Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Blue Raiders picked as C-USA favorites in 17-18
10/27/2017 2:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Middle Tennessee garners eight of 14 first place votes
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Blue Raider basketball is back in Murfreesboro and after back-to-back trips to the NCAA Tournament Second Round, expectations are high again as Middle Tennessee has been picked first in the Conference USA preseason poll.
Middle Tennessee garnered eight of the 14 first place votes to push them to the top of the poll. Nearby rival UAB came in at second with four first place votes while Louisiana Tech earned a pair of first place votes and slots in at third in the preseason poll.
"We all work like crazy to try to create expectations and our expectations are high," Head Coach Kermit Davis said. "It's good that the people around our league think we have a good team, but that being said it is the preseason and I think our league is going to be much improved.
"Our brand is obviously increasing and increasing and now we have to continue to go to work and try to back it up."
The Blue Raiders will be driven by a talented veteran group in the backcourt led by senior Giddy Potts who was announced as a preseason all-conference selection on Monday. 2017 C-USA All-Freshman team selection Tyrik Dixon figures to continue running the point while senior Ed Simpson and junior Antwain Johnson round out the deep group of returners.
Junior college transfer David Simmons and freshmen Therren Shelton-Szmidt and Donovan Sims will also look to earn minutes behind the four Blue Raider veterans.
Middle Tennessee's frontcourt has holes to be filled, but returners Brandon Walters and Karl Gamble as well as grad transfer Nick King are expected to step in and have productive seasons. Redshirt freshman Davion Thomas, junior college transfer James Hawthorne and freshman TJ Massenburg will also figure into the mix in the Blue Raider post in 2017-18.
2017-18 CONFERENCE USA PRESEASON POLL
1. Middle Tennessee (8)
2. UAB (4)
3. Louisiana Tech (2)
4. Old Dominion
5. UTEP
6. WKU
7. Marshall
8. Charlotte
9. UTSA
10. Southern Miss
11. North Texas
12. Florida Atlantic
13. Rice
14. FIU
2017-18 CONFERENCE USA PRESEASON TEAM
Jon Davis, Charlotte
Daquan Bracey, LA Tech
Jacobi Boykins, LA Tech
Jon Elmore, Marshall
Giddy Potts, Middle Tennessee
Ahmad Caver, Old Dominon
William Lee, UAB
Chris Cokley, UAB
Omega Harris, UTEP
Justin Johnson, WKU
Middle Tennessee garnered eight of the 14 first place votes to push them to the top of the poll. Nearby rival UAB came in at second with four first place votes while Louisiana Tech earned a pair of first place votes and slots in at third in the preseason poll.
"We all work like crazy to try to create expectations and our expectations are high," Head Coach Kermit Davis said. "It's good that the people around our league think we have a good team, but that being said it is the preseason and I think our league is going to be much improved.
"Our brand is obviously increasing and increasing and now we have to continue to go to work and try to back it up."
The Blue Raiders will be driven by a talented veteran group in the backcourt led by senior Giddy Potts who was announced as a preseason all-conference selection on Monday. 2017 C-USA All-Freshman team selection Tyrik Dixon figures to continue running the point while senior Ed Simpson and junior Antwain Johnson round out the deep group of returners.
Junior college transfer David Simmons and freshmen Therren Shelton-Szmidt and Donovan Sims will also look to earn minutes behind the four Blue Raider veterans.
Middle Tennessee's frontcourt has holes to be filled, but returners Brandon Walters and Karl Gamble as well as grad transfer Nick King are expected to step in and have productive seasons. Redshirt freshman Davion Thomas, junior college transfer James Hawthorne and freshman TJ Massenburg will also figure into the mix in the Blue Raider post in 2017-18.
2017-18 CONFERENCE USA PRESEASON POLL
1. Middle Tennessee (8)
2. UAB (4)
3. Louisiana Tech (2)
4. Old Dominion
5. UTEP
6. WKU
7. Marshall
8. Charlotte
9. UTSA
10. Southern Miss
11. North Texas
12. Florida Atlantic
13. Rice
14. FIU
2017-18 CONFERENCE USA PRESEASON TEAM
Jon Davis, Charlotte
Daquan Bracey, LA Tech
Jacobi Boykins, LA Tech
Jon Elmore, Marshall
Giddy Potts, Middle Tennessee
Ahmad Caver, Old Dominon
William Lee, UAB
Chris Cokley, UAB
Omega Harris, UTEP
Justin Johnson, WKU
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