More on the WKU basketball schedule

The Western Kentucky basketball program released (part of) its 2014-15 schedule Wednesday and you can take a look for yourself at the end of this post.

The first issue to notice is the gap between Nov. 22 and Dec. 3. The Hilltoppers are still contracted to be a part of the NIT Season Tip-Off and that tournament fits into that space somewhere with one road game and three neutral-site games. That tournament will be officially announced when the NIT organizers see fit – whenever that is.

Secondly, there is but one contest for WKU against its arch-rival Middle Tennessee. There is no reasoning behind this other than that’s the way Conference USA mapped it out. Everyone knew each team would play five teams twice for a home-and-home series, so of course WKU and MTSU figured one of those home-and-home matchups would be against each other. Alas, it is not.

In seasons that WKU and MTSU have met in hoops, not since 1998 have the two played just one time – a 51-45 Hilltoppers’ win in Nashville.

Also note that some of these Conference USA dates could change if and when television gets involved.

Here are some more notes on the nonconference slate:

•The Tops open the season Nov. 14 at home against Austin Peay, a team they defeated 74-54 in 2012 at E.A. Diddle Arena. Western Kentucky has reeled off six straight wins against the Governors. APSU went 12-18 last season and finished with an RPI of 236. The Govs haven’t won in Bowling Green since 1987.

•Western Kentucky will try to get some revenge on Bowling Green State. The Falcons beat up on WKU 74-62 in 2013 – one of just 12 wins for BGSU last season. State finished with an RPI of 140.

•Belmont will come to E.A. Diddle Arena on Nov. 22 for the first game in a four-game series. The Tops will then travel to Nashville in 2015 and 2016 before the Bruins come back to Bowling Green in 2017. Belmont went 26-10 (with an RPI of 57) and lost to Clemson in the quarterfinals of the NIT last season.

The two programs have only played six times, the last meeting coming in 2000 – an 80-52 triumph by Belmont.

•Western Kentucky will travel to Murray State on Dec. 6 in what is the last game included in the current contract between the two programs. The Tops broke a three-game losing streak to the Racers this past season with a 71-64 win inside E.A. Diddle Arena. Murray State finished 23-11 last season, won the 2014 Collegeinsider.com tournament and are on a five-game winning streak going into the 2014-15 season.

•Western Kentucky will travel to Mississippi for the first time on Dec. 13. The Rebels finished the 2013-14 season with a 19-14 record and RPI of 94. Ole Miss won 79-74 at E.A. Diddle Arena last season.

•Chicago State comes to Bowling Green on Dec. 17. The Cougars went 13-19 in 2013-14 and finished with an RPI of 259. The Tops are 2-0 against CSU with the last meeting coming in 2002 in Hawaii.

•The Hilltoppers will host Louisville on Dec. 20 for the first time since 2010 (a 1114-82 loss at E.A. Diddle Arena). The Cardinals went 31-6 in 2013-14 and Western Kentucky hasn’t defeated Louisville since 2008. The Tops lost the 2013 matchup 79-63 and a loss this season would even the all-time series at 39 wins apiece. Louisville last lost to WKU in Bowling Green in 1950.

•Western Kentucky finishes the nonconference portion of the schedule Dec. 27 and 29 against Brescia and Alice Lloyd, respectively. WKU beat Brescia 103-65 last season to improve to 2-0 all-time against the Bearcats. Alice Lloyd, an NAIA program out of Pippa Passes, Ky., went 14-16 last year and has never faced Western Kentucky before.

•The 2015 Conference USA basketball tournament will be held in Birmingham, Ala.