Story by
Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky.
With Moore back, Plona thinks WKU can excel this season
- Story byMessenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky.
- With Moore back, Plona thinks WKU can excel this season
The return of Teagan Moore to Western Kentucky University for another men's basketball season was something of a rarity in this age of multi-year transfers.
The redshirt junior guard (6-foot-6) was recently named the Conference USA preseason Player of the Year by Chris Dortch's Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, the publication announced in its preseason forecast.
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Moore was also selected to Blue Ribbon's five-player preseason All-CUSA Team, while the Hilltoppers were picked to finish second in CUSA entering the 2026-27 season.
The Dry Ridge, Kentucky, native is coming off one of the most productive individual campaigns in recent WKU basketball history. In 2025-26, he appeared in 27 games and made 25 starts, averaging 18.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Moore shot 52.9% from the field, 42.9% from 3-point range and 80.0% from the free throw line.
He ranked second in Conference USA in scoring and third in field-goal percentage, posting double figures in 23 of 27 games, including 22 outings with at least 15 points and 13 performances of 20 or more
"Teagan, it didn't seem like anybody else was able to hang on to a player as accomplished as Teagan," WKU coach Hank Plona said Tuesday before he spoke at the Cliff Hagan Boys & Girls Club Steak & Burger Dinner. "Teagan is unique, he focuses on what Teagan wants to do. Teagan wants to be a pro. He wants to play in the NBA or as close to it as possible.
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"We're helping him be more of a guard, more of a ball handler, be more of a passer. Do the things he needs to do in order to have a long term, successful basketball career.
"When you return a player like that you've got to make sure we add the right players because we want to make sure we have the best year we can with him returning."
In 2025-26, Plona steered the Hilltoppers to an 18-14 overall record, including a 12-4 mark at E.A. Diddle Arena and an 11-9 finish in Conference USA play, good for third place in the regular season standings.
Plona guided a trio of standout individual campaigns in Moore, senior forward Grant Newell and freshman guard Armelo Boone.
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Boone made an immediate impact in his debut season, averaging 10.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists per contest on his way to a spot on the CUSA All-Freshman Team.
There was 40 points a game returning for WKU and Plona added some transfers who are expected to be productive as well.
"We took Emondrek Erkins-Ford who played in our league and is probably as accomplished and good as any front court player in our league.
"We took a guard Sharron Young who transferred from Akron. I would be surprised if he's not our starting point guard.
WKU added some scoring to help Moore.
"I think we score the ball better," Plona said. "We can score better at all five spots. Sharron can score, EJ Walker can score, Emondrek and Moussa Konare can score.
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"We should be near the top (of the league). I don't know if that's at the very top. We had the most back, we added some good players. I really like our team."
WKU will have an exhibition game against Indiana on Sunday, Oct. 25 at the Ford Center in Evansville, Ind.
"It is a cool thing to do," Plona said. "The guys like challenging themselves before the season starts. We're willing to play (IU) at any time. The exhibition thing kind of worked, Evansville is close for us, it made a lot of sense to do."
