This is the Potter’s House.

Dennis Felton art the potter; Western basketball art the clay.

A pious reference is applicable here not because basketball is the Western coach’s religion, but because to many, basketball in Kentucky is.

Senior Nate Williams remembers the old days. Three years ago, the mission was surviving a three-hour practice. In those days, Western was building a Sun Belt Conference contender.

Individual game tickets for 2002-03 Hilltopper and Lady Topper basketball home games are still on sale.

Western will be led by a trio of stars this season, but the real strength of this team may come from some hidden talent.

The Hilltoppers return their top three leading scorers from a year ago. Senior center Chris Marcus, senior forward David Boyden and sophomore guard Patrick Sparks are the notable names on a team who will garner an unprecedented amount of attention and hype.

Making a schedule is no easy task. It becomes even more difficult while attempting to build a nationally prominent basketball program.

“It’s the toughest part of my job right now, even tougher than recruiting,” Coach Dennis Felton said.

When Chris Marcus decided the NBA could wait this summer, he made Western basketball fans as giddy as kids on Halloween night.

And it was a true trick or treat deal.

With the start of the men’s basketball season around the corner, hopes are running high.

“I think it’s pretty extraordinary what’s going on right now with Western basketball,” Coach Dennis Felton said. “A few years ago we were nobody, and now we’re considered one of the best in the country.”

East Division
1. Western Kentucky (11)
2. Arkansas-Little Rock
3. Middle Tennessee
4. Arkansas State
5. Florida International

Being a newcomer in a nationally ranked program is a task that involves little glory and a lot of work behind the scenes. This reality will soon hit the four freshmen entering the highly touted Western basketball squad.