2019–20 Western Illinois Leathernecks men's basketball team
{{short description|American college basketball season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
|year=2019–20
|team=Western Illinois Leathernecks
|sport=Basketball
|image=Western Illinois Leathernecks wordmark.svg
|image_size=
|conference=Summit League
|division=
|short_conf=The Summit
|CoachRank=
|APRank=
|record=5–21
|conf_record=2–14
|head_coach=Billy Wright
|hc_year=6th
|asst_coach1=Jestin Anderson
|asst_coach2=Joshua Jones
|asst_coach3=Chad Pecka
|stadium=Western Hall
|champion=
|tourney=
|tourney_result=
}}
{{2019–20 Summit League men's basketball standings}}
The 2019–20 Western Illinois Leathernecks men's basketball team represented Western Illinois University in the 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Leathernecks, led by sixth-year head coach Billy Wright, played their home games at Western Hall in Macomb, Illinois, as members of the Summit League. They finished the season 5–21, 2–14 in Summit League play to finish in last place. They failed to qualify for the Summit League tournament.
On March 3, 2020, the school announced that head coach Billy Wright's contract would not be renewed.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pjstar.com/sports/20200303/bradley-grad-billy-wright-out-as-western-illinois-mens-basketball-coach|title=Bradley grad Billy Wright out as Western Illinois men's basketball coach|last=Voice|first=Scott HollandMcDonough County|website=Journal Star|language=en|access-date=2020-04-21}} He finished at Western Illinois with a six-year record of 53–115. On March 30, the school announced former Milwaukee head coach Rob Jeter would be hired as the new head coach.{{Cite web|url=http://www.news3wiu.com/2020/03/30/wiu-introduces-jeter-as-mens-basketball-coach/|title=WIU introduces Jeter as men's basketball coach|last=Manley|first=Emily|date=2020-03-30|website=NEWS3 Western Illinois|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-21}}
Previous season
The Leathernecks finished the 2018–19 season 10–21, 4–12 in Summit League play to finish in 8th place. They upset top-seeded South Dakota State in the quarterfinals of the Summit League tournament,{{Cite news|url=https://goleathernecks.com/news/2019/3/9/mens-basketball-leathernecks-upset-south-dakota-state-in-summit-league-quarterfinal.aspx|title=Leathernecks Upset South Dakota State in Summit League Quarterfinal|work=Western Illinois University Athletics|access-date=December 17, 2019|language=en}} before losing to North Dakota State in the semifinals.{{Cite news|url=http://www.thesummitleague.org/sports/mbkb/2018-19/releases/20190311vgzqss|title=Bison victorious over Leathernecks, advance to first championship since 2016|work=The Summit League|access-date=December 17, 2019|language=en|archive-date=April 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422175530/http://www.thesummitleague.org/sports/mbkb/2018-19/releases/20190311vgzqss|url-status=dead}}
Roster
{{CBB roster/Header|year=2019|team=Western Illinois Leathernecks|teamcolors=y}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Zion|last=Young|num=1|pos=G|ft=6|in=4|lbs=190|class=so|rs=|home=Chicago, Illinois}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Jaeden|last=King|num=2|pos=G|ft=6|in=6|lbs=185|class=fr|rs=|home=Minneapolis, Minnesota}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Kobe|last=Webster|num=10|pos=G|ft=6|in=0|lbs=170|class=jr|rs=|home=Indianapolis, Indiana}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Keshon|last=Montague|num=11|pos=G|ft=6|in=0|lbs=170|class=sr|rs=|home=Brampton, Ontario}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Jack|last=Hallee|num=12|pos=G|ft=6|in=1|lbs=165|class=fr|rs=|home=Indian Creek, Illinois}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Anthony|last=Jones|num=14|pos=G|ft=6|in=5|lbs=190|class=jr|rs=|home=Indianapolis, Indiana}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Ben|last=Pyle|num=15|pos=F|ft=6|in=7|lbs=185|class=so|rs=|home=McPherson, Kansas}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Jeremiah|last=Usiosefe|num=20|pos=G|ft=6|in=5|lbs=200|class=sr|rs=|home=Hamilton, Ontario}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Dre'Shawn|last=Allen|num=22|pos=G|ft=6|in=1|lbs=170|class=so|rs=|home=Auburn Hills, Michigan}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=James|last=Claar|num=24|pos=F|ft=6|in=8|lbs=215|class=sr|rs=y|home=Bolingbrook, Illinois}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Jake|last=Weyhrich|num=30|pos=F|ft=6|in=7|lbs=210|class=jr|rs=|home=Manito, Illinois}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Roderick|last=Smith|num=32|pos=F/C|ft=6|in=8|lbs=240|class=so|rs=|home=Crystal Springs, Mississippi}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Alex|last=Brantley|num=34|pos=C|ft=7|in=0|lbs=215|class=fr|rs=|home=Detroit, Michigan}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=C.J.|last=Duff|num=40|pos=G|ft=6|in=1|lbs=190|class=sr|rs=|home=Waukegan, Illinois}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Kyle|last=Arrington|num=42|pos=C|ft=6|in=10|lbs=225|class=jr|rs=|home=Council Bluffs, Iowa}}
