Big week for WKU hoops

So here’s the lowdown on where WKU stands  the Sun Belt Tournament seedings entering the final week of the regular season.

The Hilltoppers’ loss against Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday really meant nothing in the grand scheme of things – FAU had already clinched the top spot in the SBC East, and WKU was going to have to beat Middle Tennessee regardless if it wants that No. 2 seed.

So, in order for WKU (13-14, 7-7) to catapult the Blue Raiders (14-14, 9-6) and earn that first-round bye – the Hilltoppers have to beat FIU on Thursday and MTSU on Saturday.

The Blue Raiders have just one conference game left – that being WKU. If MTSU beats WKU, the bye goes to the Blue Raiders. But if WKU beats FIU and turns to beat MTSU, it goes with the Hilltoppers.

Here’s why.

That scenario (WKU winning out) would put both WKU and MTSU at 9-7 in league play. Meaning tiebreakers would be needed.

The first tiebreak is head-to-head matchup – which would be tied 1-1.

The second is division record – Should WKU beat both FIU and MTSU this week, it would finish 6-4 in Sun Belt East play. A loss to the Hilltoppers would put MTSU at 5-5.

And thus, the Hilltoppers would secure the bye.

Now, if Florida International comes into Diddle on Thursday and beats WKU – Saturday’s game at MTSU is pointless, because WKU would have lost the two seed.

If WKU loses out this week – the bye is obviously gone, and it could fall even further in the standings.

But we’ll figure that out if need be later this week.