2011–12 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=2011–12
|team=Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
|image=WKU Hilltoppers wordmark.png
|image_size=150
|conference=Sun Belt Conference
|division=East Division
|short_conf=Sun Belt
|record=16–19
|conf_record=7–9
|head_coach=Ken McDonald first 16 games
|head_coach2 = Ray Harper remainder of season
|asst_coach1=Lawrence Brenneman
|asst_coach2=Jake Morton
|asst_coach3=Kip Wellman
|asst_coach4=
|stadium=E. A. Diddle Arena
|champion=Sun Belt Tournament champion
|tourney=NCAA Tournament
|tourney_result=Round of 64
}}
{{2011–12 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball standings}}
The 2011–12 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky University during the 2011–12 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Hilltoppers were led by fourth year head coach Ken McDonald for the first 16 games of the season before he was fired and were then led by former assistant and new head coach Ray Harper for the remainder of the year. They played their home games at E. A. Diddle Arena and are members of the East Division of the Sun Belt Conference. They finished the season 16–19, 7–9 in Sun Belt Play to finish in a tie for third place in the East Division. The Hilltoppers were champions of the Sun Belt Basketball tournament to earn the conference's automatic bid into the 2012 NCAA tournament.[https://sunbeltsports.org/documents/2016/11/18/2016_17_MBB_MG.pdf SBC 2016-17 Basketball Media Guide, retrieved 28 April 2020] It was their 22nd tournament appearance and first since 2009. WKU was also the first sub-.500 team to make the NCAA Tournament since Coppin State in 2008. They defeated Mississippi Valley State in the First Four round before falling in the second round to eventual national champion Kentucky.[https://wkusports.com/documents/2019/10/7/2019_20_WKU_Hilltopper_Basketball_Media_Guide.pdf WKU Basketball Media Guide retrieved 21 April 2020] Derrick Gordon made the All-Conference Team; Gordon and Kahil McDonald were selected to the SBC Tournament Team, and George Fant was tournament MVP.[https://sunbeltsports.org/documents/2020/2/7/2019_20_Sun_Belt_Men_s_Basketball_Records_Book.pdf 2019-20 SBC Basketball Media Guide, retrieved 23 June 2020]
Roster
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
! Number ! Name ! Position ! Height ! Weight ! Year ! Hometown |
| 0
| Kene Anyigbo | Forward | 6–5 | 250 | Sophomore |
| 1
| Kevin Kaspar | Guard | 6–0 | 172 | Freshman |
| 3
| Kahlil McDonald | Guard | 6–3 | 200 | Senior |
| 5
| Guard | 6–3 | 185 | Freshman |
| 10
| Caden Dickerson | Forward | 6–4 | 200 | Junior |
| 11
| Spence Sheldon | Guard | 5–11 | 165 | Freshman |
| 14
| Jamal Crook | Guard | 6–3 | 175 | Junior |
| 15
| Forward | 6–6 | 205 | Sophomore |
| 21
| Nigel Snipes | Forward | 6–5 | 205 | Freshman |
| 22
| Teeng Akol | Forward | 6–11 | 217 | Junior | Wian, Sudan |
| 24
| Stephon Drane | Forward | 6–7 | 228 | Sophomore |
| 25
| Jay Starks | Guard | 6–3 | 187 | Junior |
| 41
| Vinny Zollo | Forward | 6–8 | 240 | Freshman |
| 44
| Forward | 6–5 | 245 | Freshman |
| 52
| Guard | 6–3 | 220 | Freshman |
Schedule
{{CBB schedule start|time=|rank=|ranklink=2011-12 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings|rankyear=2011|tv=|record=yes|attend=yes}}
|-
!colspan=9| Exhibition
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 11/05/2011
| time = 7:30 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Xavier (LA)
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend =
| tv =
| score = 73–61
| overtime =
| record =
}}
|-
!colspan=9| Regular Season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 11/11/2011
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Saint Joseph's
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 3,813
| tv = FCS
| score = 61–72
| overtime =
| record = 0–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 11/14/2011
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Tennessee State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 3,372
| tv =
| score = 52–49
| overtime =
| record = 1–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 11/17/2011
| time = 11:30 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| opponent = Tulsa
| opprank =
| site_stadium = TD Arena
| site_cityst = Charleston, SC
| gamename = Charleston Classic First Round
| attend = 2,532
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 49–65
| overtime =
| record = 1–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 11/18/2011
| time = 12:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| opponent = LSU
| opprank =
| site_stadium = TD Arena
| site_cityst = Charleston, SC
| gamename = Charleston Classic Consolation round
| attend = 1,711
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 57–76
| overtime =
| record = 1–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 11/20/2011
| time = 11:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| opponent = VCU
