Jim Pickens, Messenger Inquirer Journalist Profile

Articles

Hilltoppers looking for moment in NCAA regionals

4 weeks ago | thenewsenterprise.com | Jim Pickens

It has been a thrill-packed, record-breaking season for the Western Kentucky baseball team, which captured its first-ever Conference USA Tournament championship and its first league title of any kind since winning the Sun Belt title in 2008. The rally-from-behind Hilltoppers accomplished the feat by producing three walk-off victories — including a 6-5 conquest of Jacksonville State in the championship game Sunday thanks to an 11th-inning RBI single to by ninth-place hitter Joe Siervo.
Hillltopper baseball continues to shine

1 month ago | sports.yahoo.com | Jim Pickens

Western Kentucky'a amazing odyssey on the baseball diamond this spring continues apace — but it hasn't been all peaches and cream for the Hilltoppers. Two weeks ago, riding the program's highest national ranking in history — No. 17 in the Baseball America poll — WKU traveled to Boca Raton, Florida and dropped three Conference USA games in quick succession to Florida International.
Maverick McIvor expected to lead high-flying WKU attack

2 months ago | thenewsenterprise.com | Jim Pickens

Look for the Western Kentucky football team to go back to the future in 2025. The Hilltoppers, who have appeared in six consecutive FBS bowl games under head coach Tyson Helton, should have more aerial octane in the tank this fall, thanks to the arrival of quarterback Maverick McIvor and offensive coordinator Rick Bowie — both arriving from Abilene Christian University. kAmx? E9C66 D62D@?D H:E9 E96 (:=542ED[ E96 e\7@@E\a |4xG@C 4@>A=6E65 edd @7 `[_gh A2DD6D 7@C g[_`a J2C5D 2?5 eb E@F495@H?D :? 2?
McIvor will take WKU back to the future

2 months ago | sports.yahoo.com | Jim Pickens

Look for the Western Kentucky football team to go back to the future in 2025. The Hilltoppers, who have appeared in six consecutive FBS bowl games under head coach Tyson Helton, should have more aerial octane in the tank this fall, thanks to the arrival of quarterback Maverick McIvor and offensive coordinator Rick Bowie — both incoming from Abilene Christian University.
It's onward, upward for Helton's Hilltoppers

2 months ago | sports.yahoo.com | Jim Pickens

Western Kentucky continued to be a prominent player in the Football Bowl Subdivision last season, winning eight games, reaching the Conference USA championship game, and playing in a bowl game for the sixth consecutive season under head coach Tyson Helton. For the Hilltoppers to remain relevant in 2025, Helton and Co. will have to do so with a wealth of new players — having been hit hard by those wishing to enter the NCAA transfer portal and by a host of graduated senior standouts.
Tops' AD remains confident in Plona

2 months ago | messenger-inquirer.com | Jim Pickens

Things did not go as planned for the Western Kentucky men's basketball team in 2024-25 under first-year head coach Hank Plona -- a year after Steve Lutz directed the Hilltoppers to the NCAA Tournament in his one and only season on the Hill before departing for Oklahoma State.
Tops' AD remains confident in Plona

2 months ago | sports.yahoo.com | Jim Pickens

Things did not go as planned for the Western Kentucky men’s basketball team in 2024-25 under first-year head coach Hank Plona — a year after Steve Lutz directed the Hilltoppers to the NCAA Tournament in his one and only season on the Hill before departing for Oklahoma State.
SEC enters Sweet 16 loud and proud

Mar 27, 2025 | sports.yahoo.com | Jim Pickens

The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Sweet 16 is upon us, and while it wouldn’t be fair or accurate to term the event the Southeastern Conference Invitational, it’s mighty tempting to do so. The SEC features a record seven teams among the 16 still standing in the Big Dance — that’s roughly 44% of the remaining field — and at least four should be considered upper-tier candidates to win it all (and, at this point, take your pick as to which four).
SEC enters Sweet 16 loud and proud

Mar 27, 2025 | messenger-inquirer.com | Jim Pickens

The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Sweet 16 is upon us, and while it wouldn’t be fair or accurate to term the event the Southeastern Conference Invitational, it’s mighty tempting to do so. The SEC features a record seven teams among the 16 still standing in the Big Dance — that’s roughly 44% of the remaining field — and at least four should be considered upper-tier candidates to win it all (and, at this point, take your pick as to which four).
Price was right again for the Bears

Mar 11, 2025 | sports.yahoo.com | Jim Pickens

Critical preseason and early-season injuries threatened to greatly derail defending 3rd Region champion Butler County this season, but Bears fans have learned to trust this maxim: Never fear, Ty Price is here.