Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
Utah State
Utah State provides tough foe for Blue Raiders in opener
11/20/2005 7:43:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Murphy Center has been renovated and includes all new blue seats and a freshly painted playing surface. Even the roster has been somewhat revamped as Middle Tennessee opens the season against Utah State Monday at 7 p.m. at the "Glass House."
Eight newcomers, including four true freshmen and four transfers, are set to make their Blue Raider debuts this evening. Two newcomers - junior guard Adam Vogelsberg and junior post Tim Blue - are among candidates to make their first career start. The abundance of youth is joined by five returning players, including veterans Fats Cuyler, Marcus Morrison and Kyle Young, all of whom will be heavily relied upon not only for consistent and quality play, but leadership as well.
The young Blue Raider squad will be thrown to the fire early as Utah State brings a 1-0 record into the game after winning at Oral Roberts, 72-67, in overtime Saturday. The Aggies have appeared in postseason play six straight years, including four NCAA Tournament appearances. Utah State has posted six consecutive seasons with 20-plus wins.
Utah State is led by two-time, first-team All-Big West selection Nate Harris, and sophomore guard Jaycee Carroll - the Big West Freshman of the Year in 2005. He also became the first freshman to ever be named MVP of the conference postseason tournament. Harris and Carroll combined for 43 of the team's 72 points in the win against Oral Roberts. The Aggies are in their first season as a member of the Western Athletic Conference.
"Utah State is a solid program and they have some very talented and tested players," Middle Tennessee coach Kermit Davis said. "It's going to be quite a challenge right from the start. We play the toughest schedule we have had since I've been here this season and Utah State is one of the teams on the schedule that makes it that way.
"You are talking about a program with six straight seasons of 20-plus wins and six straight postseason appearances. There's a lot of schools across the nation that would like to have that resume."
Middle Tennessee has performed well and made strides throughout the preseason, but Davis hopes to see his squad transfer some quality practice sessions into the game beginning with the opener.
Monday's opener is a rare opportunity to see the Blue Raiders at home during the preseason as Middle Tennessee plays nine of its first 13 games on the road.