| opprank =
| site_stadium = TD Arena
| site_cityst = Charleston, SC
| gamename = Charleston Classic 7th place Game
| attend = 2,455
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 64–69
| overtime =
| record = 1–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 11/23/2011
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = VCU
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 3,285
| tv = FCS
| score = 45–68
| overtime =
| record = 1–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 11/26/2011
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Southeastern Louisiana
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 2,714
| tv =
| score = 72–67
| overtime =
| record = 2–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/01/2011
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Murray State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 3,845
| tv = FCS
| score = 59–70
| overtime =
| record = 2–6
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/04/2011
| time = 2:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Bowling Green
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 3,119
| tv = FCS
| score = 60–53
| overtime =
| record = 3–6
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/07/2011
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Southern Illinois
| opprank =
| site_stadium = SIU Arena
| site_cityst = Carbondale, IL
| gamename =
| attend = 3,012
| tv = FCS
| score = 62–55
| overtime =
| record = 4–6
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/10/2011
| time = 6:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = IUPUI
| opprank =
| site_stadium = The Jungle
| site_cityst = Indianapolis, IN
| gamename =
| attend = 1,135
| tv = FCS
| score = 76–84
| overtime =
| record = 4–7
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/17/2011
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Furman
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename = BB&T Classic
| attend = 3,192
| tv = FCS
| score = 63–76
| overtime =
| record = 4–8
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/23/2011
| time = 6:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Louisville
| opprank = 4
| site_stadium = KFC Yum! Center
| site_cityst = Louisville, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 22,150
| tv = ESPN2
| score = 60–70
| overtime =Vacated
| record = 4–9
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/29/2011
| time = 7:30 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Louisiana–Monroe
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Fant–Ewing Coliseum
| site_cityst = Monroe, LA
| gamename =
| attend = 1,319
| tv = FCS
| score = 76–71
| overtime = OT
| record = 5–9 (1–0)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/31/2011
| time = 1:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = FIU
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 2,375
| tv = FCS
| score = 63–81
| overtime =
| record = 5–10 (1–1)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 01/05/2012
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Louisiana–Lafayette
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 2,137
| tv = FCS
| score = 70–72
| overtime = OT
| record = 5–11 (1–2)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 01/07/2012
| time = 4:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Troy
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename = Ray Harper Head Coach
| attend = 5,172
| tv = FCS
| score = 65–67
| overtime =
| record = 5–12 (1–3)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 01/12/2012
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = North Texas
| opprank =
| site_stadium = The Super Pit
| site_cityst = Denton, TX
| gamename =
| attend = 3,941
| tv = WKYU
| score = 67–84
| overtime =
| record = 5–13 (1–4)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 01/15/2012
| time = 2:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Denver
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Magness Arena
| site_cityst = Denver, CO
| gamename =
| attend = 6,232
| tv =
| score = 65–78
| overtime =
| record = 5–14 (1–5)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 01/21/2012
| time = 1:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Arkansas–Little Rock
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 4,254
| tv = FCS
| score = 65–53
| overtime =
| record = 6–14 (2–5)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 01/26/2012
| time = 6:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Florida Atlantic
| opprank =
| site_stadium = FAU Arena
| site_cityst = Boca Raton, FL
| gamename =
| attend = 1,554
| tv = FCS
| score = 66–67
| overtime =
| record = 6–15 (2–6)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 01/28/2012
| time = 6:30 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = FIU
| opprank =
| site_stadium = U.S. Century Bank Arena
| site_cityst = Miami, FL
| gamename =
