Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Blue Raiders Scheduled to Face Auburn in the Opening Round of the 2019 Gulf Coast Showcase
7/17/2019 1:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball, BRAA
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee has played nine of the 14 current SEC members since Head Coach Rick Insell took over the reins of the program in 2005.
Another of the tradition-rich programs from the Power 5 conference will be added to that list when the Lady Raiders face Auburn in the opening game of the 2019 Gulf Coast Showcase, Nov. 29 at Hertz Arena in Estero, Fla.
"We are excited to be participating in the Gulf Coast Showcase during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend," Insell said. "This tournament is loaded with quality teams, including five that played in the NCAA Tournament last year. Auburn is one of those. They are very well coached and have an outstanding program with great tradition."
Auburn fashioned a 22-10 record and received an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament last season. This will mark the first time Middle Tennessee and Auburn have played since 1999.
"We pride ourselves on playing the best competition out there and Auburn is an outstanding regional opponent for us," Insell said.
The Auburn-Middle Tennessee winner will face the winner of Dayton and Gonzaga in the semifinals Saturday, while the two losing teams will play in the consolation bracket.
Arizona State will face Maine in a quarterfinal game in the lower half of the bracket, while Drake and Purdue square off in the final quarterfinal game.
Middle Tennessee won the inaugural Gulf Coast Showcase when it defeated previously unbeaten Mississippi State in the championship game.
Another of the tradition-rich programs from the Power 5 conference will be added to that list when the Lady Raiders face Auburn in the opening game of the 2019 Gulf Coast Showcase, Nov. 29 at Hertz Arena in Estero, Fla.
"We are excited to be participating in the Gulf Coast Showcase during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend," Insell said. "This tournament is loaded with quality teams, including five that played in the NCAA Tournament last year. Auburn is one of those. They are very well coached and have an outstanding program with great tradition."
Auburn fashioned a 22-10 record and received an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament last season. This will mark the first time Middle Tennessee and Auburn have played since 1999.
"We pride ourselves on playing the best competition out there and Auburn is an outstanding regional opponent for us," Insell said.
The Auburn-Middle Tennessee winner will face the winner of Dayton and Gonzaga in the semifinals Saturday, while the two losing teams will play in the consolation bracket.
Arizona State will face Maine in a quarterfinal game in the lower half of the bracket, while Drake and Purdue square off in the final quarterfinal game.
Middle Tennessee won the inaugural Gulf Coast Showcase when it defeated previously unbeaten Mississippi State in the championship game.
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