# 2002–03 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team

The 2002–03 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky University during the 2002–03 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Hilltoppers were led by head coach Dennis Felton and All Sun Belt Conference forward, David Boyden. They finished 1st in the SBC East Division and won the conference tournament and automatic bid to the 2003 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. Joining Boyden on the All SBC team was Mike Wells and Patrick Sparks, as well as SBC Freshman of the Year, Anthony Winchester. Boyden and Wells also made the SBC All-Tournament team and Sparks was tournament MVP.

## Schedule

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | Site city, state |
| Regular season ||||||
| 11/23/2002* | No. 19 | at No. 1 Arizona | L 68–107 | 0–1 | McKale Center (14,584) Tucson, AZ |
| 11/26/2002* | | VCU | W 80–73 $^{OT}$ | 1–1 | E. A. Diddle Arena (5,131) Bowling Green, KY |
| 12/1/2002* | | vs. Auburn | W 89–70 | 2–1 | Gaylord Entertainment Center (6,589) Nashville, TN |
| 12/3/2002* | | at Evansville | L 76–81 $^{OT}$ | 2–2 | Roberts Municipal Stadium (6,900) Evansville, IN |
| 12/7/2002* | | at Murray State | L 72–83 | 2–3 | CFSB Center (7,288) Murray, KY |
| 12/15/2002* | | Illinois State | W 63–43 | 3–3 | E. A. Diddle Arena (5,130) Bowling Green, KY |
| 12/18/2002* | | Southern Mississippi | W 64–54 | 4–3 | E. A. Diddle Arena (4,270) Bowling Green, KY |
| 12/20/2002* | | Saint Francis (PA) | W 80–45 | 5–3 | E. A. Diddle Arena (3,641) Bowling Green, KY |
| 12/23/2002* | | at Pacific | L 57–70 | 5–4 | Alex G. Spanos Center (2,701) Stockton, CA |
| 12/28/2002* | | vs. Chicago State Rainbow Classic | W 63–56 | 6–4 | Stan Sheriff Center (6,097) Honolulu, HI |
| 12/29/2002* | | vs. Butler Rainbow Classic | L 60–63 | 6–5 | Stan Sheriff Center (7,184) Honolulu, HI |
| 12/30/2002* | | vs. Tennessee Tech Rainbow Classic | W 74–51 | 7–5 | Stan Sheriff Center (7,925) Honolulu, HI |
| 1/4/2003 | | at Middle Tennessee | L 65–69 | 7–6 (0–1) | Murphy Center (3,804) Murfreesboro, TN |
| 1/9/2003 | | at Arkansas–Little Rock | W 74–66 | 8–6 (1–1) | Alltel Arena (4,358) North Little Rock, AR |
| 1/11/2003 | | at Arkansas State | W 77–69 | 9–6 (2–1) | Convocation Center (5,262) Jonesboro, AR |
| 1/16/2003 | | New Orleans | W 78–59 | 10–6 (3–1) | E. A. Diddle Arena (3,752) Bowling Green, KY |
| 1/18/2003 | | South Alabama | W 85–69 | 11–6 (4–1) | E. A. Diddle Arena (6,418) Bowling Green, KY |
| 1/25/2003 | | at New Mexico State | L 82–92 | 11–7 (4–2) | Pan American Center (9,113) Las Cruces, NM |
| 1/30/2003 | | FIU | W 63–43 | 12–7 (5–2) | E. A. Diddle Arena (5,112) Bowling Green, KY |
| 2/1/2003* | | at Detroit | L 65–86 | 12–8 | Calihan Hall (3,362) Detroit, MI |
| 2/3/2003* | | Kentucky State | W 104–70 | 13–8 | E. A. Diddle Arena (3,743) Bowling Green, KY |
| 02/5/2003 | | Denver | W 81–77 | 14–8 (6–2) | E. A. Diddle Arena (4,707) Bowling Green, KY |
| 2/8/2003 | | at North Texas | W 85–70 | 15–8 (7–2) | UNT Coliseum (4,212) Denton, TX |
| 2/13/2003 | | Arkansas–Little Rock | W 70–51 | 16–8 (8–2) | E. A. Diddle Arena (4,108) Bowling Green, KY |
| 2/15/2003 | | Arkansas State | W 69–63 | 17–8 (9–2) | E. A. Diddle Arena (5,312) Bowling Green, KY |
| 2/19/2003 | | at FIU | W 71–58 | 18–8 (10–2) | Ocean Bank Convocation Center (689) University Park, FL |
| 2/22/2003* | | Ball State ESPN BracketBusters | W 84–79 | 19–8 | E. A. Diddle Arena (6,112) Bowling Green, KY |
| 2/26/2003 | | at Louisiana–Lafayette | W 69–66 | 20–8 (11–2) | Cajundome (9,121) Lafayette, LA |
| 3/1/2003 | | Middle Tennessee | W 85–83 $^{OT}$ | 21–8 (12–2) | E. A. Diddle Arena (7,412) Bowling Green, KY |
| Sun Belt tournament ||||||
| 3/8/2003 | (E1) | (E5) FIU Second Round | W 71–60 | 22–8 | E. A. Diddle Arena (7,259) Bowling Green, KY |
| 3/10/2003 | (E1) | (W2) New Mexico State Semifinals | W 78–59 | 23–8 | E. A. Diddle Arena (7,337) Bowling Green, KY |
| 3/11/2003 | (E1) | (E2) Middle Tennessee Finals | W 64–52 | 24–8 | E. A. Diddle Arena (8,118) Bowling Green, KY |
| NCAA tournament ||||||
| 03/20/2003* | (13 W) | vs. (4 W) No. 11 Illinois First Round | L 60–65 | 24–9 | RCA Dome (21,250) Indianapolis, IN |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll (W#) during NCAA Tournament is seed with Region. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. ||||||