2002–03 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team
{{short description|American college basketball season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
|sport=Basketball
|sex=none
|year=2002–03
|team=Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
|image=WKU Hilltoppers wordmark.png
|image_size=150
|conference=Sun Belt Conference
|division=East Division
|short_conf=Sun Belt
|CoachRank=
|APRank=
|record=24–9
|conf_record=12–2
|head_coach=Dennis Felton
|asst_coach1= Pete Herrmann
|stadium=E. A. Diddle Arena
|champion= SBC Tournament Champion
SBC East Division Champion
|tourney=NCAA Tournament
|tourney_result = first round
}}
{{2002–03 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball standings}}
The 2002–03 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky University during the 2002–03 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Hilltoppers were led by head coach Dennis Felton and All Sun Belt Conference forward, David Boyden.[https://sunbeltsports.org/documents/2016/11/18/2016_17_MBB_MG.pdf SBC 2016-17 Basketball Media Guide, retrieved 28 April 2020] They finished 1st in the SBC East Division and won the conference tournament and automatic bid to the 2003 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.[https://www.bgdailynews.com/hilltoppers-three-peat/article_214fc9ca-ee8b-563d-aea3-8e17cdcfd022.html Hilltoppers three-peat!, By the Daily News Online, Mar 12, 2003, retrieved 29 April 2020] Joining Boyden on the All SBC team was Mike Wells and Patrick Sparks, as well as SBC Freshman of the Year, Anthony Winchester. Boyden and Wells also made the SBC All-Tournament team and Sparks was tournament MVP.[https://wkusports.com/documents/2019/10/7/2019_20_WKU_Hilltopper_Basketball_Media_Guide.pdf WKU Basketball Media Guide retrieved 21 April 2020]
Schedule
{{CBB schedule start|time=|rank=|ranklink=2002-03 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings|rankyear=2002}}
|-
!colspan=6 style={{NCAA color cell|Western Kentucky Hilltoppers}}| Regular season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 11/23/2002
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 19
| opponent = Arizona
| opprank = 1
| site_stadium = McKale Center
| site_cityst = Tucson, AZ
| gamename =
| attend = 14,584
| score = 68–107
| overtime =
| record = 0–1
}}
|-
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 11/26/2002
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = VCU
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 5,131
| score = 80–73
| overtime =OT
| record = 1–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/1/2002
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| opponent = Auburn
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Gaylord Entertainment Center
| site_cityst = Nashville, TN
| gamename =
| attend = 6,589
| score = 89–70
| overtime =
| record = 2–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/3/2002
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Evansville
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Roberts Municipal Stadium
| site_cityst = Evansville, IN
| gamename =
| attend = 6,900
| score = 76–81
| overtime =OT
| record = 2–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/7/2002
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Murray State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = CFSB Center
| site_cityst = Murray, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 7,288
| score = 72–83
| overtime =
| record = 2–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/15/2002
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Illinois State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 5,130
| score = 63–43
| overtime =
| record = 3–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/18/2002
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Southern Mississippi
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 4,270
| score = 64–54
| overtime =
| record = 4–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/20/2002
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Saint Francis (PA)
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 3,641
| score = 80–45
| overtime =
| record = 5–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/23/2002
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Pacific
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Alex G. Spanos Center
| site_cityst = Stockton, CA
| gamename =
| attend = 2,701
| score = 57–70
| overtime =
| record = 5–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/28/2002
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| opponent = Chicago State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Stan Sheriff Center
| site_cityst = Honolulu, HI
| gamename = Rainbow Classic
| attend = 6,097
| score = 63–56
| overtime =
| record = 6–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/29/2002
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| opponent = Butler
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Stan Sheriff Center
| site_cityst = Honolulu, HI
| gamename = Rainbow Classic
| attend = 7,184
| score = 60–63
| overtime =
| record = 6–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/30/2002
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| opponent = Tennessee Tech
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Stan Sheriff Center
| site_cityst = Honolulu, HI
| gamename = Rainbow Classic
| attend = 7,925
| score = 74–51
| overtime =
| record = 7–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 1/4/2003
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Middle Tennessee
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Murphy Center
| site_cityst = Murfreesboro, TN
| gamename =
| attend = 3,804
| score = 65–69
| overtime =
| record = 7–6
| conference = 0–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 1/9/2003
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Arkansas–Little Rock
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Alltel Arena
| site_cityst = North Little Rock, AR
