WKU Men’s Basketball will trade the Bluegrass for the bright lights of Paradise Island this November, as the Hilltoppers are slated to square off against Vanderbilt in the opening round of the 2025 Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament. Tipoff is set for 11 a.m. CT on November 26 at the Imperial Arena, with national coverage on ESPN.
The Hilltoppers, who sport an 11-14 all-time record against the Commodores, will look for redemption after their last meeting in Nashville in 2010 resulted in a 62-82 setback. Despite trailing in the series, WKU’s history against Vanderbilt dates all the way back to 1926, a stretch that saw the Hilltoppers take seven of the first nine matchups. Vanderbilt, who comes in boasting a 20-12 record and a NET ranking of 40 from last season, will provide a formidable challenge out of the gate.
Awaiting WKU in the second round on November 27 is a meeting with either South Florida or VCU, with tipoff set for 11 a.m. or 4:30 p.m. CT. The Bulls finished last year at 12-19 with a NET of 189, while VCU rolled to a 27-6 mark and secured a final NET ranking of 31, a potential test for any team in the bracket.
History is never far behind when it comes to the Hilltoppers. WKU is 45-47 all-time against the Battle 4 Atlantis field, and has squared off with every opponent at least three times with the exception of Colorado State. The Rams and Hilltoppers have met just once in program history.
The three-day showcase guarantees at least three games for WKU, culminating with the tournament championship at noon CT on November 28, live on ESPN2.
Notably, this marks WKU’s first basketball appearance outside the continental United States since competing in the 2023 Northern Classic in Quebec, Canada, a fitting stage for a Hilltopper squad eager to make some noise on the national scene.
