Hilltoppers Clash with South Florida in Battle 4 Atlantis Day 2
The WKU Hilltoppers are set to face South Florida in the second day of the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament. This matchup will take place on November 27 at 4:30 p.m. CT, inside the Imperial Arena in Paradise Island, Bahamas. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2.
Game Overview
WKU enters this game with a 4-1 record after a competitive opening match against #23/24 ranked Vanderbilt. In that game, WKU exhibited resilience by overcoming a double-digit deficit, although they ultimately lost 83-78. Teagan Moore shone bright for WKU, scoring a career-high 24 points, with notable contributions from Cam Haffner and Armelo Boone.
Hilltoppers’ Performance Metrics
The Hilltoppers have demonstrated aggressive gameplay this season, earning a national ranking of third in free throw attempts, averaging 34.0 attempts per game. They also maintain an impressive average of 25.0 free throws made per game, successfully hitting over 23 free throws in four out of five games this season. Their significant statistical achievement came against Bethel, where they converted 31 free throws—tying for the highest attempts since December 2018.
Defensive Prowess
- Currently ranked 22nd nationally with 11.0 steals per game.
- Armelo Boone and LJ Hackman are both top five in Conference USA for total steals.
Key Players
- Teagan Moore: Leading scorer with an average of 19.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.
- Armelo Boone: Averages 11.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, with 12 steals so far this season.
- Terrion Murdix: Veteran guard contributing 8.8 points and 4.8 assists per game.
- Grant Newell: Averaging 11.8 points with an impressive shooting percentage at the free-throw line.
Facing South Florida
Thursday’s game marks the 21st encounter between WKU and South Florida. The Hilltoppers lead the all-time series with 12 victories. The last time these teams met was in 1991, where WKU narrowly won 72-71.
Scouting the Opponent
South Florida comes into this matchup with a 3-3 overall record. They suffered a loss against VCU, with a final score of 78-66 in their opening game of the tournament. The Bulls are coached by Bryan Hogdson, in his third season overall, who has a career record of 48-31.
Looking Ahead
WKU’s head coach, Hank Plona, emphasized the need for improvement in various aspects of their game as they prepare for this crucial matchup against South Florida. The team aims to leverage their current form to secure a victory and advance further in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament.