| attend = 1,171
| tv = FCS
| score = 61–51
| overtime =
| record = 7–15 (3–6)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 02/04/2012
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = South Alabama
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 6,407
| tv = FCS
| score = 75–66
| overtime =
| record = 8–15 (4–6)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 02/09/2012
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Middle Tennessee
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Murphy Center
| site_cityst = Murfreesboro, TN
| gamename =
| attend = 7,080
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 64–72
| overtime =
| record = 8–16 (4–7)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 02/11/2012
| time = 1:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Troy
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Trojan Arena
| site_cityst = Troy, AL
| gamename =
| attend = 1,472
| tv = FCS
| score = 77–83
| overtime =
| record = 8–17 (4–8)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 02/16/2012
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Florida Atlantic
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 4,588
| tv = FCS
| score = 64–57
| overtime =
| record = 9–17 (5–8)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 02/18/2012
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = South Alabama
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Mitchell Center
| site_cityst = Mobile, AL
| gamename =
| attend = 4,126
| tv = FCS
| score = 61–66
| overtime =
| record = 9–18 (5–9)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 02/23/2012
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Arkansas State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 4,298
| tv = FCS
| score = 79–76
| overtime =
| record = 10–18 (6–9)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 02/25/2012
| time = 5:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Middle Tennessee
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E. A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 7,326
| tv = Sun Belt Network
| score = 73–67
| overtime =
| record = 11–18 (7–9)
}}
|-
!colspan=9| 2012 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 03/03/2012
| time = 8:30 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| seed = 7
| opponent = FIU
| opprank =
| oppseed = 10
| site_stadium = Summit Arena
| site_cityst = Hot Springs, AR
| gamename = First Round
| attend = 3,820
| tv =
| score = 67–63
| overtime =
| record = 12–18
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 03/04/2012
| time = 8:30 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| seed = 7
| opponent = Arkansas–Little Rock
| opprank =
| oppseed = 2
| site_stadium = Summit Arena
| site_cityst = Hot Springs, AR
| gamename = Quarterfinals
| attend = 4,365
| tv =
| score = 68–63
| overtime =
| record = 13–18
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 03/05/2012
| time = 8:30 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| seed = 7
| opponent = Denver
| opprank =
| oppseed = 3
| site_stadium = Summit Arena
| site_cityst = Hot Springs, AR
| gamename = Semifinals
| attend = 3,708
| tv = Sun Belt Network
| score = 67–63
| overtime =
| record = 14–18
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 03/06/2012
| time = 6:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| seed = 7
| opponent = North Texas
| opprank =
| oppseed = 5
| site_stadium = Summit Arena
| site_cityst = Hot Springs, AR
| gamename = Championship Game
| attend = 4,216
| tv = ESPN2
| score = 74–70
| overtime =
| record = 15–18
}}
|-
!colspan=9| 2012 NCAA tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 03/13/2012
| time = 5:40 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| seed = 16 S
| opponent = Mississippi Valley State
| opprank =
| oppseed = 16 S
| site_stadium = UD Arena
| site_cityst = Dayton, OH
| gamename = First Four
| tv = truTV
| score = 59–58
| overtime =
| attend = 8,510
| record = 16–18
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 03/15/2012
| time = 5:50 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| seed = 16 S
| opponent = Kentucky
| opprank = 1
| oppseed = 1 S
| site_stadium = KFC Yum! Center
| site_cityst = Louisville, KY
| gamename = Second Round
| tv = TBS
| score = 66–81
| overtime =
| attend = 22,131
| record = 16–19
}}
{{CBB schedule end|rank=| poll=AP Poll|timezone=Central Time (#) during NCAA Tournament is seed with Region
Louisville’s win was later vacated by the NCAA due to recruiting violations by the Louisville basketball program.[https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/20/sports/ncaabasketball/louisville-ncaa-title.html New York Times: Louisville Must Forfeit Basketball Championship Over Sex Scandal By Marc Tracy Feb. 20, 2018 retrieved 21 April 2020]}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2011-12 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Basketball Team}}