# 2005–06 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team

The 2005–06 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky University during the 2005–06 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Hilltoppers were led by head coach Darrin Horn and Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year Anthony Winchester. The team won the East Division Championship and finished 2nd in the Sun Belt Basketball tournament. They participated in the National Invitation Tournament where they were defeated by eventual champion, South Carolina. Winchester and future NBA player Courtney Lee were named to the All SBC team. Elgrace Wilborn and Winchester made the SBC All-Tournament team.

## Schedule

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | Site city, state |
| Regular season ||||||
| 11/18/2005* | | Austin Peay | W 83–54 | 1–0 | E. A. Diddle Arena (6,210) Bowling Green, KY |
| 11/22/2005* | | IUPUI | W 89–75 | 2–0 | E. A. Diddle Arena (4,467) Bowling Green, KY |
| 11/26/2005* | | Georgia | L 65–69 | 2–1 | E. A. Diddle Arena (7,336) Bowling Green, KY |
| 11/29/2005* | | at UAB | W 92–76 | 3–1 | Bartow Arena (3,835) Birmingham, AL |
| 12/3/2005* | | at Eastern Kentucky | W 97–89 | 4–1 | Alumni Coliseum (6,250) Richmond, VA |
| 12/6/2005* | | Evansville | W 84–77 | 5–1 | E. A. Diddle Arena (5,293) Bowling Green, KY |
| 12/10/2005* | | Pacific | L 75–91 | 5–2 | E. A. Diddle Arena (5,047) Bowling Green, KY |
| 12/14/2005* | | at Bradley | L 76–78 | 5–3 | Carver Arena (7,514) Peoria, IL |
| 12/19/2005* | | vs. Central Florida Fiesta Bowl Classic | W 73–68 | 6–3 | McKale Center (14,577) Tucson, AZ |
| 12/21/2005* | | vs. No. 11 Arizona Fiesta Bowl Classic | L 81–86 $^{OT}$ | 6–4 | McKale Center (14,589) Tucson, AZ |
| 12/29/2005* | | Kentucky State | W 87–71 | 7–4 | E. A. Diddle Arena (4,597) Bowling Green, KY |
| 01/2/2006* | | Virginia | W 78–68 | 8–4 | E. A. Diddle Arena (4,981) Bowling Green, KY |
| 01/5/2006 | | at Arkansas State | W 72–70 | 9–4 (1-0) | Convocation Center (3,239) Jonesboro, AR |
| 01/7/2006 | | Middle Tennessee | W 80–48 | 10–4 (2-0) | E. A. Diddle Arena (5,979) Bowling Green, KY |
| 1/12/2006 | | Arkansas–Little Rock | W 74–70 | 11–4 (3-0) | E. A. Diddle Arena (4,085) Bowling Green, KY |
| 01/14/2006 | | Arkansas State | W 87–63 | 12–4 (4-0) | E. A. Diddle Arena (5,111) Bowling Green, KY |
| 1/19/2006 | | at Troy | L 49–76 | 12–5 (4-1) | Sartain Hall (3,048) Troy, AL |
| 1/21/2006 | | at South Alabama | W 74–73 | 13–5 (5-1) | Mitchell Center (5,291) Mobile, AL |
| 01/26/2006 | | Louisiana–Lafayette | W 94–81 | 14–5 (6-1) | E. A. Diddle Arena (7,326) Bowling Green, KY |
| 01/28/2006 | | New Orleans | W 72–57 | 15–5 (7-1) | E. A. Diddle Arena (5,372) Bowling Green, KY |
| 1/31/2006 | | at FIU | W 66–61 | 16–5 (8-1) | Ocean Bank Convocation Center (1,103) University Park, FL |
| 02/9/2006 | | at Denver | W 71–70 | 17–5 (9-1) | Magness Arena (1,401) Denver, CO |
| 02/11/2006 | | North Texas | W 97–71 | 18–5 (10-1) | E. A. Diddle Arena (5,505) Bowling Green, KY |
| 2/16/2006 | | at Arkansas–Little Rock | W 74–73 | 19–5 (11-1) | Jack Stephens Center (3,125) Little Rock, AR |
| 02/18/2006* | | Northern Arizona Bracket Buster | W 79–58 | 20–5 | E. A. Diddle Arena (7,326) Bowling Green, KY |
| 02/23/2006 | | at Middle Tennessee | L 74–80 | 20–6 (11-2) | Murphy Center (7,097) Murfreesboro, TN |
| 02/25/2006 | | FIU | W 80–65 | 21–6 (12-2) | E. A. Diddle Arena (7,326) Bowling Green, KY |
| 2006 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament ||||||
| 03/05/2006 | (1E) | vs. (4W) New Orleans Second Round | W 80–61 | 22–6 | Murphy Center (3,977) Murfreesboro, TN |
| 03/6/2006 | (1E) | vs. (2W) Louisiana–Lafayette Semifinals | W 80–72 | 23–6 | Murphy Center (2,349) Murfreesboro, TN |
| 03/7/2006 | (1E) | vs. (1W) South Alabama Championship Game | L 70–95 | 23–7 | Murphy Center (5,007) Murfreesboro, TN |
| 2006 National Invitation Tournament ||||||
| 03/15/2006* | (6 C) | at (3 C) South Carolina First Round | L 55–74 | 23–8 | Colonial Life Arena (4,732) Columbia, SC |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll (C) during NIT Tournament is seed with Region. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. ||||||