GAME NOTES: The new season will tip off for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and the Austin Peay Governors on Saturday afternoon at E.A. Diddle Arena.

APSU was little more than an afterthought in the Ohio Valley Conference a season ago, as it finished just 12-18 overall with a 6-10 record in league play. The silver lining for the Governors was that the campaign was still an improvement upon the 2012-13 season (8-23, 4-12 OVC).

WKU was one of the best in the Sun Belt Conference in recent years under head coach Ray Harper, as the squad qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2012 and 2013 and won 20 games a season ago. The Hilltoppers will be in for more of a challenge this season as a member of Conference USA.

The programs are only separated by about 60 miles and have gotten to know each other well over the years. WKU holds a 38-14 advantage over APSU and won the most recent matchup in November of 2012, 74-54.

The Governors will unfortunately need to adjust to life without two of their best players from the 2013-14 season, as both Travis Betran (15.9 ppg, 2.3 apg) and Will Triggs (12.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg) have moved on. Chris Horton will be the catalyst on both ends of the floor as one of the most well-rounded forwards in the OVC, as he not only scored 13.2 ppg a season ago but logged 9.5 rpg and 3.1 blocks per contest. Ed Dyson (9.9 ppg) just missed double digits and was an impressive shooter from the floor (.506) and 3-point range (.424). Zavion Williams (8.3 ppg), Damarius Smith (8.0 ppg, 5.6 apg) and junior college transfer Khalil Davis (6-5, 175) are also expected to play big roles.

The Hilltoppers are expected to be one of C-USA's best right away thanks to the return of their four top scorers from last season. T.J. Price (15.5 ppg) is the go-to scorer and is not bashful to chuck it from beyond the arc (72- of-201, .358). George Fant (13.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg) brings toughness to the interior and is a great defender with nearly a block and a steal per game. Trency Jackson (10.2 ppg) and Chris Harrison-Docks (9.9 ppg) also bring valuable production to the veteran squad, and even Aleksej Rostov (4.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg) has starting experience.

WKU boasted an outstanding home record in 2013-14 (13-4) and should expect similar success at E.A. Diddle Arena this season with a stellar squad. In front of a rowdy crowd, the Hilltoppers shouldn't have much of an issue moving to 1-0.