For all the heat Western Kentucky’s defense has taken this season, the Hilltoppers’ defense persists with the argument that it has made improvement.

Hilltopper fans may want to turn away from some of the numbers – 39 points allowed per game, 501 yards allowed per game and rushing and passing defenses that rank 113th and 114th nationally, respectively. The only stat that WKU is truly concerned with is the “W,” and the Hilltoppers (7-5) have reeled off four straight of those going into Wednesday’s Bahamas Bowl.

“We’ve improved a lot,” WKU defensive coordinator Nick Holt said. “It’s still kind of a work in progress. The young guys have gotten older. They’ve gotten a lot of reps. Our new kids that joined us in the spring, the junior college kids, have gotten better. And I think we’re playing with a little more confidence, and guys are having fun.

“We have gotten better, and that’s what you’re supposed to do throughout the season. We’re fired up that we have another opportunity to play.”

The Hilltoppers are allowing eight fewer points per game during their winning streak, and that includes holding Texas San Antonio to seven points – but also allowing 66 to Marshall.

Four of the team’s seven takeaways the past four contests came in that Marshall win, and three of those were interceptions by redshirt sophomore Branden Leston.

The safety is one of a slew of young WKU defenders still growing and trying to hold on until the end of the year.

“We had a couple good games defensively,” Leston said. “The Marshall game we made some plays, but it wasn’t as good as we wanted it to be. Making a statement this game will be good going into next year.”

Only two starters in the regular-season finale at Marshall were seniors, cornerback Cam Thomas and linebacker Terran Williams. That means the other nine Hilltoppers to take the field Wednesday against Central Michigan are in line to start in 2015. They hope that they’ll be a better unit when next year starts by ending this one on a good note.

The Chippewas will not be an easy team to do that against. Central Michigan has a balanced attack that features dangerous playmakers.

Sophomore quarterback Cooper Rush has thrown for 2,664 yards and 20 scores this season. He is, however, coming off a three-interception game in a loss to Western Michigan and eight of his 12 picks this year happened in the final four contests.

Rush will be looking primarily for Titus Davis, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound senior who is projected to be an NFL Draft pick this spring. The Wheaton, Ill., product has 54 catches for 843 yards and nine scores in nine games this season. He ranks 17th nationally with 93.7 receiving yards per game.

On the ground, senior Thomas Rawls was charged with the tough task of replacing Zurlon Tipton. Tipton, now with the Indianapolis Colts, ran for 101 yards against WKU in the 2012 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl. Rawls ran for 1,103 yards and 10 scores this season and his 122.6 yards per game ranks 17th nationally.

“Big, physical team,” Holt said of CMU. “This is a team that they have a lot of good stuff – two tight ends, two backs, a couple good runnings backs, a really good receiver. I like their tight ends. Very, very well-coached.

“So it’s a classic Midwest team that likes to run the ball. They’re good running the ball, therefore their play-action game is excellent. We’ve got our work cut out for us. It’s a great opportunity for us to go enjoy ourselves, but by the same token, go down there and represent WKU.”

WKU has allowed 471 points and 6,022 yards this season. Only one team, UTSA, has scored fewer than 24 points against WKU.

But, again, those numbers have come against a unit whose top four leading tacklers all have at least one season left as a Hilltopper. Leston leads the team in interceptions with four, redshirt junior Bryan Shorter leads the team with 5 1/2 sacks and junior Ge’Monee Brown leads WKU with eight tackles for loss.

Fifteen extra practices and an extra game this postseason can only help.

“It’s great,” Leston said. “It’s getting the young guys ready for next year, some reps that they haven’t been getting all season. They’re getting prepared and we’re going to need everyone in this game to win.”

Hammond signs with WKU

Western Kentucky announced Wednesday the signing of Sidney Hammond (Kennesaw, Ga.) from Dodge City Community College.

The 6-foot-2, 255-pound defensive end finished third on his team in tackles with 51 this season to go along with seven tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble.

— Follow Western Kentucky University football reporter Chad Bishop on Twitter at twitter.com/MrChadBishop or visit bgdailynews.com.