Marshall basketball is looking to bounce back after a challenging stretch of losses. The team, led by Coach Cornelius Jackson, faced a tough 88-81 defeat against Ohio last Saturday. This setback marked the Herd’s third consecutive loss, a situation that Coach Jackson described as the team lacking both mental and physical toughness.
Marshall’s Struggles and Upcoming Rivalry
The Herd’s losing streak started just before Thanksgiving with a 90-67 defeat against Lipscomb. Despite showing improvement in their next game, they fell short against UNC Wilmington, losing by just one point, 70-69. During their game against Ohio, the Herd trailed for 37 minutes and could not regain control.
In an effort to reverse their fortunes, Marshall will face Western Kentucky on Wednesday at 7 p.m. This matchup will take place at the Henderson Center and can be viewed on ESPN+. Coach Jackson is optimistic about his team’s potential for improvement as they continue preparing for conference play.
Key Players for Marshall
Currently, the Herd holds a record of 5-4. Their leading scorer, Wyatt Fricks, averages 14.7 points per game, followed closely by Jalen Speer (12.9), Noah Otshudi (12.8), and Matt Van Komen (10.4). Van Komen is also the team’s top rebounder, averaging 7.8 boards per game. He leads the Sun Belt Conference with 2.56 blocks per game, ranking 14th nationally.
Marshall’s Offensive Strengths
- Marshall leads the Sun Belt Conference with 17.3 assists per game.
- The team averages 10.2 three-pointers made per game, showcasing their perimeter shooting ability.
Western Kentucky’s Recent Performance
Western Kentucky, with a record of 6-2, comes into Huntington riding a two-game winning streak. The Hilltoppers recently secured narrow victories over Wichita State (75-70) and Evansville (80-79). Prior to this streak, they won four consecutive games before losing close contests to Vanderbilt and South Florida during the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament.
Top Performers for Western Kentucky
Head coach Hank Plona, in his second season, has a 23-17 record thus far. The Hilltoppers feature standout performances from several players:
- Teagan Moore, a sophomore guard, leads the team with 19.6 points per game, ranking among the top 40 nationally.
- Freshman guard Armelo Boone follows with an average of 12 points.
- North Texas transfer Grant Newell contributes 10.5 points per game.
Graduated forward Bryant Selebangue, a McNeese State transfer, is the Hilltoppers’ top rebounder with an average of 7.4 rebounds per game. Additionally, Western Kentucky excels at drawing fouls, making 22.3 free throws per game, which ranks as the fourth most nationally. Their bench also provides significant scoring, averaging 38.2 points and holding the 14th highest-scoring bench in college basketball.
The Rivalry History
Historically, Western Kentucky has had the upper hand in their matchups with Marshall, winning 23 of the 35 encounters, including a victory last season where they triumphed 90-82 on their home court.
As Marshall aims to reclaim victory against Western Kentucky, the upcoming game promises to be an exciting clash, with both teams seeking to assert their dominance on the court.