{{CBB roster/Footer
|head_coach=
|asst_coach=
- Jestin Anderson (Quincy)
- Joshua Jones ({{college|Eastern Kentucky}})
- Chad Pecka (Northwestern Oklahoma State)
|roster_url=https://goleathernecks.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster
|accessdate=December 17, 2019
}}
Schedule and results
{{CBB schedule start|attend=yes|rank=no}}
|-
!colspan=12 style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Western Illinois Leathernecks}}| Non-conference regular season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 5, 2019
| time = 6:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = Indiana
| site_stadium = Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall
| site_cityst = Bloomington, IN
| score = 65–98
| attend = 17,222
| record = 0–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 9, 2019
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = Stetson
| site_stadium = Western Hall
| site_cityst = Macomb, IL
| score = 75–77
| attend = 340
| record = 0–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 13, 2019
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = UT Martin
| site_stadium = Western Hall
| site_cityst = Macomb, IL
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 91–98
| attend = 610
| record = 0–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 20, 2019
| time = 7:30 pm
| nonconf = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = Northern Illinois
| site_stadium = Western Hall
| site_cityst = Macomb, IL
| score = 81–86
| attend = 684
| record = 0–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 23, 2019
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = Central Christian
| site_stadium = Western Hall
| site_cityst = Macomb, IL
| score = 113–62
| attend = 381
| record = 1–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 26, 2019
| time = 5:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = Ball State
| site_stadium = Worthen Arena
| site_cityst = Muncie, IN
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 69–62
| attend = 3,088
| record = 2–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 30, 2019
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = Kansas City
| site_stadium = Swinney Recreation Center
| site_cityst = Kansas City, MO
| gamename = Summit League/WAC Challenge
| score = 67–68
| attend = 1,009
| record = 2–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 4, 2019
| time = 6:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = Evansville
| site_stadium = Ford Center
| site_cityst = Evansville, IN
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 86–90
| attend = 4,509
| record = 2–6
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 16, 2019
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = Eastern Illinois
| site_stadium = Western Hall
| site_cityst = Macomb, IL
| score = 47–85
| attend = 347
| record = 2–7
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 19, 2019
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = Holy Family
| site_stadium = Western Hall
| site_cityst = Macomb, IL
| score = 91–64
| attend = 299
| record = 3–7
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Western Illinois Leathernecks}}| Summit League regular season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 29, 2019
| time = 4:30 pm
| rank = no
| opponent = South Dakota
| site_stadium = Western Hall
| site_cityst = Macomb, IL
| score = 82–75
| attend =
| record = 4–7
| conference = 1–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 2, 2020
| time = 8:00 pm
| away = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = North Dakota State
| site_stadium = Scheels Center
| site_cityst = Fargo, ND
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 74–94
| attend = 1,929
| record = 4–8
| conference = 1–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 4, 2020
| time = 4:15 pm
| away = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = South Dakota State
