# 2017–18 Western Illinois Leathernecks men's basketball team

The 2017–18 Western Illinois Leathernecks men's basketball team represented Western Illinois University during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Leathernecks, led by fourth-year head coach Billy Wright, played their home games at Western Hall in Macomb, Illinois as members of the Summit League. They finished the season 12–16, 3–11 in Summit League play to finish in last place. They lost in the quarterfinals of the Summit League tournament to South Dakota State.

## Previous season

The Leathernecks finished the season 8–20, 5–11 in Summit League play to finish in eighth place. They lost in the quarterfinals of the Summit League tournament to South Dakota.

## Preseason

In a poll of league coaches, media, and sports information directors, the Leathernecks were picked to finish last in the Summit League.

## Schedule and results

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | Site (attendance) city, state |
| Regular season ||||||
| Nov 11, 2017* 7:00 pm | | Saint Mary's (MN) | W 109–68 | 1–0 | Western Hall (694) Macomb, IL |
| Nov 15, 2017* 7:00 pm | | Eastern Illinois | W 56–54 | 2–0 | Western Hall (645) Macomb, IL |
| Nov 18, 2017* 7:00 pm | | Calvary | W 102–25 | 3–0 | Western Hall (503) Macomb, IL |
| Nov 22, 2017* 7:00 pm | | at SIU Edwardsville | W 69–67 | 4–0 | Vadalabene Center (1,126) Edwardsville, IL |
| Nov 25, 2017* 7:00 pm | | at Iowa State | L 45–70 | 4–1 | Hilton Coliseum (13,647) Ames, IA |
| Nov 28, 2017* 7:00 pm | | IUPUI | W 90–77 | 5–1 | Western Hall (589) Macomb, IL |
| Dec 2, 2017* 7:00 pm | | Miami (OH) | L 73–76 $^{2OT}$ | 5–2 | Western Hall (658) Macomb, IL |
| Dec 6, 2017* 7:00 pm | | American | W 69–56 | 6–2 | Western Hall (616) Macomb, IL |
| Dec 9, 2017* 7:00 pm | | Milwaukee | W 90–69 | 7–2 | Western Hall (663) Macomb, IL |
| Dec 19, 2017* 7:30 pm | | at Eastern Illinois | L 77–78 | 7–3 | Lantz Arena (737) Charleston, IL |
| Dec 21, 2017* 7:30 pm, FSN | | at Butler | L 46–107 | 7–4 | Hinkle Fieldhouse (7,779) Indianapolis, IN |
| Dec 31, 2017* 2:00 pm | | Lincoln Christian | W 91–57 | 8–4 | Western Hall (523) Macomb, IL |
| Jan 3, 2018 2:00 pm | | at South Dakota | L 50–62 | 8–5 (0–1) | Sanford Coyote Sports Center (1,766) Vermillion, SD |
| Jan 6, 2018 7:00 pm | | at Oral Roberts | L 66–81 | 8–6 (0–2) | Mabee Center (2,146) Tulsa, OK |
| Jan 11, 2018 7:00 pm | | Omaha | L 66–87 | 8–7 (0–3) | Western Hall (467) Macomb, IL |
| Jan 13, 2018* 2:00 pm | | Oak Hills Christian | W 107–45 | 9–7 | Western Hall (425) Macomb, IL |
| Jan 17, 2018 7:00 pm | | Fort Wayne | W 75–74 $^{OT}$ | 10–7 (1–3) | Western Hall (482) Macomb, IL |
| Jan 20, 2018 7:00 pm | | South Dakota State | L 70–98 | 10–8 (1–4) | Western Hall (841) Macomb, IL |
| Jan 25, 2018 8:00 pm | | at Denver | L 58–70 | 10–9 (1–5) | Magness Arena (935) Denver, CO |
| Jan 27, 2018 2:00 pm, ESPN3 | | at North Dakota State | L 69–80 | 10–10 (1–6) | Scheels Center (3,187) Fargo, ND |
| Feb 1, 2018 7:00 pm, ESPN3 | | South Dakota | L 54–80 | 10–11 (1–7) | Western Hall (567) Macomb, IL |
| Feb 3, 2018 2:00 pm, ESPN3 | | Oral Roberts | W 82–56 | 11–11 (2–7) | Western Hall (712) Macomb, IL |
| Feb 8, 2018 7:00 pm | | at Omaha | L 68–71 | 11–12 (2–8) | Baxter Arena (2,255) Omaha, NE |
| Feb 14, 2018 6:00 pm | | at Fort Wayne | L 74–90 | 11–13 (2–9) | Hilliard Gates Sports Center (948) Fort Wayne, IN |
| Feb 17, 2018 2:00 pm | | at South Dakota State | L 62–82 | 11–14 (2–10) | Frost Arena (2,873) Brookings, SD |
| Feb 22, 2018 7:00 pm | | North Dakota State | W 82–74 | 12–14 (3–10) | Western Hall (641) Macomb, IL |
| Feb 24, 2018 7:00 pm | | Denver | L 52–89 | 12–15 (3–11) | Western Hall (614) Macomb, IL |
| Summit League tournament ||||||
| Mar 3, 2018 6:00 pm, ESPN3 | (8) | vs. (1) South Dakota State Quarterfinals | L 60–66 | 12–16 | Premier Center (10,771) Sioux Falls, SD |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Central Time. ||||||
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