Tops try to define roles: Slaughter knows his part, but rest of cast still auditioning as LCC International visits Diddle

Oct 31, 2008 (The Daily News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- LCCI | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Much of the talk around Western Kentucky basketball's preseason camp has centered around guard A.J. Slaughter's drive to become the Hilltoppers' go-to player.

For the first time this season, Slaughter gets to showcase his new role tonight.

Slaughter and the Hilltoppers host their first of two exhibition games when they meet Lithuania-based LCC International at 7 p.m. in E.A. Diddle Arena.

Slaughter has earned praise from first-year coach Ken McDonald during the preseason and is the top candidate to lead the Hilltoppers.

The junior guard is WKU's top returning scorer at 7.6 points a game, as the Hilltoppers lost a ton of offensive production from last year's Sweet 16 team.

"I just feel privileged to have that role put on me," Slaughter said. "Coach has put it on me, but I already knew it was going to be upon me to put the ball in the basket."

McDonald said Slaughter has done plenty of that during practice, and has also shown an ability to perform in the clutch.

"We've had a lot of game conditions in practice where A.J. has made a last-second shot -- and we're talking 30 feet," McDonald said. "He did it the other day three times. He doesn't hesitate."

While Slaughter's role seems clear, others are a little bit more muddled. But the Hilltoppers' picture should begin to come into focus tonight.

Asked earlier this week if he had any idea who would start against LCC International, McDonald only specifically mentioned Slaughter.

"With us getting to know each other the first couple of weeks, the roles aren't set yet," McDonald said. "That's the great thing about this part of year. You kind of throw the ball up there and see who's going to fit what role. That's where I'm so excited."

For what it's worth, pregame notes issued by WKU's sports information office list junior college transfer guard Anthony Sally joining Slaughter in the starting backcourt. Sophomore guard/forward Steffphon Pettigrew is also listed as a tentative starter, along with WKU's starting frontcourt from last year -- junior Jeremy Evans and sophomore D.J. Magley.

Like Slaughter, Evans and Magley are expected to play different roles this year.

Although the duo started nearly every game last year, the two didn't consistently produce many points. Evans averaged 5.9 points and Magley 4.8 in last year's guard-heavy lineup.

But with players such as Courtney Lee and Tyrone Brazelton now gone, post production must improve for the Hilltoppers to be successful.

"I don't know to that extreme (that the guards scored last year), but definitely more," McDonald said. "Without question, (they need to be) more effective and more depended on. This will be a team I think where we'll have a bunch of guys scoring rather than two guys scoring on a given night."

Evans demonstrated scoring ability in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament last year, averaging 13 points and 7.3 rebounds.

He had a career-high 20 points and 14 rebounds in the Hilltoppers' championship game win against Middle Tennessee.

But accepting the role of scorer has been difficult for Evans so far.

"I can't get him to shoot in practice, that's a problem," McDonald said. "But he's going from one part of his career to another. He needs to see himself in a bigger light and we need to try and get him there."

Evans and Magley face an LCC International team that boasts a big front line. But it's a squad that hasn't been successful during it's American tour.

LCC International will play its third game in three days tonight. LCC was hammered 101-43 at Florida State on Wednesday, then fell 117-77 to Mercer last night. Former Hilltopper Daniel Emerson, who transferred to Mercer prior to the 2007-08 campaign, had 15 points and nine rebounds in that game.

LCC's Oumar Seck, a 6-foot-9 forward, had 20 points, 12 rebounds and seven blocks on Thursday.

"(Today) is the day we get to put all the hard work on the court and I am so looking forward to it," said WKU sophomore guard/forward Sergio Kerusch, who is one of five Hilltoppers making his WKU debut tonight. "It'll finally be good to go against someone else after strenuous practices."

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