2001–02 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team
{{short description|American college basketball season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA team season
|mode=Basketball
|sex=none
|year=2001–02
|team=Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
|image=WKU Hilltoppers wordmark.png
|image_size=150
|conference=Sun Belt Conference
|CoachRank=
|APRank= 19
|division=East Division
|short_conf=Sun Belt
|record=28–4
|conf_record=13–1
|head_coach=Dennis Felton
|asst_coach1= Pete Herrmann
|stadium=E. A. Diddle Arena
|champion=Sun Belt Conference tournament Champion
Sun Belt Conference East Division Champion
NABC Classic Champion
|bowl=NCAA Tournament
|bowl_result = first round
}}
{{2001–02 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball standings}}
The 2001–02 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky University during the 2001–02 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Hilltoppers were led by Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year Dennis Felton and All-American Center Chris Marcus.[https://www.bgdailynews.com/sports/marcus-honored-by-publication/article_5b9cbe31-d1a9-5c9b-921c-a962536e17ee.html Marcus honored by publication, WKU center lands on All-America team, By Justin Willis, Bowling Green Daily News, Aug 3, 2001 retrieved 27 April 2020] The team won the East Division Championship and the Sun Belt Basketball tournament, earning an automatic bid to the 2002 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.[https://sunbeltsports.org/documents/2016/11/18/2016_17_MBB_MG.pdf SBC 2016-17 Basketball Media Guide, retrieved 28 April 2020] One of the highlights of the season was a victory over in-state rival, 4th ranked Kentucky. Marcus missed 17 games this season due to an ankle injury. David Boyden and Derek Robinson were named to the All SBC team. Marcus and Patrick Sparks made the SBC All-Tournament team and Robinson was the tournament MVP.[https://wkusports.com/documents/2019/10/7/2019_20_WKU_Hilltopper_Basketball_Media_Guide.pdf 2019-2020 WKU Basketball Media Guide retrieved 21 April 2020]
Schedule
{{CBB schedule start|time=|rank=|ranklink=2001-02 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings|rankyear=2002}}
|-
!colspan=6| Regular season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 11/15/2001
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Kentucky
| opprank = 4
| site_stadium = Rupp Arena
| site_cityst = Lexington, KY
| gamename = NABC Classic
| attend = 21,104
| score = 64–52
| overtime =
| record = 1–0
}}
|-
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 11/16/2001
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| opponent = George Washington
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Rupp Arena
| site_cityst = Lexington, KY
| gamename = NABC Classic
| attend = 16,193
| score = 73–48
| overtime =
| record = 2–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 11/20/2001
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 21
| opponent = Evansville
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 7,322
| score = 90–64
| overtime =
| record = 3–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 11/24/2001
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 21
| opponent = Murray State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 8,117
| score = 101–77
| overtime =
| record = 4–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 11/27/2001
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 17
| opponent = Creighton
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Omaha Civic Auditorium
| site_cityst = Omaha, NE
| gamename =
| attend = 7,287
| score = 91–94
| overtime =2OT
| record = 4–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/2/2001
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 17
| opponent = Vanderbilt
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Memorial Gymnasium
| site_cityst = Nashville, TN
| gamename = Marcus out with injury
| attend = 12,271
| score = 75–80
| overtime =
| record = 4–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/3/2001
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 25
| opponent = Akron
| opprank =
| site_stadium = James A. Rhodes Arena
| site_cityst = Akron, OH
| gamename =
| attend = 2,524
| score = 78–68
| overtime =
| record = 5–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/8/2001
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 25
| opponent = Austin Peay
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Dunn Center
| site_cityst = Clarksville, TN
| gamename =
| attend = 2,517
| score = 77–75
| overtime =
| record = 6–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/15/2001
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = West Alabama
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 4,658
| score = 103–40
| overtime =
| record = 7–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/19/2001
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Creighton
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 6,267
| score = 95–61
| overtime =
| record = 8–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/22/2001
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Southern Mississippi
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Reed Green Coliseum
| site_cityst = Hattiesburg, MS
| gamename =
| attend = 2,855
| score = 74–50
| overtime =
| record = 9–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/28/2001
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = New Orleans
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Lakefront Arena
| site_cityst = New Orleans, LA
| gamename =
| attend = 2,270
| score = 90–76
| overtime =
| record = 10–2 (1–0)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/30/2001
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = South Alabama
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Mitchell Center
| site_cityst = Mobile, AL
| gamename =
| attend = 1,479
| score = 58–61
| overtime =