| site_stadium = Frost Arena
| site_cityst = Brookings, SD
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 56–91
| attend = 2,407
| record = 4–9
| conference = 1–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 8, 2020
| time = 7:00 pm
| rank = no
| opponent = Purdue Fort Wayne
| site_stadium = Western Hall
| site_cityst = Macomb, IL
| score = 69–77
| attend = 498
| record = 4–10
| conference = 1–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 11, 2020
| time = 2:00 pm
| rank = no
| opponent = Denver
| site_stadium = Western Hall
| site_cityst = Macomb, IL
| score = 86–80
| attend = 347
| record = 5–10
| conference = 2–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 16, 2020
| time = 7:00 pm
| rank = no
| opponent = Oral Roberts
| site_stadium = Western Hall
| site_cityst = Macomb, IL
| score = 70–87
| attend = 746
| record = 5–11
| conference = 2–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 23, 2020
| time = 7:00 pm
| away = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = Omaha
| site_stadium = Baxter Arena
| site_cityst = Omaha, NE
| score = 82–87
| overtime = OT
| attend = 1,775
| record = 5–12
| conference = 2–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 25, 2020
| time = 7:00 pm
| away = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = North Dakota
| site_stadium = Betty Engelstad Sioux Center
| site_cityst = Grand Forks, ND
| score = 77–83
| attend = 1,585
| record = 5–13
| conference = 2–6
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 30, 2020
| time = 7:30 pm
| rank = no
| opponent = North Dakota State
| site_stadium = Western Hall
| site_cityst = Macomb, IL
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 49–70
| attend = 624
| record = 5–14
| conference = 2–7
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 1, 2020
| time = 7:00 pm
| rank = no
| opponent = South Dakota State
| site_stadium = Western Hall
| site_cityst = Macomb, IL
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 61–71
| attend = 772
| record = 5–15
| conference = 2–8
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 5, 2020
| time = 6:00 pm
| away = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = Purdue Fort Wayne
| site_stadium = Memorial Coliseum
| site_cityst = Fort Wayne, IN
| score = 69–75
| attend = 1,108
| record = 5–16
| conference = 2–9
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 12, 2020
| time = 7:00 pm
| away = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = South Dakota
| site_stadium = Sanford Coyote Sports Center
| site_cityst = Vermillion, SD
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 72–85
| attend = 1,823
| record = 5–17
| conference = 2–10
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 15, 2020
| time = 7:00 pm
| rank = no
| opponent = North Dakota
| site_stadium = Western Hall
| site_cityst = Macomb, IL
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 83–86
| overtime = OT
| attend = 1,138
| record = 5–18
| conference = 2–11
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 22, 2020
| time = 2:00 pm
| rank = no
| opponent = Omaha
| site_stadium = Western Hall
| site_cityst = Macomb, IL
| score = 86–93
| attend =
| record = 5–19
| conference = 2–12
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 27, 2020
| time = 7:30 pm
| away = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = Oral Roberts
| site_stadium = Mabee Center
| site_cityst = Tulsa, OK
| score = 70–113
| attend = 3,463
| record = 5–20
| conference = 2–13
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 29, 2020
| time = 2:00 pm
| away = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = Denver
| site_stadium = Magness Arena
| site_cityst = Denver, CO
| tv =
| score = 63–69
| attend = 1,390
| record = 5–21
| conference = 2–14
}}
|-
{{CBB schedule end|rank=| poll=AP Poll|region=|regionname=|timezone=Central}}
Source{{Cite news|url=https://goleathernecks.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule|title=2019-20 Men's Basketball Schedule|work=Western Illinois University Athletics|access-date=December 17, 2019|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/schedule/_/id/2710|title=2019-20 Western Illinois Leathernecks Schedule Stats|work=ESPN|access-date=December 17, 2019|language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Western Illinois Leathernecks men's basketball navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2019-20 Western Illinois Leathernecks men's basketball team}}
Category:Western Illinois Leathernecks men's basketball seasons