how I’m always smiling. “She was very competitive,” Wesleyan. The Lady Toppers won 87-49. MIKE CLARK/HERALD That’s what gets me going. Once I Koford said. “…Her fi rst varsity OCTOBER 31, 2013 • BASKETBALL SECTION • WKUHERALD.COM PAGE 7

experience came in a playoff game on I shot the ball,” Govan said. “…But a lot of Quick Stats from 2012 van said. “It just gets us more attention, the road in a very intense environment… that is development. My sophomore sum- and that’s what we’re trying to do is to get She came in and really surprised us how mer, I was in the gym all night every night. games people to realize Western is here and we’re hard she played. She was playing against I stayed here all summer.” 31 climbing the ladder and we’re coming.” seniors and she was a freshman…from Although Govan is all smiles in regard started Govan and Gooch are coming off spec- there it started. She had a great sopho- to her current situation on the Hill, there tacular sophomore seasons in which they more year, she had a better junior year was a time when she didn’t know if she combined for 36.5 points and 17.2 re- and I think she had an even better senior would ever play for WKU because of to minutes bounds per game. year. She just kept progressing.” holdups in the recruiting process. 33.8 Heard said the dynamic duo was more Govan said the opportunity Koford According to Govan and current John per game than impressive last season, but their next gave her to play in an intense situation as Paul Stevens High School girl’s basketball goal is to continue that development. a freshman prepared her for dramatic on- coach Annissa Hastings, Boston College “The numbers that they put up last court scenarios in the future. attempted to get in touch with Govan on total year were incredible,” Heard said. “I think “That was one of the things that taught the fi rst day of the contact period of her 623 points the next step for them is the challenge for me, that if I get thrown into a situation, I senior season, but failed. By the time Go- them to keep getting better.” have to fl y with it,” Govan said. “…I think van got back in touch with Boston Col- Govan has some lofty goals for the fu- it taught me a lot about pressure situa- lege, its interest was already invested in points ture, but playing at the next level doesn’t tions — you just have to go with the fl ow.” another prospect. seem to be one of them. Govan went with the fl ow in last sea- Govan said she was then under the 20.1 per game Although Govan fi nished last season son’s Women’s National Invitational Tour- impression that all schools had stopped No. 15 in the nation in scoring and is the nament opener against East Carolina. She recruiting her, but she had forgotten that fourth highest scoring Lady Topper in tallied 25 points, 11 rebounds and three the Lady Toppers showed interest late in program history, but she said she doesn’t assists, including a game-tying three- her junior year. She said she called WKU total think she’s fully prepared for the Women’s point shot at the end of regulation to force and the rest is history. 183 rebounds National Basketball Association. overtime. The Lady Toppers went on to “We had this big phone dilemma where “I like to dream big,” Govan said. “But I win by 11 and capture their fi rst postsea- calls weren’t coming in from coaches,” think that’s really far out there for me…my son win since 2007. Govan said. “So I thought everybody just coaches talk to me about it all the time, WKU coach Michelle Clark-Heard said had stopped recruiting me. rebounds but I think, as a junior and where I’m at in a press conference following the WNIT “I feel like obviously it didn’t work out 5.9 per game now, I’m not ready. As time goes on and win over ECU that Govan will always go with Boston College for a reason because I the more I work, maybe my mindset will the extra mile to accomplish a goal she think I was meant to be at Western.” change.” sets for herself. Govan said that Hastings, who aided total Her mindset may not revolve around “You all watched Alexis all season,” Govan during the recruiting process, in- 53 steals the WNBA, but Govan said she still may Heard said. “She’s a competitor, and she fl uenced her to call WKU, which was the pursue a career pertaining to the sport wants to win…She wants to win so bad fi rst school to show interest in her. she grew up with. Govan said she would that she’ll do whatever it takes.” Hastings said she’s happy that Govan is likely follow in the footsteps of her cur- Don’t let the smile fool you — Govan is thriving as a Lady Topper and that it came fi eld goal rent coach and look into taking a seat on a competitor. as no surprise to her because she did all .467 pct. the bench alongside her former mentor, The cheerful sharpshooter averaged that she asked of her. coach Hastings. just 6.5 points and 2.9 rebounds per game “She did whatever you told her to “I talk to coach Hastings about it all the on 37-percent shooting from the fi eld and do,” Hastings said. “And if you told her time,” Govan said. “If I fi nish my career 14-percent shooting from three-point ter- she couldn’t do something, she wanted 3-pt. fi eld here, I want to go back and coach with her ritory in 30 games as a freshman. to prove you wrong. Western Kentucky .426 and help her. She helped me so much that Govan, who will be the top scorer called and it happened. It’s just a great goal pct. I want to do what she’s done to help me among returning players in the Sun Belt situation for her and I’m glad that she’s ex- become a better player for other people Conference this season, improved in ev- celling there.” and do it alongside her.” ery major statistical category from her Govan has already been tabbed Sun free throw With the season nearing, Govan said freshman to her sophomore year, includ- Belt Conference Preseason Player of the .797 she’s ready to put the smile away and ing an increase of 13.8 points per game Year and is a preseason First Team All- pct. show the world what she’s capable of as and a strong increase of 28 percentage Conference selection along with junior a means of thanking the people that have points from long range. She also rebound- forward Chastity Gooch. guided her thus far. ed the ball at a higher rate and improved Heard said Govan earned the pre- “It’s just everybody around me. Every- on the defensive side of the court. season respect because of her constant separated herself from the pack as an elite body else has such high expectations and The Lady Topper guard said she credits improvement on what was already an player nationally." wants me to be so good — and I want my- her coaches for her improvement. outstanding sophomore season. Govan, who also received preseason self to be good, but I don’t think I dream “I think that’s what’s made me the “She was really deserving of this honor honors from College Sports Madness, said as big as the people around me, and that player that I am —having coaches that after the season she had last year,” Heard that the recognition should help boost the pushes me because I don’t want to let any- believe in me," Govan said. “A lot of it is said. “…The improvement she has made whole team. body down.” confi dence they instilled in me every time in her game is impressive, and she has “That’s great for the program,” Go- PAGE 8 OCTOBER 31, 2013 • BASKETBALL SECTION • WKUHERALD.COM Lady Toppers not sneaking up on anyone this season

