Rick Stansbury attributes much of the success his 2017-18 team enjoyed to an August trip it took to Costa Rica.

Western Kentucky went through 10 full practices at home before heading to Central America. Once the Hilltoppers got there, they played three exhibitions against foreign teams.

“Going to Costa Rica last year and playing those games, having those 10 days of practice together, so much bonding took place,” Stansbury said. “When we came back home we were so advanced, even though we had a new team.”

NCAA rules limit the number of preseason tours teams can take in a four-year window, so WKU was unable to experience that again this season.

Stansbury hopes his team’s experience over the next week at the Myrtle Beach Invitational can yield similar results.

“Going on these road trips … those are bonding trips,” Stansbury said. “When you’re on the road, it makes you bond while you’re playing. I like playing at neutral-site environments against good teams.”

The Toppers (1-1) left Bowling Green on Tuesday for Myrtle Beach, S.C. They’ll play three games over four days in nearby Conway, S.C., starting Thursday against Valparaiso (1-0).

ESPN created the tournament and its networks will air each game from the HTC Center, including WKU’s Thursday matchup with the Crusaders (4 p.m. CST, ESPNU).

The Hilltoppers stand at 1-1 after a loss Nov. 6 at then-No. 25 Washington and a home victory Saturday against UT-Martin.

“Well, we’ve had a good early test on the road at Washington and we’re going to go get another good test over there in a really good tournament against three really quality teams,” Stansbury said. “It doesn’t matter who we play. All three of them are really good teams on a neutral court.

“I like some road games. I like playing at home but road games, especially with a new team some, that’s where you bond.”

Valpo has played only once this season, and it was against a non-Division I team in Concordia University Chicago.

The Crusaders won that Nov. 6 game 121-65. Six players scored in double figures, led by a 22-point effort from guard Javon Freeman.

Valparaiso played that night without Micah Bradford, who averaged 5.1 points per game last season. Bradford was suspended by coach Matt Lottich for the season’s first two games, so he’ll also miss the WKU contest.

The Tops and Crusaders have never met, but Stansbury shares a significant date with the Valpo program.

On March 13, 1998, Bryce Drew nailed a buzzer-beating 3-pointer that lifted the No. 13-seed Crusaders to a 70-69 upset of No. 4-seed Mississippi in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

That same day, Stansbury was introduced as the new head coach at Mississippi State. He coached the Bulldogs for 14 seasons.

“That’s when Ole Miss was really good, probably their best team,” Stansbury said of 1998. “They were a top-15 team and they got beat the first round.

“Like I said, it was my first day. Thirty minutes after that was my introductory press conference that day. I probably said something that set the tone from there on.”

Stansbury is now in his third year at WKU. Should his team beat Valparaiso on Thursday, it’ll face the winner of that day’s Monmouth-West Virginia matchup Friday.

Saturday is an off day at the event. The Hilltoppers will then face Cal State Fullerton, Central Florida, Saint Joseph’s or Wake Forest for their third game Sunday, depending on how the bracket shakes out.

Notes

WKU has made at least one 3-pointer in 978 straight games. … Valparaiso marks the first of three Missouri Valley Conference teams the Hilltoppers will face over the next few weeks. WKU plays at Indiana State on Nov. 24 and at Missouri State on Dec. 5. … The Toppers are 2-3 in neutral-court, early-season tournaments under Stansbury. WKU went 2-1 last year at the Battle 4 Atlantis and 0-2 in 2016 at the Global Sports Classic. … Hilltopper center Charles Bassey is coming off a week where he averaged 13 points and 10.5 rebounds per game and was named Conference USA Freshman of the Week.

Valparaiso (1-0) vs. Western Kentucky (1-1)

4 p.m. CST Thursday, HTC Center, Conway, S.C.

Probable starters

Valparaiso

Javon Freeman, g, 6-3, fr. (22 ppg, 4 apg); Deion Lavender, g, 6-3, r-sr. (9 ppg, 5 apg); Mileek McMillian, f, 6-8, so. (3 ppg, 3 rpg); Ryan Fazekas, g, 6-7, r-jr. (18 ppg, 7 rpg); Bakari Evelyn, g, 6-2, r-jr. (12 ppg, 5 apg)

Western Kentucky

Josh Anderson, g, 6-6, so. (3.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg); Taveion Hollingsworth, g, 6-2, so. (18 ppg, 5.5 rpg); Jared Savage, g/f, 6-5, r-jr. (15.5 ppg, 3 rpg); Desean Murray, f, 6-4, g-sr. (18 ppg, 7 rpg); Charles Bassey, c, 6-11, fr. (13 ppg, 10.5 rpg)

Broadcast

ESPNU

Radio

WKLX 100.7-FM

Coaches

Matt Lottich (40-26, third year; 40-26 overall), Washington; Rick Stansbury (43-29, third year; 336-195 overall), Western Kentucky

Series record

First meeting

Last time out

Valparaiso beat Concordia University Chicago 121-65 at home Nov. 6; Western Kentucky beat UT-Martin 86-71 at home Saturday.{&end}