“I WOULDN’T TRADE HIM FOR ANY PLAYER IN THE COUNTRY”, THE ACE UP PLONA’S SLEEVE

Don McHenry opened the season on the Conference USA Pre-Season All-Conference Team. He led the Hilltoppers in scoring last season and was expected to continue leading WKU this season.

Once conference play started, McHenry charted less than 16 points in the first five games of league play. The senior guard made four field goals in five games, shooting 14% from the field.

“By their approach to me [they said] we know you and you’re going to be alright,” Don Mchenry said. “It gave me that confidence to continue to just play through it.”

During the Hilltoppers road trip to Sam Houston State, Coach Plona decided to remove McHenry from the starting lineup.

“The logic at Sam Houston State was just to try to do something a little bit different,” Head Coach Hank Plona said. “I think as a team and for him just trying to kind of get him going, and then once it’s kind of been working, we just haven’t changed it since.”

That decision is now making a huge impact. Since Sam Houston, McHenry has improved his shooting from 14% to 46% from the field and 43% from behind the arc. 

McHenry just earned Conference USA’s “Player of the Week” award for the second time this season. His weekend was capped off by a scorching performance against New Mexico State, where he scored 27 points, shooting seven of nine from three.

“He’s obviously a champion in every regard,” Plona said. “I wouldn’t trade him for any player in the country.”

This change has worked. Now Hilltopper fans can sit back and watch Don McHenry, one of the most entertaining players in all of college basketball.

WKU will travel to Kennesaw State on Thursday, Feb. 6 to face the Owls. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.