Download BY KYLE WILLIAMS tall, will bring much-needed size to the [email protected] post for the Lady Toppers. Junior forward Chastity Gooch was the tallest Lady Top- the new Following a 22-11 season and a berth in per last season at just six foot. the Women’s National Invitational Tour- Junior guard Alexis Govan said the WKUHERALD nament, the WKU Lady Topper basketball added depth should do wonders for the team enters its season with many lofty ex- Lady Toppers in terms of balanced play- pectations. ing time. app on Coach Michelle Clark-Heard said that “It does a lot for us,” Govan said. “It the promising upcoming season should gives people a chance now to really be ef- put the Lady Toppers, who were picked to fi cient when they’re on the court and go fi nish second in the Sun Belt Conference as hard as they can go because they know iTunes and by league coaches, in prime position to there’s going to be someone coming in improve. and doing the same thing.” “Expectations will come, and that’s Govan, Gooch and McGee were all hon- what it’s about,” Heard said. “As a student- ored as some of the top players in the Sun Google Play athlete and as a coach, that’s what you Belt by the league’s coaches. Govan was want. You want to have the expectations selected as the Sun Belt Conference Pre- of wanting to put ourselves in a position season Player of the Year and a fi rst-team where we can get better.” All-Conference selection, while Gooch WKU returns all fi ve starters from last and McGee received fi rst- and third-team year’s team, which recorded the largest selections, respectively. single-season improvement in Sun Belt Govan, who averaged 20.3 points per history after winning 13 more games in game last season and will be the returning 2012 than in 2011. leading scorer in the Sun Belt this season, However, senior guard Bianca McGee was also chosen by the team as a captain said the Lady Toppers can’t dwell on the alongside senior guard Chaney Means. past, but rather work toward replicating it. Means said the team is anxious for the “What we did last year is last year,” Mc- start of the season and they want to build Gee said. “We have to come this year and on what they accomplished last year. be ready to play. Of course people are go- “We have a great group of girls,” Means ing to look at us a little bit differently this said. “We’re just really looking forward to year…but we can’t focus on what we did this year. last year. We have to do it this year.” “We had a great fi rst year under coach Although WKU has familiar faces re- Heard. We’re just looking to build from turning this season, the Lady Toppers wel- that. It’s my senior year and the last year comed six newcomers to the team that in the Sun Belt, so I’m just really looking should fi ll voids on both ends of the court. forward to it.” Freshman center Ruta Savickaite, who The Lady Toppers open up the regular stands 6 foot 4 inches tall, and freshman season on Nov. 9 against Austin Peay in forward Bria Gaines, who is 6 foot 3 inches Diddle Arena at 2 p.m. WKUHERALD.com OCTOBER 31, 2013 • BASKETBALL SECTION • WKUHERALD.COM PAGE 9 Point taken Harper looks to replace Crook at point guard

