3-2-1: MT Hoops

In a new series debuting here at GoMiddle.com, we'll bring to you a weekly 3-2-1 segment where we break down three things we learned from the previous week, two questions we still have about the team, and we'll make one prediction for the days and weeks ahead.

Enjoy!

MT comes at you in waves:

Teams with depth can wear down opponents. For Middle Tennessee, they have depth for days and are as deep and talented as any roster head coach Kermit Davis has put together. With MT being so deep, guys will not get as fatigued on the court. Davis has the ability to actively substitute, and has history has shown he will do just that on a whim. It is imperative for guys like Giddy Potts, Ed Simpson and Reggie Upshaw to get breathers so they stay fresh. Friday afternoon, those guys remained fresh mainly because they were facing an inferior foe in Milligan College.

MT can score in bunches:

Jacorey Williams, Reggie Upshaw, Brandon Walters and Karl Gamble were doing the dirty work down low and they were getting fed the ball consistently as a result. Point production in the paint was off the charts for MT. There was phenomenal ball movement setting up inside shots. Williams posted 21 points, shooting 9-of-16 from the floor, while Upshaw poured in an additional 21, shooting a scorching 9-of-11 from the field. MT scored in mega-spurts. You look up and there’s a huge swing on the scoreboard. Make no bones about it, though, MT is capable of hitting shots from outside the paint as well. Giddy Potts, Xavier Habersham, Antwain Johnson and Qua Copeland collectively showed flashes from downtown.

MT has size, length and athleticism:

MT’s size created fits for Milligan. Even in pre game warm-ups, the size of the MT squad leapt out at you. Jacorey Williams, Reggie Upshaw, Karl Gamble, Brandon Walters, Aldonis Foote, and Davion Thomas are all big bodies. One thing about MT is that they will really get in your space on defense. Their half court trap is lethal and it’s effective because of athletic guards like Potts, Tyrik Dixon, and Copeland. All the guards are very fast and reactionary on defense, creating steals and deflections. Those familiar with the program know that the trap is a staple of the Davis defense. Get used to seeing plenty of that this year.

Can the team gel and find a rhythm in the early goings?

MT is deep and talented. They have many players worthy of seeing court time. That does not guarantee success, though. There are a lot of new pieces in play for Davis and company this year. Players needs to identify their role and contribute to the betterment of the team. It takes time to mesh seamlessly. Coaching is an ingredient. The coaching staff needs to put the puzzle together and determine how they distribute playing time.

The Milligan contest was a beat down, but beneficial. The staff was able to experiment with different rotations and work out some kinks. The fact is that it will take time to see just how good MT can be. The season is a marathon, not a sprint. Can MT break out of the early season shell and become a well oiled machine? How quickly will newcomers such as Tyrik Dixon and JaCorey Williams maximize their production – especially against stiffer competition?

How will the team handle better competition?

Let’s not sugar coat it, Milligan College is not the Golden State Warriors. MT will definitely face teams far superior to Milligan. Eventually MT will get punched in the mouth and have their backs up against the wall. In other words, they will face adversity and be under duress.

How will the Blue Raiders play and react versus quality talent? That is the million- dollar question. Another thing is figuring out who gets the ball in crunch time. The team is full of guys who are accustomed to being the alpha dog. Does Giddy get the last shot? What about Upshaw?

There are bound to be games that go down to the wire. Can MT perform in intense situations? Can they hit shots from the charity stripe?

Still plenty of questions that need answers, but they will sort themselves out in due time.

Going out on a limb here, but I predict that MT will enter the Music City Challenge at 4-0, which won't be easy given a tough slate ahead that includes Murray State, Tennessee State and Toledo.