| Mode: | Basketball |
| Sex: | none |
| Year: | 1948–49 |
| Team: | Western Kentucky State Hilltoppers |
| Conference: | Ohio Valley Conference |
| Aprank: | 5 |
| Short Conf: | OVC |
| Record: | 25–4 |
| Conf Record: | 8–2 |
| Hc Year: | 27th |
| Asst Coach1: | Ted Hornback |
| Stadium: | Health & Physical Education Building |
| Champion: | OVC Tournament Champion Ohio Valley Conference Champion |
| Bowl: | NIT Tournament |
| Bowl Result: | Quarterfinals |
The 1948–49 Western Kentucky State Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky State College (now known as Western Kentucky University) during the 1948-49 NCAA University Division Basketball season. The Hilltoppers were led by future Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coach Edgar Diddle and All-American guard John Oldham.[1] This was the inaugural season for the newly established Ohio Valley Conference and Western Kentucky won the conference championships, and appeared in the 1949 National Invitation Tournament.[2] During this period, the NIT was considered by many to be the premiere college basketball tournament, with the winner being recognized as the national champion.[3] [4] Oldham and Center Bob Lavoy were named to the All-Conference team as well as the OVC All-Tournament team.[5] This was the first year that a widely distributed, national poll was published by the Associated Press, and Western Kentucky was ranked 3rd in the initial poll[6] and finished the season ranked 5th.[7]
[8] |-!colspan=6| Regular Season|- |-!colspan=6| 1949 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament|-!colspan=6| 1949 National Invitation Tournament