Middle Tennessee Mens Basketball: A Program on the Rise
Contents
The Middle Tennessee Men’s Basketball Program is on the rise. The team has seen success in recent years and looks to continue that trend in the future.
Introduction
In recent years the Middle Tennessee Mens Basketball Program has seen a rise in success. The team has made four NCAA tournament appearances in the last five years, including a run to the Round of 32 in 2017. With a strong core of returning players and incoming talent, the Blue Raiders are poised for another successful season in 2018-19.
This guide will provide an overview of Middle Tennessee Mens Basketball Program highlighting its history, recent success, and Key Players
The Program
In just a few short years, the Middle Tennessee men’s basketball program has made great strides. The team has improved its win total each of the past three seasons, culminating in a 27-win campaign in 2016-17. That success has led to increased interest from fans and media alike, as well as better recruits.
The Team
The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders men’s basketball team has seen a sharp rise in recent years The team has gone from being an afterthought in the conference to a perennial contender, and they show no signs of slowing down.
Led by Head Coach Kermit Davis, the Blue Raiders have made the NCAA Tournament in four of the past five seasons, including a stunning upset of Michigan State in 2016. The team has also won regular season conference championships in two of the past three years.
The Blue Raiders are known for their high-powered offense, which is led by star guard Giddy Potts. Potts is a two-time Conference USA Player of the Year and was named an All-American by the Associated Press in 2017. He is joined by fellow All-Conference USA performers Reggie Upshaw and Tyrik Dixon.
The team’s recent success has resulted in increased interest from fans and media alike. Middle Tennessee is now regularly featured on national television, and their games are always well-attended. The Blue Raiders have quickly become one of the most popular teams in Conference USA
With a young core of talented players and a bright future ahead, there’s no telling how far the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders men’s Basketball team can go.
The Fans
While the team has seen a lot of success in recent years, the fan base has not been as consistent. In an effort to change that, the school has made a concerted effort to market the team to a wider audience and create a more diverse fan base. One way they have done this is by holding special events for different groups, such as a “Ladies Night” where women can get discounted tickets and free gifts.
The school has also worked hard to create a family friendly environment at games, with activities for kids and special ticket deals for families. These efforts have begun to pay off, as the last few seasons have seen an uptick in attendance and more diverse crowds.
The Future
The Middle Tennessee Mens Basketball Program is on the rise. After years of mediocrity, the team has finally put together a string of successful seasons and is poised to make a run at the NCAA tournament The future is bright for the Blue Raiders, and fans are excited to see what the team can achieve in the coming years.
The Conference
Conference realignment has been a thing in college basketball for a while now, with some schools leaving and joining new conferences. The most notable recent examples have been Louisville and Notre Dame who left the Big East Conference to join the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Louisville was able to win a National Championship in their first year in the ACC, while Notre Dame has yet to make an appearance in the NCAA tournament since joining.
The Tournament
In just four years under Coach Rick Barnes, the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders have made themselves a force to be reckoned with in Conference USA They’ve won at least 25 games in three of those four seasons, including a school-record 27 last year, and Barnes has been named the conference’s Coach of the Year twice. This season, they are currently 25-5 overall and tied for first place in the Conference Standings
Finding success in Conference USA is nothing new for Barnes, who also coached at Clemson and Texas before coming to Middle Tennessee State In his first year at Clemson, he took the team to the NCAA tournament He did it again at Texas in 1998-99, leading the Longhorns to the Sweet Sixteen
Now, he’s looking to take the Blue Raiders to new heights. In March, they will compete in the Conference USA Tournament which Barnes believes will be a good stepping stone towards their ultimate goal: making the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.
The Legacy
Middle Tennessee Mens Basketball is a program on the rise, and they have a rich history to build upon.
The Blue Raiders have been to the NCAA Tournament four times in their history, with their most recent appearance coming in 2017. They have also won four conference championships, most recently in 2016.
The Blue Raiders have a strong fan base, and they are well-supported by their community. They play their home games at the Murphy Center, which is a state-of-the-art facility that seats over 10,000 fans.
The Blue Raiders are coached by Kermit Davis, who is in his fifth season with the team. Coach Davis has led the team to new heights, and they are poised for continued success in the future.
The Rivalry
Middle Tennessee Mens Basketball has been steadily on the rise in recent years. The team has enjoyed success in Conference USA, and has even made noise on the national stage. The Blue Raiders have developed a strong rivalry with the nearby Memphis Tigers and the two teams have been engaged in some heated battles on the court.
The Program’s Future
In the wake of a successful 2019-20 season in which the program posted a 23-8 record, won a share of the regular season Conference USA title, and reached the semifinals of the C-USA Tournament, expectations are high for Middle Tennessee Mens Basketball head coach Nick McDevitt believes that his team can take another step forward next season and compete for a conference championship and a berth in the NCAA tournament
The Blue Raiders will return their leading scorer from last season, guard Antonio Green, as well as two other starters in forwards Reggie Scurry and Karl Gamble. They will also have some key reserves returning in guard Donovan Sims and forward Tyson Smith. McDevitt has brought in a talented recruiting class that includes 4-star center KJ Buffen and 4-star Power Forward Ja’Vantae Hepburn.
With a strong returning core and an impressive group of newcomers, Middle Tennessee Mens Basketball looks poised to have another Successful Season in 2020-21.