3-2-1 for MT hoops

Welcome back for another 3-2-1 addition. It’s time to put last week’s performance under the microscope and dissect three things we learned, ask two questions, and make one final prediction.

MT has Number One Seed in Sight:

Middle Tennessee came into the week with the intention of widening the gap and creating more separation in the C-USA standings. MT has been eying the number one seed for the upcoming conference tournament, but they were not completely out of the woods. Before they could feel good about locking things up, their itinerary included a couple of road contests versus WKU and Marshall. Well, the Blue Raiders accomplished their weekly goal, winning both games in hostile territory – and in convincing fashion. Thursday’s game against the Hilltoppers was an onslaught. MT kicked it into another gear, winning 78-52 against their rival WKU. Saturday, they went wire-to-wire against Marshall. They clobbered the Herd for most of the game and won, 97-86. These two victories put the boys from the Boro at 14-1 in league play. And with only three regular season games left, the Blue Raiders are in a great position to lock up the number one seed and get that all-important first round bye. Getting a bye in conference tourney play would be beneficial for the team, meaning they would have to win three games in a row as opposed to four.

MT Can Roll with Just About Anyone:

The Blue Raiders have talent in spades. Most casual hoops fans may tell you that there is a large gap between the power conference teams and the lower tier or mid-major squads. Throw conference affiliation out the window with MT, though. They are a club that can roll with the best of them when they are clicking. You need star power to pull a team through when the rubber hits the road in tournament play. With MT’s “big three” consisting of Giddy Potts, Reggie Upshaw, and JaCorey Williams, you can bank at least one of those guys balling out on any given night. When they are all rolling, however, head coach Kermit Davis has a team that is a nightmare to face, regardless of who they’re up against. A team cannot make a championship run with just three players, though. To Davis’s credit, there are more pieces to the puzzle. MT has those pieces with Xavier Habersham, Tyrik Dixon, Ed Simpson, Brandon Walters, Antwain Johnson, and Aldonis Foote. To make a deep run the supporting role players need to show up, and for the Raiders, they consistently have.

MT Should Have a Better Draw if They Make the NCAA Tournament:

Rodney Dangerfield always said: “I don’t get no respect.” Well, last season the Blue Raiders did not get much respect, garnering a 15-seed and drawing the mighty Spartans from Michigan State in their opening round matchup. Right now, most “bracketologists” have MT as an 11-seed in the Big Dance. Everything may hinge on the C-USA Tournament, though. The Blue Raiders are going to have to handle their business and fend off teams looking to dethrone them. If all goes well and MT punches their ticket, they are looking at a more favorable draw compared to last year. In NCAA tournament play, matchups mean everything and there is a humongous difference when it means MT would likely face a six seed in the first round rather than a two seed. Yes, eventually the cream will rise to the top and they would face a top seed, but that would come later down the line. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - winning that game versus the Spartans put MT on the map and made them a household mid-major name. Now is the time to reaffirm and solidify that stance, though.

What Will it Take for C-USA Teams to Knock Off the Raiders in Tournament Play?

This is the million-dollar question that is spinning inside the heads of coaches for all the teams in Conference USA. As stated above, MT has a three-headed monster with Potts, Upshaw, and Williams. If all those guys are on their game, you can turn the lights out because the game is already over. Will MT have a game where all three of them hit the skids and fail to perform, though? It’s happened in stretches, at times, this year. Also, can other teams account for all of the many role players Kermit Davis has? To beat MT, you need to stifle both the stars and the glue guys. Can all of this culminate and occur in one game? That is one variable. The other variable is shot making. Can the other team be on their game and unconscious in shooting the rock?

Can MT win out?

There are three regular season games left for the Blue Raiders. There travel to Birmingham next to play UAB before coming back to the Murphy Center to square off with both FIU and FAU.Will the Blue Raiders sleep walk into one of these games? Will they overlook these teams and have their radar locked and loaded on the Conference USA tournament? If they have the number one seed on wraps will they take their foot off the gas and remain in cruise control? There are a few teams in the league that can play with MT. Can someone pull the upset?

MT Will Win Out Their Regular Season Games:

I think the locomotive train will keep rolling and that MT will keep the pedal to the metal over this final stretch. Even if they lock up the 1-seed early, they need to continue to win big to pad their resume. I look for them to do just that.