| gamename =
| attend = 4,358
| score = 74–66
| overtime =
| record = 8–6
| conference = 1–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 1/11/2003
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Arkansas State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Convocation Center
| site_cityst = Jonesboro, AR
| gamename =
| attend = 5,262
| score = 77–69
| overtime =
| record = 9–6
| conference = 2–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 1/16/2003
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = New Orleans
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 3,752
| score = 78–59
| overtime =
| record = 10–6
| conference = 3–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 1/18/2003
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = South Alabama
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 6,418
| score = 85–69
| overtime =
| record = 11–6
| conference = 4–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 1/25/2003
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = New Mexico State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Pan American Center
| site_cityst = Las Cruces, NM
| gamename =
| attend = 9,113
| score = 82–92
| overtime =
| record = 11–7
| conference = 4–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 1/30/2003
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = FIU
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 5,112
| score = 63–43
| overtime =
| record = 12–7
| conference = 5–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 2/1/2003
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Detroit
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Calihan Hall
| site_cityst = Detroit, MI
| gamename =
| attend = 3,362
| score = 65–86
| overtime =
| record = 12–8
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 2/3/2003
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Kentucky State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 3,743
| score = 104–70
| overtime =
| record = 13–8
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 02/5/2003
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Denver
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 4,707
| score = 81–77
| overtime =
| record = 14–8
| conference = 6–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 2/8/2003
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = North Texas
| opprank =
| site_stadium = UNT Coliseum
| site_cityst = Denton, TX
| gamename =
| attend = 4,212
| score = 85–70
| overtime =
| record = 15–8
| conference = 7–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 2/13/2003
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Arkansas–Little Rock
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 4,108
| score = 70–51
| overtime =
| record = 16–8
| conference = 8–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 2/15/2003
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Arkansas State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 5,312
| score = 69–63
| overtime =
| record = 17–8
| conference = 9–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 2/19/2003
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = FIU
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Ocean Bank Convocation Center
| site_cityst = University Park, FL
| gamename =
| attend = 689
| score = 71–58
| overtime =
| record = 18–8
| conference = 10–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 2/22/2003
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Ball State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename = ESPN BracketBusters
| attend = 6,112
| score = 84–79
| overtime =
| record = 19–8
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 2/26/2003
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Louisiana–Lafayette
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Cajundome
| site_cityst = Lafayette, LA
| gamename =
| attend = 9,121
| score = 69–66
| overtime =
| record = 20–8
| conference = 11–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 3/1/2003
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Middle Tennessee
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 7,412
| score = 85–83
| overtime = OT
| record = 21–8
| conference = 12–2
}}
|-
!colspan=6 style={{NCAA color cell|Western Kentucky Hilltoppers}}| 2003 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 3/8/2003
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| seed = E1
| opponent = FIU
| opprank =
| oppseed = E5
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename = Second Round
| attend = 7,259
| score = 71–60
| overtime =
| record = 22–8
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 3/10/2003
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| seed = E1
| opponent = New Mexico State
| opprank =
| oppseed = W2
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename = Semifinals
| attend = 7,337
| score = 78–59
| overtime =
| record = 23–8
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 3/11/2003
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| seed = E1
| opponent = Middle Tennessee
| opprank =
| oppseed = E2
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename = Finals
| attend = 8,118
| score = 64–52
| overtime =
| record = 24–8
}}
|-
!colspan=6 style={{NCAA color cell|Western Kentucky Hilltoppers}}| 2003 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 03/20/2003
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| seed = 13 W
| opponent = Illinois
| opprank = 11
| oppseed = 4 W
| site_stadium = RCA Dome
| site_cityst = Indianapolis, IN
| gamename = First Round
| attend = 21,250
| score = 60–65
| overtime =
| record = 24–9
}}
{{CBB schedule end|rank=|poll=AP Poll (W#) during NCAA Tournament is seed with Region }} {{cite web |url=https://wkusports.com/documents/2014/4/24/2002-03.pdf|title= 2002-2003 Men's Basketball Statistics|website= WKU Sports}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2002-03 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}}