# 1985–86 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team

The 1985–86 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky University during the 1985–86 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Hilltoppers were led by Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year Clem Haskins, in his final year at the helm. WKU finished second in the conference and received a bid to the 1986 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. This team's roster featured three future NBA players Tellis Frank, Kannard Johnson, and Clarence Martin. Billy Gordon, Johnson, and Martin were selected to the All-Conference Team, while Ray Swogger made the SBC All-Tournament Team.

## Schedule

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | Site city, state |
| Regular Season ||||||
| 11/23/1985* | | Samford | W 80–47 | 1–0 | E. A. Diddle Arena Bowling Green, KY |
| 11/27/1985* | | Cincinnati | W 69–58 | 2–0 | E. A. Diddle Arena Bowling Green, KY |
| 12/2/1985* | | Southern Illinois | W 77–67 | 3–0 | E. A. Diddle Arena Bowling Green, KY |
| 12/6/1985* | | Chaminade Wendy’s Classic | W 101–75 | 4–0 | E. A. Diddle Arena Bowling Green, KY |
| 12/7/1985* | | No. 19 Auburn Wendy’s Classic | W 71–58 | 5–0 | E. A. Diddle Arena Bowling Green, KY |
| 12/9/1985* | | Middle Tennessee | W 86–74 | 6–0 | E. A. Diddle Arena Bowling Green, KY |
| 11/29/1986* | | Columbus College | W 87–61 | 7–0 | E. A. Diddle Arena Bowling Green, KY |
| 12/14/1985* | | at No. 15 Louisville | L 70–73 | 7–1 | Freedom Hall Louisville, KY |
| 12/21/1985* | | at Morehead State | W 75–68 | 8–1 | Ellis Johnson Arena Morehead, KY |
| 12/28/1985 | | ODU | L 59–62 | 8–2 (0-1) | E. A. Diddle Arena Bowling Green, KY |
| 1/4/1986* | | at No. 20 Virginia Tech | L 71–85 | 8–3 | Cassell Coliseum Blacksburg, VA |
| 1/6/1986* | | Murray State | W 80–58 | 9–3 | E. A. Diddle Arena Bowling Green, KY |
| 1/11/1986 | | at South Florida | W 57–45 | 10–3 (1-1) | USF Sun Dome Tampa, FL |
| 1/13/1986* | | at Tennessee State | W 69–58 | 11–3 | Gentry Complex Nashville, TN |
| 1/16/1986 | | at No. 12 UAB | W 75–72 $^{OT}$ | 12–3 (2-1) | Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex Birmingham, AL |
| 1/20/1986 | | VCU | W 62–60 | 13–3 (3-1) | E. A. Diddle Arena Bowling Green, KY |
| 1/22/1986* | | Dayton | W 64–62 | 14–3 | E. A. Diddle Arena Bowling Green, KY |
| 1/25/1986 | | No. 18 UAB | W 81–75 | 15–3 (4-1) | E. A. Diddle Arena Bowling Green, KY |
| 1/30/1986 | | at UNCC | W 78–67 | 16–3 (5-1) | Belk Gymnasium Charlotte, NC |
| 2/1/1986 | | South Alabama | W 68–52 | 17–3 (6-1) | E. A. Diddle Arena Bowling Green, KY |
| 2/3/1986 | | Jacksonville | W 51–46 | 18–3 (7-1) | E. A. Diddle Arena Bowling Green, KY |
| 2/6/1986 | No. 19 | at ODU | L 61–74 | 18–4 (7-2) | Norfolk Scope Norfolk, VA |
| 2/8/1986 | No. 19 | UNCC | W 78–68 | 19–4 (8-2) | E. A. Diddle Arena Bowling Green, KY |
| 2/10/1986 | No. 19 | at Jacksonville | L 65–70 | 19–5 (8-3) | Swisher Gymnasium Jacksonville, FL |
| 2/13/1986 | | South Florida | W 77–57 | 20–5 (9-3) | E. A. Diddle Arena Bowling Green, KY |
| 2/17/1986 | | at South Alabama | W 53–51 | 21–5 (10-3) | Mitchell Center Mobile, AL |
| 2/22/1986 | | at VCU | L 56–60 | 21–6 (10-4) | Richmond Coliseum Richmond, VA |
| 1986 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament ||||||
| 2/27/1986 | (2) | vs. (7) South Florida Quarterfinals | W 57–46 | 22–6 | Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex Birmingham, AL |
| 2/28/1986 | (2) | at (3) UAB Semifinals | L 45–57 | 22–7 | Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex Birmingham, AL |
| 1986 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament ||||||
| 3/14/1986* | (8 SE) | vs. (9 SE) Nebraska First Round | W 67–59 | 23–7 | Charlotte Coliseum Charlotte, NC |
| 3/16/1986* | (8 SE) | vs. (1 SE) No. 3 Kentucky Second Round | L 64–71 | 23–8 | Charlotte Coliseum Charlotte, NC |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll (S#) during Tournament is seed. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. ||||||

## Awards and honors

* Clem Haskins – Sun Belt co-Coach of the Year