When Kurtis Townsend steps on the Sprint Center court Friday night, he’ll have a job to do. But the Kansas assistant basketball coach won’t be able to look across the floor and not feel a sense of pride and nostalgia.    

“I’m proud of them,” Townsend said. “I was happy when they made it last year and you always follow your alma mater no matter where you are or when it is. I’m happy they got in and just wish we didn’t didn’t have to play them. But I guess that’s part of it.”

Townsend’s alma mater is, of course, Western Kentucky. The Hilltoppers will try to upset Townsend’s Jayhawks in the NCAA tournament, beginning at 8:50 p.m.

Twenty-three years ago Townsend played eight minutes in an 89-85 loss to Virginia Tech in E.A. Diddle Arena in the first round of the 1980 NCAA tournament.

The game was the last of the guard’s two-year career on the Hill after transferring in from Menlo Junior College.

“I met some of the most influential people in my life, from Gene Keady and Clem Haskins,” Townsend said. “We won the league, beat Murray State and got to play in the NCAA tournament at Diddle. We lost in double overtime to Virginia Tech, or we would’ve played Indiana on that Sunday in Bowling Green when Isiah Thomas was a freshman.

“It was a big thrill. I have really great memories.”    

Townsend graduated, married his college sweetheart and has had assistant coaching stints at Michigan, Eastern Kentucky, Southern California, Miami (Fla.) and California.

When he and his wife watched Sunday’s selection show, they couldn’t help chuckle when Western Kentucky popped up on the television screen, he said.

“Everybody thinks it’s kind of funny,” Townsend said. “ ‘Who you gonna be rooting for deep down?’ I said, ‘Well, they still pay my checks here, so I probably gotta go with the Jayhawks.’ But I think it’s kind of neat and kind of what’s good about basketball.”

Townsend is in his ninth season with KU, but said he has been back to visit Bowling Green and was impressed with the growth of both the city and campus.

He keeps in touch with fellow former Hilltoppers Billy Bryant, Mike Prince and Craig McCormick, he said, and is always following WKU.

“You know what? I think they’re really good,” Townsend said. “I think coach (Ray) Harper’s done an unbelievable job. They really get out and guard. I know they’ve had some injuries this year, but they got the kid (T.J.) Price who can really score the ball.

“I’m pretty impressed with them and they got a couple guys that can really shoot the ball.”

Harper stands to make bonuses

In his second season as WKU coach, Harper will see some hefty bonuses for his team’s success – on and off the court.

Harper, who makes a base salary of $375,000, will receive a 10 percent bonus ($37,500) for the Hilltoppers’ berth into this year’s NCAA tournament. He’ll also receive another 10 percent should his team have an Academic Progress Report rating of 960 or better, which is it in line to do, according to the school.

Another 5 percent bonus will be on the way if WKU beats Kansas on Friday and that bonus increases by 5 percent each time the Hilltoppers record a win.