Murray State University Athletics
Cronin expects 'all-out battle' against Western Kentucky Saturday
12/3/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Duke vs. North Carolina. Kentucky vs. Louisville. Sure, these rivalries are known by the national media and the average college basketball fan. But no rivalry at this level is as big as Murray State and Western Kentucky. This Saturday, the Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky will bring their 4-0 record to the Regional Special Events Center in Murray, Ky., to face the 3-1 Racers.
"I know it's a big game, and I love big games," Racer head coach Mick Cronin said. "I want a sellout."
These two programs are led by two young, rising second-year head coaches in Cronin and WKU's Darrin Horn. Both climbed their way up the coaching ladder by serving as assistant coaches at Conference USA programs, with Cronin serving at Cincinnati and Louisville and Horn coaching at Marquette.
Last year, on Dec. 7, the Racers brought their 5-0 record into E.A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green and was given all they could handle by the 0-4 Hilltoppers. The Racers survived in a close 100-95 double-overtime thriller that proved that when these rivals get together, you throw the records out the window.
"They are obviously playing hard, because they are winning," Cronin said. "They will be ready to play since we won there last year. Coach Horn will have them ready to play. They will play four guards at times, and they have an experienced backcourt in (Anthony) Winchester and (Antonio) Haynes. They are playing some pretty good freshmen. I expect an all-out battle between two young teams."
"Young" might be an understatement to describe these Racers. Sophomore starting forward Shawn Witherspoon is the only player who logged significant minutes last season, and he played just 10 minutes in last season's win at WKU, but the inexperience in the rivalry does not worry Cronin.
"I know we have a long way to go, and a lot of work to do," Cronin said. "As big a game as this is, I'm sure me and Coach Horn would gladly trade it for the chance to play on a Saturday in March."
The Hilltoppers are led by their playmaker Haynes. The senior from Camilla, Ga., is averaging 16.2 points per game as well as 4.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 3.0 steals per game while shooting 95 percent from the free-throw line (19-for-20). He had 23 points, seven assists and seven rebounds in 44 minutes last year against the Racers.
Winchester, who had seven points against Murray last year, averages a team-high 18.2 points per game, along with 8.8 rebounds per game and 3.2 assists per game. Winchester is also shooting 47.6 percent from the three-point line. Freshman Courtney Lee also has logged significant playing time, starting all four games and averaging 16.0 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Lee was a teammate of current Racer freshman redshirt Mike McCoy at Pike High School in Indianapolis.
The Racers have a balanced attack, with sophomore guard Trey Pearson leading the way with 16.0 points per game. Pearson is also averaging 4.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 3.8 steals in a team-high 32.8 minutes. Pearson also has not missed a free throw this season (15-for-15), shooting 100 percent.
The Hilltoppers lead the all-time series 94-49, but in 59 games played at Murray, the series is as even as it could possibly be, with WKU having the slight advantage at 30-29.
Tipoff for the game is set at 7:15 p.m.
