No. 16 Western Kentucky
Western Kentucky is walking a fine line between being a solid mid-major enjoying the success of timely recruiting and becoming a legitimate national contender.
"We don't play for wins and losses. We aspire to play at the highest level and win a National Championship," says coach Dennis Felton.
Pushing them in the right direction was the decision by big man Chris Marcus to return for his senior season. Marcus had yet to come into his own after missing half the season due to a stress fracture and struggled against Stanford's center Curtis Borchardt in the NCAA Tournament. His soft hands and knack for picking up moves and techniques quickly make him one of the best centers in the country. What makes WKU dangerous is Marcus isn’t the only stud on the team.
In fact, forward David Boyden, an all-Sun Belt pick, could make a case for Sun Belt Player of the Year honors as well. Boyden can post up smaller players and take his man away from the basket when Marcus needs room to operate.
The frontcourt will also feature Bulgarian import Todor Pandov, who like Boyden is capable of playing both inside and outside. The backcourt was hurt by the graduation of Derek Robinson, but sophomore Patrick Sparks is coming off of a fantastic debut season in which he set freshman records in assists, steals, and 3-point shots made.
Also back are guards Filip Videnov and Mike Wells. Videnov set a school record by making 10 straight 3-pointers during one stretch. Wells only started two games but played more than 20 minutes per game. Western will sometimes use a three-guard line-up with Boyden and Marcus filling up the paint.
Last Year's Record: (28-4, 13-1)
Postseason Performance: Lost to Stanford 84-68 in the NCAA First Round
Athlon's 2001-02 Preseason Ranking and prediction: No. 27 (NCAA Second Round)
Athlon's 2002-03 Preseason Ranking and prediction: No. 16 (Sweet Sixteen)
Key Returnees:
C Chris Marcus (15.9 ppg, 8.9 rpg)
F David Boyden (11.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg)
G Patrick Sparks (10.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg)
G Mike Wells (8.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg)
F Todor Pandov (8.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg)
Key Losses:
G Derek Robinson (10.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 4.0 apg)
G Raynardo Curry (5.8 ppg, 1.7 spg)
Coach: Dennis Felton
Felton enjoyed a breakthrough season a year ago, his third at Western Kentucky. He was named the District 7 Coach of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
Best Player: Chris Marcus
With a year to fully recover, Marcus is set for a monster season. The Hilltoppers have plenty of talent so Marcus doesn't need to put up 20 points per game, but his defensive presence will be the key to a successful season.
Best Newcomer: Anthony Winchester
Runner-up in the balloting for Indiana’s Mr. Basketball. Averaged 34.7 ppg and 13.5 rebounds as a senior.
The Bottom Line:
With Marcus in the middle and solid players at each position, WKU is in a similar situation to 2002. The Sun Belt title and another trip to the NCAA Tournament is all but a lock. Last season saw WKU receive a rather low seed and a tough match-up considering its record. With a better seed and amore favorable match-up, Western has a shot at the Sweet Sixteen and maybe more.
For a complete look at Athlon's preseason Top 50 poll, visit our college basketball page.
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