BY TYLER LASHBROOK Junior Trency Jackson, a transfer from Texas [email protected] Tech, and redshirt freshman Chris Harrison- Docks, a transfer from Butler, have both “been Filling a void left by a graduating senior is terrifi c,” according to Harper. a diffi cult transition for college basketball pro- Fans got a chance to see a glimpse of both grams from year to year. transfer guards at Hilltopper Hysteria. Jackson WKU will face that problem in replacing Ja- stole the show, nailing fi ve three-pointers and mal Crook, who averaged 12 points and four showcasing his athleticism with high-fl ying assists a game as point guard in his senior sea- dunks. son last year. Harper called Jackson a “game-changer” But Coach Ray Harper will have a handful who can help the team win games with his de- of options to fi ll that hole. fensive intensity. Senior guard Brandon Harris is most likely He said Jackson is the type of guy who can to take over as starting point guard at start the defend the other team’s best player. season, Harper said at Media Day. Jackson said he looks forward to the chal- Harris appeared in all 36 games last season lenge of guarding the other team’s best player. and was fourth in the team in scoring at 8.2 He said that he expects to have a “breakout points per game. year.” Junior Kevin Kaspar, from Istanbul, and “It’s going to be a breakout year for every- freshman Payton Hulsey, from Memphis, are one because we’re going to win,” Jackson said. also candidates for the opening point guard “And that’s the name of the game — get as spot. many wins as you can.” Kaspar has played in 53 games, starting 15 Harper called Harrison-Docks a guy who is of those competitions, in two years. “capable of putting up big numbers.” A freshman, Hulsey is a little less known He said that both of the transfers have around the Hill, but he’s a guy that Topper fans worked extremely hard. should get to know. “We won’t be afraid to play them 30 min- As a high school senior, Hulsey led his team utes or 20 minutes or 10 minutes — kind of to the 2013 Tennessee Class AAA state champi- what they’ve earned up that point,” Harper onship, fi nishing the title game with 14 points, said. “But if we feel like they’re going to help us 10 assists and nine rebounds. win that particular game, and it’s going to be Harper said that he expects the freshman playing 25 or 30 minutes, that’s what we’ll do. guard to play immediately. “We’re excited about what they’re going to “He can defend multiple positions, which I bring to this basketball team come the middle really like,” Harper said. “He can play the one. of December.” He can play the two. He can play the three. [He There are no days off in the competition for has a] very good basketball IQ which is huge playing time in the backcourt, and that’s an with how we like to play. He understands of- advantage for Harper and his staff. He said his fensively and defensively where he needs to be, guys will “have to work every single day.” so he’s stood out to me on several occasions.” “You earn everything you get, and we’re go- Harper’s only caveat with starting Hulsey as ing to put the guys out there that we feel give a freshman is that the coach isn’t sure whether us the opportunity to win that given night,” or not he wants to “throw him in the fi re quite Harper said. “We’re going to have a lot of guys yet.” who can play, and that’s a lot better than the Aside from Harris, Kaspar and Hulsey, alternative.” Harper has two more options to start at point Replacing the production that Crook gave guard, but they won’t be available until after the Toppers last season won’t be easy, but hav- Junior guard Trency Jackson dunks the ball during the WKU men's basketball the fi rst semester, per NCAA rules. ing options should help to lighten the load. team practice on Tuesday at Diddle Arena. MIKE CLARK/HERALD PAGE 10 OCTOBER 31, 2013 • BASKETBALL SECTION • WKUHERALD.COM Price, Fant look to capitalize off experience in junior season

BY TYLER LASHBROOK [email protected]

