3-2-1 for MT Hoops
Three things we learned, two questions remaining and one prediction moving forward after MT's most recent slate
It is time to rev things up again for this weeks’ MT 3-2-1 breakdown. You know the drill. We discuss three things we learned, ask two questions and make one prediction.
THREE THINGS WE LEARNED:
I was Wrong:
Last week I went out on a limb saying the Blue Raiders would split with Marshall and WKU. I’ll fess up and eat crow because MT proved me wrong. I thought that MT would be floating on cloud nine and would overlook one of the two. I thought they would be humbled. The opposite took place. MT rode their momentum, winning against two quality foes. First, MT stifled a Marshall squad that is known for their fun-and-gun style, winning 69-57. The Raiders were not quite out of the woods yet, though, as the Hilltoppers were a team that definitely posed a threat, at least so I thought. MT held off a pesky WKU squad to win 91-76. They are now sitting pretty at 15-3 and 5-0 in conference play.
Fans need to step their game up:
Normally when a team elevates their play and garners a level of national attention, the fans in the area start to rally, coming out in droves to see what all the fuss is about. After three straight wins last week, I assumed this would be the case in Murfreesboro. I assumed that there would be 7,500 fans, at minimum, against Marshall. I was wrong again. There was only 4,600 at the glass house against a quality Marshall team. I thought then that, surely, the crowd would bring it for the WKU game. It was a bit different as it was a Saturday evening tip. The attendance was better than the Marshall crowd at just over 6,800 - a step in the right direction. That being said, these games represented a poor showing by the fan base against two of the biggest rivals that MT has.
Tyrik Dixon can play:
Freshman point guard Tyrik Dixon has started for the Blue Raiders from the jump and is simply unflappable, not buckling to the pressure at any time this year.Although Dixon does not shoot a lot, he can absolutely hit timely shots in close ballgames. Against Marshall, Dixon banged in two clutch three pointers during pivotal moments. Dixon is not a guy that is going to always torch you for 30 points in a contest, but he definitely belongs on the hardwood and can hold his own out there. He did light up WKU for five threes and 17 total points – a sort of coming out party, if you will. Another thing is his composure and his ball handling during crunch time. When the clock is ticking, opponents have tried to put Dixon under duress by ramping up the defensive pressure, but this usually happens to no avail. Dixon’s ball handling is tight and polished.
TWO QUESTIONS:
Will the Crowds at Murphy Center grow once students get Back?
Yes, I have already ripped the Blue Raider faithful for not coming out of the woodwork for the Marshall game. If I had to point out one other glaring hole in the arena, I would direct your attention to the seats behind the goal. That area is designated for the Blue Zoo. It was unfortunate that two big home games fell during the winter break, as most students were nowhere near the campus. With the Blue Raiders neck deep in Conference USA play, will the students follow suit and come out for each game? One would think that if MT earns a spot in the top 25, the students, and fans in the area alike, would flock to the Murphy Center to support a team that is getting national publicity.
Will MT get snubbed from Big Dance if they don’t win the C-USA tournament?
MT is clearly locked and loaded with their sights on the NCAA Tournament, as they should be. The Blue Raiders have proven that they are the big dogs in the conference that everyone is gunning for. The question to ask is: does everything boil down to the Conference USA tournament? If the Blue Raiders do not take the cake in the conference tournament, will they be relegated to the NIT? Is there a magic number for wins that may get them an at-large bid if they don’t win it? Will 28 overall wins do the job? It will be interesting to see how this plays out down the stretch.
ONE PREDICTION:
MT won’t lose until February:
I think that the Blue Raiders are primed to keep building on their magical season. Look for MT to keep rattling off wins for the foreseeable future. A trip to Florida to battle FIU and FAU are next on the docket, followed by a return home game against Southern Miss before a big test - Louisiana Tech - comes to town.