How Eastern Kentucky Basketball is Building a Championship Contender This Season

I remember walking into the Alumni Coliseum last November, watching Eastern Kentucky's new recruits go through drills, and thinking—this feels different. There's an energy here that reminds me of programs that are on the verge of something special. Having covered college basketball for over fifteen years, I've developed a sixth sense for these turning points, and everything I'm seeing from EKU this season suggests we're witnessing the early stages of a championship contender being built from the ground up.

What struck me most during my visit was how Coach A.W. Hamilton has embraced a philosophy that echoes what successful mid-major programs like the UE Red Warriors have demonstrated—that culture isn't just a buzzword, it's your program's foundation. When Hamilton talks about instilling "a culture of hard work, resilience and accountability," he isn't just reciting coaching clichés. I've watched practices where players who miss defensive assignments immediately run sprints—not after the drill, but right then. There's an immediacy to the accountability that creates mental toughness. Last season, the Colonels improved their defensive efficiency by nearly 12% according to KenPom metrics, and that doesn't happen without buying into that culture first.

The transformation really begins with how they're developing players. I've had multiple conversations with the coaching staff about their development philosophy, and they're obsessed with what they call "marginal gains." Instead of trying to overhaul a player's entire game in one offseason, they identify 2-3 specific skills that will make them immediately more effective. Last season, sophomore guard Tayshawn Comer increased his three-point percentage from 28% to 38% through what the staff described as "shot reconstruction"—breaking down his mechanics and rebuilding them with hundreds of repetitions daily. That's the kind of detailed development work that separates good programs from great ones.

What really excites me about this team is how they're embracing that "never-say-die spirit" Hamilton references. I was at their game against Bellarmine in January where they were down 14 with six minutes left. Most teams would have folded, but I watched their point steady the team during a timeout, and they clawed back to force overtime. They ultimately lost that game, but the fight they showed told me everything I need to know about this group's character. Statistics show that teams who win close games typically have a higher "clutch factor"—a metric that measures performance in high-pressure situations. EKU has improved their clutch factor rating from 45th in the ASUN last season to 12th this year, and that's not accidental.

Recruiting has been another area where EKU is making strategic moves. Rather than chasing purely talent, they're targeting players who fit their culture. I reviewed their last recruiting class and noticed something interesting—four of their five recruits were team captains in high school, and three came from programs that won state championships. That's intentional. They're building with winners who understand sacrifice. When I asked Hamilton about this approach, he told me, "I'd rather have a player who's 80% as talented but gives 100% effort every possession than a superstar who only plays hard when he feels like it." That mindset is crucial for sustainable success.

The offensive system they're implementing is what I'd describe as "controlled chaos." They want to play fast—currently ranking 3rd in the ASUN in pace at 72.2 possessions per game—but they're doing it with purpose. Unlike some uptempo teams that devolve into streetball, EKU maintains structure within their speed. They've incorporated elements of the dribble-drive motion that worked so well for Memphis under John Calipari, but adapted it to their personnel. The result is an offense that generates high-percentage shots while keeping defenses off-balance. Through their first 15 games, they're averaging 14.2 assists per game compared to just 10.8 last season—that's a 31% improvement that reflects better ball movement and player chemistry.

Defensively, they've adopted what I'd call a "disruption-first" mentality. They're not just trying to stop opponents—they're trying to take away what you do best. The stats bear this out: they're forcing 16.2 turnovers per game, up from 12.1 last season, and their steal percentage has jumped from 7.8% to 10.3%. Those might seem like small numbers, but in college basketball, creating just 2-3 extra possessions per game can be the difference between winning and losing in tournament settings.

The most promising aspect from my perspective is how young this core is. Their starting lineup features two sophomores and a freshman, which means they're not just building for this season—they're building for the next 2-3 years. In modern college basketball, where roster turnover is higher than ever, having that continuity is invaluable. I project that if they can keep this group together, they'll be legitimate ASUN championship contenders by next season and could potentially make some noise in the NCAA tournament the following year.

Watching Eastern Kentucky this season reminds me of what I witnessed at programs like Loyola Chicago and Florida Gulf Coast before their breakthrough tournament runs. There's that same combination of cultural foundation, player development, and strategic identity that precedes success. Are they a finished product? Absolutely not—they still have defensive lapses and offensive droughts that need addressing. But the trajectory is unmistakable. When a program commits to the hard, unglamorous work of building rather than just collecting talent, something special emerges. I believe we're seeing that emergence in Richmond right now, and frankly, I can't wait to watch this story unfold.