1953–54_Western_Kentucky_Hilltoppers_basketball_team

1953–54 Western Kentucky State Hilltoppers basketball team

1953–54 Western Kentucky State Hilltoppers basketball team

American college basketball season

The 1953–54 Western Kentucky State Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky State College (now known as Western Kentucky University) during the 1953-54 NCAA University Division Basketball season. The Hilltoppers were led by future Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coach Edgar Diddle and consensus All-American, Tom Marshall.[1] The Hilltoppers won the Ohio Valley Conference championship, and were invited to the 1954 National Invitation Tournament, where they were seeded as the number 2 team[2] and advanced to the semifinals.[3] For the NIT consolation game against fourth seeded Niagara, Coach Diddle looked to build experience for the next year’s team, only allowing his freshman and sophomores to play.[1] During this period, the NIT was considered on par with the NCAA tournament.[4][5] This was one of the finest teams in Western Kentucky history, they led the NCAA in wins[6] and Marshall averaged more than 25 points and nearly 15 rebounds per game, setting school records for scoring and rebounding.[7] Art Spoelstra, Jack Turner and Lynn Cole joined Marshall on the All-Conference and OVC Tournament teams.[8]

Quick Facts Western Kentucky State Hilltoppers basketball, OVC Tournament ChampionOhio Valley Conference ChampionKentucky Invitation Champion ...

Schedule

[9]

More information Date time, TV, Rank# ...

References

  1. [1]
    Ruby, Earl (1979). Red Towel Territory : A History of Athletics at Western Kentucky University. American National Bank and Trust Co.
  2. [2]
    "ST. FRANCIS BEATS LOUISVILLE, 60-55". New York Times. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  3. [3]
    2019-2020 WKU Basketball Media Guide retrieved 21 April 2020
  4. [4]
    "NCAA Tournament History". Archived from the original on May 14, 2013. Retrieved February 12, 2013. The tournament now determines the national champion, but that wasn't always the case. Until the 1950s, the NIT was just as big a tournament as the NCAA, and teams often chose to enter the NIT and bypass the NCAA tourney
  5. [5]
    Davies, Richard O. (2007). "Sports in American Life: A History." Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated. p. 155. ISBN 9781405106474.
  6. [6]
    E. A. Diddle CBB Records, Sports Reference, retrieved May 13, 2020
  7. [7]
    Harrison, Lowell (1987). Western Kentucky University. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 978-0813116204.
  8. [8]
    2019-2020 OVC Basketball Media Guide, retrieved 4 May 2020
  9. [9]
    1953-54 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Schedule and Results, Sports Reference, retrieved 12 May 2020


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