On the surface WKU looks very differ- ent with seven players entering their fi rst season with the Toppers, but don’t be mis- taken — its two best players are entering their third year on the Hill. Junior guard T.J. Price and junior for- ward George Fant have won the past two Sun Belt Conference Tournament MVP awards and are taking more of a leader- ship role both on the court and in the Top- pers’ locker room. “I’m being more vocal,” Price said. “I’m not trying to do nothing spectacular. I just want to do whatever it takes to win. That’s all I really want to do. I just want to win.” Price has won a lot in his fi rst two years at WKU, and last year he led the Toppers in scoring and minutes, averaging 15.2 points in 33 minutes per game. Coach Ray Harper said the challenge for Price now is to “take that next step.” He said that there’s a noticeable difference between Price this year and in his fi rst two seasons. “We were running some sprints the other day and there was a time when T.J. would have fi nished in the middle of the pack or the back,” Harper said. “He doesn’t do that anymore. He tries to win every sprint.” Harper said Price is more explosive than he’s ever been and that he’s in great condition. Harper said that he’s also been im- pressed with the work that Fant has put in the offseason. Last season against Kansas in the NCAA Junior forward George Fant (44) during the WKU men's basketball team practice Tuesday at Diddle Arena in Bowling Green. Tournament, Fant surprised fans by bring- MIKE CLARK/HERALD ing the ball up the court, acting as a point guard for different sets in the game. change strategies. Fant would bring the Fant planted around the basket. ers and fi ghts on the glass for rebounds. Harper thought Jayhawk rim-protect- ball up to keep Withey out of the paint. “To say George will never be on the pe- At 6-foot-6-inches he isn’t the tallest big ing savant Jeff Withey, who was No. 3 in Withey was still able to control the inte- rimeter, that’s probably not true,” Harper man on the team, but he’s effi cient around the nation in blocks at 3.8 per game, would rior but what last season’s NCAA Tourna- said. “But we’re going to try to get him as the rim, shooting 48.2 percent from the guard freshman center Aleksej Rostov. In- ment game showed was Fant’s versatility close to that basket as often as possible fi eld in his sophomore season. stead the Kansas big man guarded Fant. and ability to learn on the fl y. He may not and let him do his work.” Harper said he hopes Fant and Price Rostov, who likes to work around the have been comfortable bringing the ball Fant, who has started in 59 of 66 games will continue their reign over the Sun Belt. perimeter, would have been able to draw up, but he did anyway, and turned the ball he’s played in at WKU, is a workhorse “I’d like to see one of them win the MVP Withey away from the basket, so when over just twice in 24 minutes. down on the low block. He’s a wide-bod- of this year’s conference tournament,” Withey guarded Fant, Harper decided to This year, Harper said he plans to keep ied forward who powers through defend- Harper said. “That would be nice.” OCTOBER 31, 2013 • BASKETBALL SECTION • WKUHERALD.COM PAGE 11 Savickaite brings presence to Lady Topper post

BY KYLE WILLIAMS National Championships. “We’re very fortunate that we [email protected] However, she wasn’t reluctant had a chance to get Ruta,” Heard in regards to showing love for her said. “She’s a typical interna- The WKU Lady Topper bas- new home of Bowling Green. tional player — she loves to face ketball team, coming off a 22- “I love it,” Savickaite said. “I up, and she loves to shoot the win season and a berth in the love the teams, I love the coach- basketball…I think the sky is the Women’s National Invitational es, the staff — everything. I’m in limit for her.” Tournament, returns all fi ve love with this school.” Heard said she’s been im- starters from last year to go along Savickaite came overseas in pressed with Savickaite’s attitude. with seven new faces this season. January of 2012 and attended “The greatest thing about One of those unfamiliar faces, Hamilton Heights Christian Ruta is she wants to be good,” freshman center Ruta Savickaite, Academy in Chattanooga, Tenn. Heard said. “She comes in each won’t just be representing WKU It took time for her to adjust to and every day and asks ques- by gearing up in the red and the American style of play, but tions and wants to get better. white. in her fi nal nine high school That’s one of the things you love Savickaite, who was born and games, she logged 7.2 points, as a coach.” raised in Vinius, Lithuania, said 5.9 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and an It didn’t take long for the on Media Day that she was ex- impressive 2.1 steals per game at 18-year-old sports management cited to represent not only WKU the center position. major to turn heads at Hilltop- but Lithuania as well. Coach Michelle Clark-Heard per Hysteria, the annual event to The 6-foot-4-inch center has said the Lady Toppers are lucky kick off basketball season. Sav- represented her home country of to have Savickaite and that she’s ickaite recorded the fi rst seven Lithuania in the 2011 Under-16 a joy to coach because of her will points for the white team and to- and 2012 Under-18 European to improve. taled eight during the 20-minute scrimmage. Savickaite said playing in front of the Lady Topper faithful was an energizing ex- perience, and she needs to bring that en- ergy when she suits up for the Lady Toppers this season. “I just did Freshman center Ruta Savickaite, of Vinius, Lithuania, waves her jer- what I could,” sey as she is introduced at Hilltopper Hysteria on Saturday, Oct. 19. Savickaite said. IAN MAULE/HERALD “…We just had fun that night. is to help the team as much as aite and 6-foot-3-inch freshman I was hyped I can in the post…our goals as forward Bria Gaines. Junior for- because it was post players is to bring energy to ward Chastity Gooch, who is just the fi rst time the post and rebound, block and six-feet tall, was the tallest Lady for myself to be score.” Topper last season. in front of that The Lady Toppers will ben- WKU opens its season in Did- big crowd. efi t from the added height to this dle Arena on Nov. 9 against Aus- “My goal year’s team in the form of Savick- tin Peay. WKUHERALD.com PAGE 12 OCTOBER 31, 2013 • BASKETBALL SECTION • WKUHERALD.COM

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