The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers open the regular season Friday night as they welcome Missouri State to Diddle Arena. WKU went 3-0 in exhibition play in the preseason, winning at Division I program Samford and routing NAIA foes Campbellsville and Cumberland at home.
Missouri State is the preseason favorite to win the Missouri Valley Conference and features MVC Preseason Player of the Year Alize Johnson, a senior forward considered a strong NBA prospect.
The Bears and Hilltoppers have never met, and WKU head coach Rick Stansbury has also never faced Missouri State.
