Without Dennis Felton in attendance, the annual Hilltopper Basketball Awards Banquet was markedly different Thursday night at the Sloan Convention Center. Felton, who accepted the head coaching position at Georgia after coaching at Western Kentucky the past five seasons, did not attend, but assistant coach Bert Tucker did. Tucker was the lone member of the previous coaching staff to stick around for the event which honored the members with an emphasis on the three graduating seniors of the 2002-03 Hilltopper basketball team. Its been a real emotional time. Im sure it would have been a more special night for those guys if coach Felton could have been here, Tucker said. Some other people really stepped up and made them feel welcome and at home, though, and sent them off the right way. Forwards David Boyden and Nate Williams and guard Filip Videnov were recognized for their part in Westerns back-to-back-to-back Sun Belt Conference regular season and tournament championships. They were absolutely instrumental as far as their daily approach of commitment to intangibles, Tucker said. That was critical to what we were able to do here. Tucker, who received two standing ovations at the banquet, is on his way to Athens, Ga., today to join Pete Herrmann and Ken McDonald on Feltons UGA staff. The native of Salem, N.H., appeared to choke up several times throughout the ceremony. For me personally, this is home. This is the longest I have lived in one area since I was in high school, Tucker said. Every day seemed like Christmas down here. Team awards were also handed out and sophomore point guard Patrick Sparks cleaned up by taking home Playmaker of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year and co-Most Valuable Player honors. He also won the Academic Award. Mike Wells was also named co-MVP and given the Defensive Player of the Year award. Videnov won the Free Throw Accuracy award and Caleb Halcomb was honored with the Field Goal Accuracy Award. Williams took home the trophy for being the teams most improved player and Boyden won the E.A. Diddle Award for Leadership. Assistant Athletics Director Craig Biggs was given the Jones Family Appreciation Award. New WKU coach Darrin Horn spoke briefly at the end of the ceremony.