| record = 10–3 (1–1)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 1/2/2002
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = FIU
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Ocean Bank Convocation Center
| site_cityst = University Park, FL
| gamename =
| attend = 306
| score = 65–54
| overtime =
| record = 11–3 (2–1)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 1/5/2002
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Austin Peay
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 6,764
| score = 75–73
| overtime =
| record = 12–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 1/10/2002
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Louisiana–Lafayette
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 4,757
| score = 63–62
| overtime =
| record = 13–3 (3–1)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 1/13/2002
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = New Mexico State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 8,178
| score = 83–67
| overtime =
| record = 14–3 (4–1)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 1/16/2002
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Middle Tennessee
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Murphy Center
| site_cityst = Murfreesboro, TN
| gamename =
| attend = 4,116
| score = 55–45
| overtime =
| record = 15–3 (5–1)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 1/19/2002
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Denver
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Magness Arena
| site_cityst = Denver, CO
| gamename =
| attend = 1,741
| score = 86–59
| overtime =
| record = 16–3 (6–1)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 1/24/2002
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Arkansas–Little Rock
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 6,239
| score = 95–85
| overtime =
| record = 17–3 (7–1)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 1/27/2002
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Arkansas State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 5,465
| score = 45–42
| overtime =
| record = 18–3 (8–1)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 1/31/2002
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = FIU
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 6,410
| score = 66–64
| overtime =
| record = 19–3 (9–1)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 2/3/2002
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Morris Brown
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename = Marcus returns
| attend = 4,319
| score = 92–53
| overtime =
| record = 20–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 2/7/2002
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Arkansas–Little Rock
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Alltel Arena
| site_cityst = North Little Rock, AR
| attend = 6,012
| gamename =
| score = 83–79
| overtime =OT
| record = 21–3 (10–1)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 2/9/2002
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Arkansas State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Convocation Center
| site_cityst = Jonesboro, AR
| gamename =
| attend = 6,437
| score = 50–46
| overtime =
| record = 22–3 (11–1)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 2/16/2002
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = North Texas
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 8,192
| score = 100–76
| overtime =
| record = 23–3 (12–1)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 2/19/2002
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 24
| opponent = Kentucky State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 5,051
| score = 100–63
| overtime =
| record = 24–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 2/23/2002
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 24
| opponent = Middle Tennessee
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 8,325
| score = 65–61
| overtime =
| record = 25–3 (13–1)
}}
|-
!colspan=6| 2002 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 3/2/2002
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank = 20
| seed = 1E
| opponent = North Texas
| opprank =
| oppseed = 4W
| site_stadium = Lakefront Arena
| site_cityst = New Orleans, LA
| gamename = Second Round
| attend = 4,943
| score = 82–68
| overtime =
| record = 26–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 3/4/2002
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank = 18
| seed = 1E
| opponent = New Mexico State
| opprank =
| oppseed = 2W
| site_stadium = Lakefront Arena
| site_cityst = New Orleans, LA
| gamename = Semifinals
| attend = 4,052
| score = 73–72
| overtime =
| record = 27–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 3/5/2002
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank = 18
| seed = 1E
| opponent = Louisiana–Lafayette
| opprank =
| oppseed = 1W
| site_stadium = Lakefront Arena
| site_cityst = New Orleans, LA
| gamename = Championship
| attend = 4,203
| score = 76–70
| overtime =
| record = 28–3
}}
|-
!colspan=6| 2002 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 3/14/2002
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank = 19
| seed = 9 MW
| opponent = Stanford
| opprank = 24
| oppseed = 8 MW
| site_stadium = Edward Jones Dome
| site_cityst = St. Louis, MO
| gamename = First Round
| attend = 26,612
| score = 68–84
| overtime =
| record = 28–4
}}
{{CBB schedule end|rank=|poll=AP Poll (M#) during NCAA Tournament is seed with Region }} {{cite web |url=https://wkusports.com/documents/2014/4/24/2001-02.pdf|title= 2001-2002 Men's Basketball Statistics|website= WKU Sports}}
Rankings
{{main|2001–02 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2001-02 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Basketball Team}}
Category:Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball seasons
Western Kentucky Basketball, Men's
Western Kentucky Basketball, Men's
Category:Long stubs with short prose
{{collegebasketball-season-stub}}
{{Kentucky-sport-team-stub}}